By Jesslyn Keith Valite

Mariano Marcos State University graduates excel in various fields. In the province, some alumni hold important roles in the operations of SM City Laoag, the first SM mall in Ilocos Norte.

These MMSU graduates hold different positions within the mall’s administration, operations, and beyond. Let’s get to know them.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥

Charlotte Mae Manuel, a 2018 graduate of the electronics and communication engineering program at the College of Engineering (COE), is currently serving as the Cinema Operations Supervisor at SM City Laoag.

She shared that MMSU shaped her throughout her career journey. “At MMSU, I was exposed to the discipline and precision of engineering – that foundation has translated well to my role as operations supervisor at SM Cinema,” Manuel said.

𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗼

Another graduate from the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA), earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing Management in 2018, is Allan Dhave Saladino. He now serves as the Leasing Supervisor of SM City Laoag.

“MMSU taught me to lead with purpose and to always strive for excellence,” Saladino shared.

𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲

A 2016 graduate, Melanie Picante, is also from the BS in Economics program at CBEA. She is the Tenant Relations Officer of the mall.

Picante expressed how the university propelled her through her career development, saying, “Through a strong academic foundation and hands-on learning experiences, I developed the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-paced environment like the mall.”

𝗥𝘆𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗶𝗱

A marketing management graduate from 2023, Rya Cindy Marie Alcid, holds the position of Food Court Operations Assistant.

“MMSU didn’t just teach me what to do, it taught me how to think, solve problems, and lead by example,” she shared.

𝗬𝘃𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗼

Meanwhile, Yvette April Domingo, a 2017 graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Development, now holds the position of Treasury Supervisor.

“My university experience laid the foundation for my analytical thinking and problem-solving skills,” she said, adding that she now manages deadlines and thinks more critically in the workplace.

𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗼

A 2017 graduate in communication arts from the College of Arts and Sciences, Nina Trixia Bernardino has expanded MMSU’s role in shaping her career as a Treasury Officer at SM City Laoag.

“Through my coursework (mass communication) in MMSU, I developed strong communication, time management, and problem-solving skills that are essential in my current role at the mall,” she expressed.

𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼

As a Building Administration Officer, Christian Lucky Amoncio, a 2018 electrical engineering graduate, also considers MMSU the biggest learning hub where his skills were molded.

“The lessons I learned at MMSU—especially the importance of being detail-oriented and proactive—shaped how I handle my work today,” he shared.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗼-𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶

Joining the building administration team, Cherry Ann Perdido-Tabili is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2020.

Working as a building administration officer, Tabili considers MMSU a supportive ground for developing the qualifications needed in her role. “I didn’t fancy it all, it just happened – it would be something I will always be proud of,” she said

𝗘𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮

As MMSU alumni continue to excel at the biggest retail business in the province, some are also working in the engineering department, primarily as resident engineers.

These include Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering graduates, Efreline Tacang from the Class of 2020, and Deeps Justine Acosta of the Class of 2023.

“The academic and non-academic experiences at MMSU prepared me for the responsibilities I now handle as resident engineer,” Tacang shared.

“MMSU helped build skills, confidence, and knowledge I needed to land the job,” added Acosta.

𝗘𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗺

Also, leading one of the mall’s offices, Eileen Lim from the CBEA Class of 2004 now serves as senior accounting manager at the SM store.

These MMSU graduates prove how their university education has equipped them with the skills and confidence to succeed in their careers.

In 2024, MMSU and SM Supermalls entered into a partnership to strengthen the human resources and career development programs for students and alumni of the university.