By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

MMSU has been reaping a lot of success in the past years, but the culture of ACHIEVE-ing is expected to prosper even more in the coming years.

This is today’s re-echoing mantra in the Mariano Marcos State University as it kicked-off its 45th Foundation Anniversary Celebration. With thousands of faculty members, students and stakeholders joining the opening activities this morning, MMSU has set the rhythm of the festivities highlighting its victories in the past year, and showing zeal to achieve more in 2023 and beyond.

The anniversary celebration started with a Diana around the City of Batac early today, January 6, inviting the public to join the month-long activities in campus. This was followed by a thanksgiving service at the Teatro Ilocandia, which was livestreamed via the University Facebook page (@MMSUofficial). 

Reverend Florentino Reyes, dean of the College of Theology of the Northern Christian College, and Pastor Marcial Gabriel of the Christ the Chief Cornerstone Christian Church served as ministers in the service.

After the thanksgiving service, the Garden Show and Trade Fair was opened to the public at the College of Law grounds. This includes horticultural exhibitions and research-based technologies of MMSU researchers and assisted entrepreneurs; the pomology and floriculture nurseries, and other products of private exhibitors and government agencies. 

This year’s trade fair is joined in by over 120 exhibitors which are grouped into four: furniture and handicrafts section with 20 exhibitors; food and refreshments, 50; dry goods, 29; garden show, 18; and, technology-based products, six. 

University President Shirley C. Agrupis welcomed the MMSU constituents and visitors during the kick-off activities. “We are celebrating our foundation anniversary in full blast this year by bringing you a wide array of events.”

“As we position MMSU to achieve more in the future, let us continue working and innovating so that we can see a significant increase in the number and diversity of our achievements next year,” PSCA urged. 

Mr. Jeremy Balisacan, an agribusiness graduate of MMSU College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, and now the owner and manager of Agapeland Organic Farm and Learning Center in the City of Batac, served as guest speaker in the trade fair and garden show opening.

The celebration will continue with the following activities: tree planting at the Biodiversity Park on Jan. 13; unveiling of brag wall at FEM Hall, launching of Indigenous Research Consortium, and Anniversary Convocation on Jan. 19; stakeholders’ forum, and technology showcase and farmers forum on Jan. 20; Alumni Day on Jan. 21; Teatro Normal's play titled “Ang Lagusan” on Jan. 24; launching of Open House in Batac campus on Jan. 25-27; Professional and Academic Journey Across Cultures on Jan. 26; consultation forum with retirees and PRAISE Awards on Jan. 27; Watwat 5.0 on Jan. 30; and Parambak iti Away and PTV Ilocos Norte launch on Jan. 31. 

MMSU was established on January 6, 1978 through Presidential Decree 1279 signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. In the recent past, MMSU achieved notable recognitions, the biggest of which are its inclusion in the Times Higher Education World Impact Rankings (second in the country and 401st-600th in the world), and in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings (fifth in the country and 356th in the world). It also prevailed as top 101-200 in the overall rankings of the World Universities with Real Impact, and entered in the WURI’s top 50 universities for three impact categories: 4th in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 36th in industrial application, and 49th in crisis management. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)