THE MMSU Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team has been chosen finalist in the National SIFE Exposition set Aug. 1-2 at the Hotel Dusit in Makati City. (News that just came in reported that the MMSU-SIFE Team emerged third runner-up in the  national exposition participated by 20 colleges and universities from all over the country. San Beda College won the championship and will represent the country in the World Cup in Singapore on Oct. 1-4. The three runners-up, including the team from MMSU, will join the Philippine  delegation to Singapore.)

This is the fourth time that MMSU is joining the yearly competition. In fact, the team bagged the national championship in 2006 and went to Paris, France for the World Cup. The team made it to the semi-final round of the world competition participated by 46 teams.

This year’s team is composed of Greggy Martel C. Felipe (B.S. Accountancy IV), Ralph Emerson Ray A. Agonoy (B.S. Biology II), Efren Jonicel D. Domingo (B. Secondary Education III), and James Patrick A. Acang (B.S. Computer Science IV). Dr. Marivic M. Alimbuyuguen, extension director, serves as executive adviser and Bella C. Gervacio, extension directorate staff, stands as team adviser.

About SIFE

SIFE is global non-profit organization active in 48 countries and territories aimed toward the development of entrepreneurial skills. It provides an opportunity for students to become involved in their community by participating in SIFE educational projects that build teamwork, dedication and communication, management and leadership skills. SIFE is a wide- reaching program that has been adopted by more than 900 colleges across the world.

The organization is funded by giant business corporations, entrepreneurs, and foundations including government agencies and individuals from all over the world.  It works in partnership with the business sector and higher education institutions.

SIFE Philippines was established in 2001 and has membership of 30 active teams from higher education institution campuses from all over the country challenged to develop community outreach projects that focus on market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.

The MMSU SIFE Project

This year, the SIFE Team documented the benefits of bamboo production, how bamboo products help producers, and activities undertaken to disseminate various uses of bamboo.
The bamboo program is an award-winning undertaking of the university that aims to develop, promote, and accelerate the bamboo industry in the Ilocos Region.

Rural men and women interested to engage in bamboo processing are the target beneficiaries of the MMSU SIFE Project. Members of the team have initiated the conduct of trainings on bamboo plantation establishment and processing. Entrepreneurial skills were also taught to the trainees for them to realize the value of the products which can augment their family income.  The team activities were realized through the support of the Bamboo Development Project of the university. (With reports from The Extensionist)