Blanche will lead in the distribution of diplomas to the members of MMSU Class of 2009 comprising 1,376 graduates from the nine colleges of the university including the Graduate School.

Blanche holds an undergraduate degree in forest utilization engineering from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna; master’s degrees in agriculture (UPLB) and forest resources (University of Georgia); and a doctor’s degree in forestry (Mississippi State University). He also holds postdoctoral training in urban forestry; urban forest planning, management, and policy; and trees, people, and the law.

Currently, he administers the $6.2M Wood Utilization Research Grant, the $22M Cooperative Forestry Research Grant, and approximately $3.5M in special research grants annually. He manages the Forestry Research Advisory Council; coordinates the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Base Program Support Team in Cooperative Extension; and the Forest Fragmentation Curriculum Development.

He was one of the five architects in designing the Clinton-Glickman natural resources conservation legacy. He is a former agroforestry program leader of the USDA Agricultural Research Service; a former associate director of the Urban Forestry Program at Southern University; and a research scientist at Mississippi State University.

Dr. Blanche has 92 publications in a variety of areas including: forest products (wood preservation), urban forestry, agroforestry, hydrocarbon emissions, tree seeds, photosynthesis, and bark beetle/host interactions and three book chapters with Academic Press, Timber Press, and VPI&SU Press.

Together with two other Filipino scientists, Blanche is here in the country, particularly at MMSU, under the government’s Balik Scientist Program implemented by the Department of Science and Technology. The program aims to encourage science and technology experts who are Filipinos or foreigners of Filipino descent to return or reside in the Philippines and share their expertise.

Since March 27, he has been speaking at seminars and symposia on global issues, concerns, and perspectives on renewable energy and bioenergy.

The MMSU Class of 2009 is led by Kathleen Anne L. Hortelano of the B.S. Accountancy program, who is graduating magna cum laude. She obtained a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.36. She is from Brgy. Cabungaan, Laoag City and daughter of Ret. M/Sgt Wendell Hortelano of the Philippine Army Intelligence and Security Group and Ma. Anita Lorenzo.

She graduated top three of her class at the MMSU Laboratory High School-Laoag in 2005 and second honors from the Cabeza Elementary School, also in Laoag, in 2001. In college, she was a consistent university scholar except in one semester in her fourth year where she was a college scholar.

She considers entering Sycip, Gorres, and Velayo, a prestigious accounting firm based in Manila, which offers employment for the top accountancy graduate. But for the meantime, she said, she will concentrate on reviewing for the certified public accountant licensure examination in October.

The other magna cum laude graduates are: Julius Ver A. de Guzman, also from the accountancy program, who obtained a GWA of 1.38; Winicel May C. Ancheta (secondary education), 1.39; Flor De Lis V. Juan (secondary education), 1.43; and Czarina Mae Claudine F. Cid (nursing), 1.43.

Seventy students graduate with cum laude honors, of which 25 come from College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA); 18, College of Teacher Education (CTE); 13, College of Health Sciences (CHS); 6, College of Industrial Technology (CIT); 5, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); and 2, College of Engineering (CoE).

Completing the graduates with honors are: Angelo B. Pascual (1.47), secondary education; Joy A. Pucan (1.47), accountancy; Charmane M. Dalinoc (1.49), accountancy; Greggy Martell C. Felipe (1.51), accountancy; Peter John S. Magana (1.51), elementary education; Dexter Allan Noel M. Madamba (1.51), accountancy; Mark Joseph B. Pastor (1.52), secondary education; Marco Polo B. Narciso (1.56), economics; Manny S. Pagaduan (1.56), elementary education; Chris Ian Paulo T. Raguedan (1.60), nursing; Karen F. de Jesus (1.61), secondary education; Myline C. Español (1.61), secondary education; Nathaniel S. Lagran (1.61), industrial education;

Glazer Kerns C. Juan (1.61), accountancy; Ayesha A. Cascayan (1.62), elementary education; Gladys C. de Osma (1.62), industrial education; Kayceline Joy R. Buted (1.62), English studies; Lynbert F. Aganon (1.62), secondary education; Jelyn L. Manglal-lan (1.64), accountancy; James Patrick A. Acang (1.64), computer science; Angelica T. Gallegos (1.64), industrial education; Nemesio Daryl Boy G. Adora III (1.65), nursing; Mark Zenen A. Hipolito (1.65), accountancy; Maria Pilar T. Vallespin (1.65), management accounting; Mae I. Valencia (1.65), pharmacy; Sheila B. Pungtilan (1.66), management accounting; Camille Salve R. Adams (1.66), elementary education; Bibeth L. Macatumbas (1.67), accountancy; Irvin G. Cadavona (1.67), environmental science; Rein-Karen B. Narciso (1.67), elementary education; James G. Cumlat (1.67), management accounting; Mark Villa D. Vidad (1.67), electronics and communications engineering;

Richard F. Aison (1.67), industrial education; Mark Anthony B. Batallones (1.67), accountancy; Jester Renz S. Almadrigo (1.67), accountancy; Rachel D. Valenzuela (1.67), elementary education; Robelle Millie Ann B. Racca (1.68), secondary education; Rocky Jey D. Novedo (1.68), industrial technology; Amiel Dexter B. Sarmiento (1.68), industrial education; Orland Joshua M. Alimbuyuguen(1.69), nursing; Mark Daryll T. Abuy (1.69), accountancy; Danny T. Rodrigo (1.69), nursing; Jesus O. Valencia (1.69), secondary education; Marjorie F. Reyes (1.69), management accounting; Karen Grace I. Gavino (1.70), accountancy; Jefferson T. Nebab (1.70), accountancy; Daphne G. Castro (1.70), nursing; Jansen Mia V. Daquigan (1.70), nursing; Jay Mark M. Malvar, (1.71), accountancy;

Floridel A. Nacion (1.71), nursing; Brenford Jake M. Nicolas (1.72), management accounting; Lovely Joy M. Viloria (1.72), economics; Rose Ann G. Guzman (1.72), pharmacy; Joemark M. Colobong (1.72), secondary education; Reynald M. Bagaoisan (1.72), nursing; Nesalie A. Cafirma (1.73), secondary education; Aris S. Balagtas (1.73), English studies; Rey An D. Agpaoa (1.73), accountancy; Gerald A. Guieb (1.73), elementary education; Donnavelle G. Ladia (1.73), computer engineering; Paula Marie N. Cajigal (1.74), nursing; Joy Melros A. Lorenzo (1.74), management accounting; Marie Cris T. Cabantangan (1.74), accountancy; Jennifer A. Peralta (1.74), accountancy; Jay-Arr G. Tiguiamo (1.74), environmental science; Lerissa G. Quevedo (1.75), elementary education; Michael Clint F. Oamil (1.75), nursing; Zyrill Ianna Pauline N. Domingo (1.75), secondary education; and Jennalyn B. Gantala (1.75), nursing.

Of the 1,376 graduates of MMSU this year, 270 – the biggest number – come from the CHS which offers the nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs.

The college with the second biggest number of graduates is CBEA 264. This is followed by CIT with 226; CTE, 217; CoE, 144; CAS, 111; College of Agriculture and Forestry, 80; and Graduate School, 57. The college with the least number of graduates is the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology with only seven graduates this year. It offers programs in fisheries and marine biology.

Meanwhile, the industrial technology program holds the distinction of having the most number of graduates with 189. The program offers specializations in automotive, food, garments, drafting, electronics and communications, ceramic, electrical, computer, and civil technologies mostly needed for foreign employment. This is followed by: nursing with 178; elementary education with 109; secondary education, 108; and pharmacy, 74. The least number of graduates come from the fisheries program with only one graduate; the mathematics and ceramic engineering programs have two graduates each.