By Jesslyn Keith Valite

By Jesslyn Keith Valite

Three business incubatees officially completed the MMSU Bannuar Technology Business Incubator (TBI) program during a graduation ceremony on June 19 at the University Hostel.

The homegrown business owners who graduated are Mr. Allan Sayaboc, founder of ADDS Bambutek Handicrafts in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; Ms. Ederlyn Delos Santos, an incoming fourth-year entrepreneurship student and owner of Padalan Boutique Shop in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and Dr. Lawrence Eclarin, an MMSU faculty member and project leader of the Ilocandia Unli Weave Patterns.

The Bannuar TBI is a collaboration between MMSU and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). Other agencies supporting the project include the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Launched in 2023 and backed by a P12.7 million fund, the project focuses on supporting entrepreneurs in transforming innovative concepts into commercially viable solutions that address real-world challenges and contribute to regional economic growth.

MMSU President Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr. recognized the accomplishments of the incubatees and the collaborative efforts behind the program. “Your journey shows the power of collaboration; when government, industry, and the university work together, real change happens,” he said.

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico Paringit, who served as the guest speaker for the event, commended the university and the incubatees for bringing forth innovations rooted in local identity.

“This milestone is not a small thing—it is a radical act in a country where young people are often told to leave their hometowns and forget their roots in the name of progress,” he said.

Dr. Paringit encouraged the graduates to treat their enterprises as "laboratories of resilience," where setbacks become learning tools and every failure contributes to eventual success.

The incubatees, in turn, shared how the Bannuar TBI program empowered them with important skills and guidance. Delos Santos shared how the program helped her build a business and brand with purpose. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Siriaco Ragual, assistant project leader for Ilocandia Unli Weave Patterns, highlighted the value of the mentorship sessions. “We gained a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies that shaped our journey.”

Mr. Russell Pili, Chief Science Research Specialist of DOST-PCIEERD’s Research Information and Technology Transfer Division, recognized the graduates as contributors to building an innovation-driven regional economy.

DOST Regional Director Teresita Tabaog, represented by their Science Research Specialist Kent Ramil, acknowledged the significance of the event in proving that homegrown ideas can become sustainable ventures.  

Bannuar TBI Project Leader Armie Sabugo emphasized the goal of commercializing technologies that solve societal challenges. “We want our innovations to create real impact in communities,” she said.

Extension Director Marlowe Aquino, speaking on behalf of MMSU Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation Nathaniel Alibuyog, expressed high hopes for the incubatees’ continued success. “It will now be the start of what you will be doing next—start small, but in the end, it will be greater,” he remarked.

The ceremony was also attended by MMSU research coordinators, internal and external mentors, and representatives from DOST, DOST-PCIEERD, DTI, and the university’s Science and Technology Park.