Rohaina's Blog

First Sem Extension: Consequence and Glitches By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Leeloo The First The normal duration of the first semester in the university runs from August to December, and the second semester runs from January to May. However, unprecedented events, specifically, typhoon Odette have caused the university to extend the first semester until January this year. Despite this adjustment, the expected end of the second semester is still deemed to be in May. Is the second semester not compromised in this case? Extending the first semester to January was unexpected for both the students and the professors and has caused changes to the second semester. Instead of the students finishing the first semester in December of 2021 and spending their holidays at ease, they still had the burden of the first semester to carry until the whole month of January. Students did not have that much break as well since they will move on directly to the start of the second semester in Febru...

Climate Change Deadline 2030: What will happen if failed? By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Markus Spiske Nine years from now, experts warn that we may not stop the irreversible effects of climate change if the world temperature continues to rise, based on the anticipated 2030 climate change deadline. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a consortium of the world’s leading climate scientists, made a special report in 2018 about the world’s climate change. Before this report, was the birth of the Paris Agreement on December 12, 2015. To combat climate change and global warming, the Paris Agreement was adopted by 195 countries across the globe. It is a legally binding international treaty that came into force on November 4, 2016. The goal of the agreement is to keep the global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius or preferably up to 1.5 degrees Celsius till the end of the century. It is also a goal to reduce carbon emissions worldwide to 50% by 2...

First Ever University-Wide Online Literary Competitions By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University As part of celebrating the Diamond Anniversary of Mindanao State University, the first-ever University-Wide Online Literary Competitions culminated on October 15th and 16th 2021 through online platforms, particularly, through Youtube and Facebook Live. The online literary competitions were spearheaded by the working force from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities with Dean Elena M. Tabanao as the overall chair and Dr. Eugene F. Torres, Jr. as the co-chair. The University-Wide Literary events were composed of the Filipino category and English category. The streaming of Filipino category entries took place on the first day of the online event while the streaming of English category entries was on the second day. Participating colleges had sent only one contestant for each of the categories to be recognized as the official representative of their college. G...

  State of the University Address Delivered by President Macaayong By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, successfully delivered his State of the University Address on October 27, 2021, at the International Convention Center of MSU Main campus and through Facebook Live. As the 7 th regular MSU System President, the State of the University Address signifies the last term of President Macaayong as he laid down his accomplishments and legacy for the past six years of being in service to the MSU Main campus and the thirteen MSU System campuses.  President Macaayong presented the MSU System’s accomplishments beginning with his academic reforms and development. He talked about the recruitment, ranking, promotion, and awarding of tenure to the faculty in the fourteen MSU campuses. He stressed that there were nearly 900 faculty who garnered their deserved promotions over the past six ye...

First Hybrid Graduation MSU held its 56th Commencement Exercises By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University History was made as Mindanao State University-Main Campus held its 56th Commencement Exercises, the first-ever hybrid graduation ceremony, at the International Convention Center and through an online platform on August 9, 2021, with the  theme: “MSU in the Digital Age, Leading Brilliantly through Excellence in Innovation and Service against Odds and Challenges.” MSU System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, kicked off the event by introducing Honorable Lord Allan Velasco as the guest speaker of the 56th Commencement Exercises. Mr. Velasco is the current speaker of the House of Representatives and he expressed virtually his congratulatory message to the candidates for graduation. “As the youngest speaker of the House of Representatives of this millennium, I aimed to bring dynamism and innovation in the process of lawmaking while at the same time, h...

MSU Distributed Five Hundred Laptops during ICT Modernization Program Phase 1 By Rohaina Dansal Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University-Main Campus made history for the realization of the ICT Modernization Program and the successful conduct of its Phase 1 - the distribution of five hundred laptops to the faculty members of the different colleges in the university. Based on a published article in the Manila Times, the national government allotted P2.5 billion in funds to realize a modernization program to enhance the institution’s Information and Communications Technology. Five hundred laptops were partially distributed to the faculty members of the university’s different colleges during April and May this year. Phase 1 of the project is worth around P1.5 billion and this also covers the installation of fiber optics, the upgrade of the WIFI access point, the establishment of the data center, and closed-circuit television cameras around the campus. The distribu...

  The Missing Colors in the Rainbow of Change By Rohaina Dansal Photo by  Zeyn Afuang  on  Unsplash Desiring change for society is trivial and less meaningful if some will be left behind in the process of achieving it. It’s like a flock of birds migrating to another destination but as soon as they arrived, some were left behind without even noticing. Promoting inclusive governance and civic engagement in Mindanao is crucial because it will give hope to the vulnerable stakeholders of the community, specifically, the youth and indigenous people in Mindanao. Inclusive governance takes place when governance successfully serves and engages all people in society. It’s like that flock of migrating birds. The birds portray the members of society and they want to migrate to a new destination called change. But as soon as they arrived, they failed to realize that some were left behind, and those are the marginalized and vulnerable stakeholders of our community. Some of tho...

MSU Transformational Entrepreneurs Seizes National and International Competitions By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Team BioPhil Student innovators or transformational entrepreneurs represented MSU Main Campus in national and international competitions, fostering social entrepreneurship and social transformation with their innovative business ideas and innovations. Some of these competitions were the Enactus-Unilever Topic Competition, the Enactus Business Idea Innovation Challenge, the Singapore International Foundation, and the Hack for Youth Competition. The project “N’ditarun Tano” champions the Enactus-Unilever Topic Competition in May this year. It is a social enterprise that supports different youth sub-sectors in Lanao del Sur by providing educational and other assistance through peace-building activities and social interventions. The project aims to preserve the Meranaw culture by promoting shirts with authentic Meranaw designs. The project team is composed of Mohammad Shor...

  Newly Installed MSU System and MSU Marawi Officials By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University - Marawi Campus graced spontaneous turnover ceremonies this year to the newly installed MSU system and MSU Marawi officials. On April 6, 2021, a turnover ceremony was held for the outgoing Executive Vice President, Prof. Macabangkit P. Ati, who passed the position and responsibility to Engr. Rasid M. Paca, the outgoing Vice President for Planning and Development. Engr. Labimombao A.D. Macabando, the outgoing Director of the Division of Student Affairs also accepted the responsibility as the new Vice President for Planning and Development from Engr. Rasid M. Paca during a turnover ceremony on April 7, 2021. Accepting and taking also the position and responsibility as the new Division of Student Affairs Director from Engr. Labimombao A.D. Macabando is Dr. Juhary B. Pangandaman, the former Director of Cultural Affairs Office. Further n...

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden’s Historic Win on Presidency against Donald Trump By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by  Brett Sayles Joseph R. Biden was elected the 46th president of the United States of America, defeating and ending the term of President Donald J. Trump. Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans still managed to practice their right to vote in their presidential election on November 3, 2020. The election results revealed that Biden, from the Democratic party, has garnered 306 electoral votes which is 51.1% or 80,117,578 of the population while Trump, from the Republican party, has garnered 232 electoral votes which is 47.2% or 73,923,495 of the population. Biden’s victory in the state of Pennsylvania, declared on November 7th, four days after Election day, made him the projected president-elect of major media networks in the United States as he garnered more than 270 Electoral College votes which is necessary for a presidentia...