By Brett Andrew Rikkee Bungcayao, STRATCOM Correspondent

Two months after its groundbreaking, Mariano Marcos State University officially inaugurated the Alumni Park on February 17. The park is located beside the student center and covered court.

The park was first conceived in 2022, and its groundbreaking was held on November 18, 2024, in collaboration with the MMSU Global Alumni (MGA)-Hawaii, Federated Alumni Association Incorporated (FAAI), and the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS).

Fast-forward to 2025, the newly opened MMSU Alumni Park aims to provide students with a comfortable study space and allow alumni and other stakeholders to connect with the MMSU community.

MGA has donated P2 million to the Alumni Park establishment, led by its President, Lawrence Patricio, an alumnus of the university under the Bachelor of Science in Administration major in Accounting program from the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA).

Two years in the making, Alumni Regent Gwyneth Quidang expressed gratitude for the support of FAAI, MGA, and other donors in establishing the park. 

She also thanked MMSU's 7th President, now Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Shirley C. Agrupis, immediate past OIC-President Prima Fe R. Franco, MGA President Lawrence Patricio, OSAS Director Emil James Tanagon, and Alumni Relations Chief Krismary Sharmaine Yapo-Agbigay for their contributions to the successful realization of the project.

“I hope we will extend our efforts to the CBEA, College of Health Sciences, and College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development–Dingras, ensuring that more colleges feel the impact of this initiative,” Ms. Quidang added.

Meanwhile, another milestone for FAAI and MMSU is the P30-million Alumni Multipurpose Building, which aims to strengthen alumni engagement at the university.

“We are proud to announce another achievement through the efforts of our Alumni Vice President, Vice Mayor Francis Maynard O. Bumanglag, we have successfully secured a project worth 30 million pesos under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) made possible through the support of Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba,” Ms. Quidang said.

MMSU OIC-President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. expressed his appreciation to the alumni for helping the university enhance its infrastructure and facilities. He also pledged that his administration would continue to work with the alumni community on future university programs and projects.

During the event, the MGA president announced they would also award academic excellence awards, with P10,000 each, to selected students during the MGA Global King & Queen Coronation and Ball.

University officials attended the inauguration, including college deans, FAII officers, generous sponsors from the MGA-Hawaii Chapter, and CBEA students.