By Kimberly S. Miguel, StratCom Correspondent

Showcasing a rich and diverse innovation culture, products of the Mariano Marcos State University and other tertiary schools in the Ilocos region attract large crowds in this year’s national State Universities and Colleges (SUC) Fair in SM City Iloilo.

Organized by the Commission on Higher Education, the three-day event is participated in by SUCs across the country to display their research-based outputs. Hosted by Region VI led by the West Visayas State University, this year’s activity is themed, “Navigating the Global Landscape through Innovations, Cultural and Arts Preservation, and Higher Education Quality.” 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis joined the Region I team. They were with other SUC presidents and CHED officials in the opening ceremonies yesterday, which was led by CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III, and graced by First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos. 

The Region I booth is one of the biggest hits in the SUC Fair. It is installed by MMSU, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), the University of the Philippines (UNP), Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), the Pangasinan State University (PSU), and the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium. 

MMSU products being exhibited in the booth are the Black Garlic, BG-based Furikake, Pickled Native Chicken Eggs, Mango Sinigang Mix, Brown Rice Crispies, and Tomato Jam; and those from its assisted beneficiaries such as Rice Coffee, Chichacorn, and Mixed Nuts. Its Inabel-based products such as bags, wallets, handkerchiefs, pillowcases, table runners, placemats, and fabrics, are also showcased in the booth. 

For their part, DMMMSU displays its silk and silk by-products developed through their sericulture initiatives; while the ISPSC showcases its watermelon pilipit chips and marmalade, chili herb sauce, flavored balikutsa, and munggo pastillas. Moreover, the UNP has its mushroom products, ceramics, fish sauce made from tirong and munamon, and ceramics products; while the PSU features its vacuum fried vegetables, tomato salsa, binagoongan bangus, katiba, ginisang buro, baked tupig, and Indian Mango vinegar. 

Various competitions are also lined up in the five-day event. Eleven MMSU students are joining the cultural showcase, video documentary editing, and digital art competitions. 

Other activities in the SUC Fair are plenary talks, technology and innovation pitching, innovation exhibits and demonstrations, cultural performances, youth-preneurship competition, and cultural fashion show. 

In the first SUC Fair in 2020, Region 1 bagged the Best in Ulam award for the MMSU’s pickled native chicken egg. In 2022, it got the Best Agri-Food Product award and placed second runner up in the Best Booth Bazaar competition. (HLY/JVBT/DPT, StratCom)