THE MARIANO Marcos State University, created on Jan.6, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1279 issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, commemorated its 29th year with the theme, “Academic supremacy for global recognition”.

The three-day celebration kicked off Jan. 5 with a torch and floral parade simultaneously conducted starting 4 p.m. in the Laoag and Batac campuses of the university.  Star of the parade in the Batac campus was 2006 Centennial Mrs. Hawaii-Filipina Armi Oliver-Farinas, a successful real estate investor and alumna of MMSU who was honored by MMSU in a dinner and coronation and ball at the Teatro Ilocandia.

After torch parade participants converged at the University Oval, President Miriam E. Pascua formally opened celebration of the foundation anniversary that was followed by a display of fireworks at the same venue. After this, she led in the ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the 7th Garden Show and Trade Fair situated at the open field fronting the Mangasep Hall.

A thanksgiving service at the Teatro Ilocandia opened Jan. 8 activities followed by “Takuat Talugading” – a show of talents of faculty, staff, and students.   In the afternoon, faculty and staff participated in what was dubbed as “Laro ng Lahi”.  Now on its second year, the activity had the university family took part in local games such as breaking the pot, sack race, “sipa-sipa”, “kudisi”, “ludilod”, “entra patalunton”, “kadang-kadang”, “sungka”, paper airplane making, and “kotse-kotse” making. Earlier at 1 p.m., President Pascua opened a book fair and exhibit at the second level of the Mangasep Hall.  This was participated by Academic Book Sales, Forefront Book Company, Great Books Trading, Goodwill Bookstore, and Linangan Books Trading.

On Jan. 9, faculty, staff, and students gathered again at the Teatro Ilocandia to witness the president’s state-of-the-university address and the awarding of outstanding employees.  Lawyer Janet B. Abuel, director of the Department of Budget and Management Regional Office I, graced the said occasion. ( Faculty, staff, and students activities continued in the afternoon of Jan. 9. Employees competed in volleyball, basketball, badminton, lawn tennis, table tennis, and billiards.  Students, on the other hand, had their time at the Teatro Ilocandia where outstanding organizations were recognized and where they showed their skills in producing multimedia presentations and their talents in acapella singing.