By Niña Cristelle Sumintac and Jesslyn Keith Valite

In celebration of their board passers, two top-performing colleges of MMSU, the College of Teacher Education (CTE) and the College of Health Sciences (CHS), held separate thanksgiving tributes on January 16 at the Batac and Laoag campuses.

The celebration started with a grand motorcade with board passers from different colleges, which began at Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall and passed through the City of Batac, San Nicolas, Laoag City, and Paoay.

It was followed by separate testimonial programs held at the Laboratory High School Gymnasium in Laoag City for CTE board passers and at Teatro Ilocandia for CHS.

MMSU OIC-President Prima Fe R. Franco reminded the new board passers to live up to the expectations of their Alma Mater. She emphasized the importance of carrying the values instilled by the university after earning their licenses, reinforcing that these principles should guide them in their future careers.

Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr., who was present at the CHS Thanksgiving, also applauded the nursing and physical therapy board passers for bringing MMSU to the forefront of excellence.
The celebration included special recognition for the topnotchers and awarded certificates and tokens of appreciation to board passers for their dedication and perseverance.

Ms. Shandie Carbonell, who ranked 8th at the secondary level of the 2024 September Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers, pledged her commitment to holding high the Green and Gold community beyond her license. “We shall uphold the noble profession of teaching with integrity, compassion, and dedication, honoring the legacy of excellence that defines our Alma Mater.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Mhelanie Dhave Vidad, November 2024 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination Rank 8,  expressed gratitude to MMSU for helping CHS students like her achieve their dreams.

CTE Dean Aris Reynold Cajigal expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the new passers and reminded them to prepare themselves for their next journey as professional teachers. He added, “[You] are now entering a new phase, ready to carry their metaphorical backpacks, equipped with three essential survival tools: pedagogical content knowledge, 21st-century skills to navigate challenges, and the values and mindset of a teacher.”

CHS Dean Cheryll Didi Neil Obra also expressed pride in the achievements of the new nurses and physical therapists from the college, calling their achievement “a testament of hard work and faith.”

With their consistent top performances in board examinations, CTE and CHS commit to producing industry-ready graduates who will contribute to the country's human capital and beyond.