BONTOC, Mountain Province – With the theme “Commemorating the Humble Beginnings… Seizing the Future” the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) will celebrate its 25th College Charter anniversary with various activities lined up from January 17 to January 31, 2017.
The celebration was launched on January 17, 2017 with an ecumenical service and simple tribute to the College’s forerunners and its 2016 retirees.
The ecumenical service was organized by the Sta. Rita Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Marcs Castaneda who was joined in the prayer of the faithful by representatives from the different major churches in the locality – Rev. Lucrecia Turtem (Episcopal N Diocese of the Phil.), Bro. Eliseo Kiser (Tribal Gospel Mission), Sr. Ailene Adjaro (SIHM), and Ptr. Jeff Saguibal (Growing in Grace Baptist Church).
Another highlight of the launching ceremonies was the “Mabuhay Pasasalamat Program” in recognition of the 2016 retirees’ long years of service to the college, students and the community. The honorees include all those who retired from service in January 2016 to January 2017 – Evelyn A. Nuwatt, Lester F. Chaokas, Jocelyn A. Saavedra (deceased), Norma W. Bay-os, Nellie B. Diaz, Anita D. Ngoddo, David T. Facullo, Roberto G. Taguibos Sr., Epitacio C. Balcita, Donnalyne A. Masilem, and Linda B. Tangilag.
In his speech during the event, the College President enjoined everybody to participate in all activities not only in celebration of the signing of the charter but also in honor of all the education-loving individuals who pioneered higher education in the locality, and in reflection of what lies ahead. He expounded that those to be remembered must include all those, in his own words, “who first established the College, built its strong foundations, worked tirelessly even with very minimal pay to keep the it going, made the work easier for us; upon whose efforts and commitment the succeeding leaders have built upon and up to now everybody is still building.”
He further announced a plan to conduct an event sometime in May this year to give due respect to the perseverance of the founders in order to encourage more alumni to contribute in the development of the college and eventually the attainment of university status.
In looking forward he forecasted and advised, “Even greater things will come; especially if we learn to develop harmony within, galvanize our energies and competencies, and work as a team to seize opportunities which the future has to offer. We do this not for ourselves alone. We do this to honor our founders in gratitude of the heritage they passed on to us.
We do this to bequeath a meaningful to the coming generations who have every right to relevant and responsive education.”
Twenty-five years ago, January 17, 1992, marked another breakthrough in the quest of the people of Mountain Province for a better niche in higher education; as RA 7182, otherwise called the College Charter of the MPSPC, was approved through the initiative of well-meaning individuals and officials led by the late Congressman Victor S. Dominguez bore fruit. It was the day Mountain Province took a leap from its first milestones for higher education placed by earlier leaders when they labored for the establishment of the Mountain Province Community College.
With this celebration, it is fervently prayed that everybody from the students, faculty, administration, the community and all local officials and benevolent leaders will be in and one in the dream of the college to be “a preferred university of developmental culture and inclusive growth.”
By HENT
