Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU CBEA instructor leads Sirib awardees

By Ian Paul Villanueva

Mariano Marcos State University – College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA) instructor, Ms. Kristel Lyn Saldivar, led Ilokano youth awardees after being named Lead Awardee at the 13th Sirib Awards on August 11 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.

Leading a total of 940 Sirib honorees, Saldivar was conferred the highest honor for representing the country in the 49th Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) held from January 15 to February 17.

Saldivar joined 16 other Filipino youths in the said program to sail across Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, alongside fellow ASEAN and Japanese youths.

At the event, Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos charged the awardees to continually pursue excellence and contribute to their communities. As Lead Awardee, Saldivar was honored to deliver the message of acceptance.

In her message, Saldivar vowed to serve the Ilocos Norte community even as she acknowledged that “excellence is no longer an exception in Ilocos Norte.”

SSEAYP is an annual international youth exchange program organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan in cooperation with the governments of ASEAN countries. Launched in 1974, the program brings together young people to live, study, and travel together on a ship to build leadership and cultural ties.