MMSU is the new champion.

Following a visit by the Audit and Project Field Validation (APFV) Team  of the SIFE Pilipinas Headquarters, MMSU was declared as the new champion of the 2010 SIFE National Competition.

The APFV Team, composed of Cora Milanes, head; Jackie delos Santos, financial analyst; and Jeny Mandano, program coordinator, came to MMSU, Sept. 23, to conduct interviews and to inspect the various areas where MMSU SIFE operates.  The team also met with Pres. Miriam E. Pascua, administration and business vice president Ramon A. Leaño, and student services director Henedine A. Aguinaldo.

MMSU SIFE’s project, “Transforming the Lives of Ilocanos through Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development,” won as first runner-up in the SIFE National Competition held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati on July 3. San Beda College Manila was proclaimed as champion. Following validation activities, however, it was found that the San Beda SIFE projects did not meet certain requirements. Thus, MMSU was declared as the new champion.  It was the first time a validation activity was conducted by SIFE.

As the newly proclaimed national champion, the MMSU SIFE Team will represent the country in the SIFE 2010 World Cup to be held Oct. 10-12 in Los Angeles, California, USA. SIFE Pilipinas will shoulder the team’s airfare and hotel accommodation.

The APFV Team was pleased to know that MMSU SIFE is a duly accredited student organization. It was found that in San Beda, SIFE projects are only attached to the school’s National Service Training Program. MMSU was also commended for its “impressive documentation of programs and activities” which the AFPV team observed could serve as model for other schools.

The MMSU SIFE Team is composed of Reindell Owen E. Salvador, BA Sociology III; Ralph Emerson Ray Agonoy, BS Biology IV; Eunese Mari U. Retutal, BS Accountancy IV; and Valerie Mary Ann C. Ablan, BS Accountancy IV.

The team is under the supervision of their executive adviser, Dr. Marivic M. Alimbuyuguen; and their main adviser, Bella C. Gervacio; and co-adviser, Joyce C. Rallojay. Ms. Gervacio will accompany the team to the US.
The MMSU SIFE projects benefit households at Namnama Village in Brgy. Talingaan in Laoag City, shellcraft producers in Brgy. Saud in Pagudpud, detainees of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Batac City, and fishing households in Laoag City.

This is the third time MMSU is representing the country in the annual competition, making the university the most awarded HEI in the ten-year history of SIFE Pilipinas. In the 2006 SIFE World Cup held in Paris, France,  MMSU emerged as semifinalist, the highest achievement so far achieved by a Philippine team in the annual gathering of the crème de la crème from 40 countries.  Last year, MMSU again represented the country in the World Cup held in Germany.

SIFE is a global organization of schools promoting student leadership and community self reliance by teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and independence.