Feature: 60-year-old Marinduque State College looks ahead for future

Saturday 7th of July 2012

The Marinduque State College (MSC), the sole state institution of higher learning in the island province of Marinduque, celebrated its 60th Foundation Day (June 21, 1952-June 21, 2012) with the theme, “At 60, the Pride of MSAT; the leadership of MIST; the quality of MSC; the Honor of the future university.”

The Marinduque School of Arts and Trades was founded on June 21, 1952 through House Bill No. 2743 authored by then Congressman Panfilo Manguera, and Republic Act No. 805 signed by President Elpidio Quirino. The following year, the campus was established in Brgy. Tanza, Boac, Marinduque, offering two-year Technical Education course and a four-year Secondary Education Curriculum.

Later, the school offered four-year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Curriculum and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education Curriculum.

Assemblywoman Carmencita O. Reyes authored the Batas Pambansa Blg. 377, an act converting MSAT to Marinduque Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), broadening for the purpose of its curricular programs in Science and Technology. It was signed into law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on April 8, 1983.

On January 5, 1990, by virtue of RA 6833 authored by Congresswoman Carmencita O. Reyes, MIST was renamed into MSC, signed by President Corazon C. Aquino. It brought the institution to offer additional degree courses such as Bachelor of Science in Information Management, Bachelor in Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, all offered in Boac campus.

Republic Act No. 7319, an act establishing the satellite branches of MSC in Poctoy, Torrijos as College of Agriculture, in Banuyo, Gasan as College of Fisheries, and absorb the Marinduque Community College (MCC) in Sta. Cruz, authored by then Congresswoman Carmencita O. Reyes, was approved by President Corazon Aquino on March 30, 1992.

In the current College President’s term, Dr. Romulo H. Malvar (2005-present) elevated MSC from its SUC status Level I to SUC Level II of the CHED-DBM Joint Evaluation. Its curricular programs were accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines Inc., and the college received various recognitions towards excellent performance in instruction, research and extension, production and administration.

At present, as a multi-campus State College, MSC campuses have different field of concentration. The Boac – Main campus’ flagship courses are Engineering, Secondary Education, Technology, Allied Medicine, Information Technology, Business and Management, Criminal Justice Education and Arts and Sciences courses.

It also offers courses in Doctor of Education major in Curriculum Development and Management, Master of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Public Administration. On the other hand, Sta. Cruz campus has courses in Elementary Education, Political Science, Information System/ Information Management and Tourism Management. Torrijos Campus is specialized in Agricultural courses, while Gasan Campus is concentrated on Fisheries.

The House Bill No. 04557, known as the University Bill of MSC, introduced by Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco in the House of Representatives last March 23, 2011 seeks conversion of MSC including its satellite campuses in the province into a state university to be known as Marinduque State University. The conversion of MSC into a university enables the government to support aspiring students of Marinduque to afford and gain excellence and private higher education in the province, provided in the future Marinduque State University.

For six decades of service and excellence, from the former national high school category, MSC continues to promote dynamic leadership, providing quality and responsive education to all Marinduqueños.

Taking the lead for its institutional celebration, College Personnel, Faculty and Officials as well as the students of MSC offered a thanksgiving mass, officiated by the Parochial Vicars of Immaculate Conception Parish-Boac, Rev. Fr. Milliemar M. Perin as the celebrant and co-celebrant Rev. Fr. Wilfredo Magcamit, in the morning of June 20 at the Panfilo Manguera Sr. Park, MSC Boac Campus. Masses were also celebrated in the college’s satellite campuses in Torrijos, Sta. Cruz and Gasan.

The opening parade, led by the marching Mogpog Brass Band, was participated in by students from different schools and satellite campuses of the college, personnel, faculty and College officials, along with the display of floats of the MSAT, MIST, MSC and the future Marinduque State University.

Included in the joyful atmosphere of the parade were the Drum and Lyre Band of Marinduque National High School and Don Luis Hidalgo Memorial School, all were presented to the public, held in Boac town proper to MSC Boac Campus in the morning of the MSC’s historic day, June 21, 2012.

“Let’s move as one, to be one and to unify as one...for future Marinduque State University,” said Dr. Romulo H. Malvar, the MSC President in his welcome remarks during the opening program held in the MSC Covered Court. Everyone was acknowledged by the President who bore great tasks for this historic event in MSC.

“With unity and cooperation, let’s continue to provide quality education and excellence in the region," Dr. Malvar emphasized.

In honor of the Keynote Speaker and Congressman of Marinduque, Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, representative and head officer-District II in the Office of the Congressman, Alejandro C. Palamos delivered Velasco's speech in front of MSC audience. In the speech, he encouraged everyone to support the vision to achieve the conversion of MSC to Marinduque State University, with the help and responsibility of everyone, particularly the faculty and students, as instruments for the aspiring success of the College and the province as a whole.

Together with the guest speaker’s representative Mr. Alejandro Palamos, Dr. Romulo H. Malvar and College officials celebrated the festive highlight of the event that morning - the ceremonial blowing of cake and the toast for successful future university of MSC. Everyone cheerfully joined the singing of the MSC Hymn, as the program ended that morning.

Ceremonial tree planting of 60 trees was also held in this event. College officials, faculty, employees and students participated in the planting of trees at the backyard of the new MSC-Engineering Building, Boac Campus. An exhibit of MSC’s memorabilia was also presented at the Learning Resource Center, displaying the past and present memorabilia of the College, mostly old pictures, books and magazines that recognized the achievements of the College in the past years.

In the afternoon of the same day, Battle of the Bands was held in the MSC-Boac Covered Court. The contest was open to all bands, participated by talented students of the college and outsiders, too. Among the members of the Board of Judges were Mr. Jerome “Chino” Leyco, Mr. Gilbert Montaña and Ms. Annabelle Marmol. The competition proper exhibited various styles in performance of the participants, mostly were products of the institution, itself. The Music Education Band, called as “Musikalikut” got the first prize title, with a corresponding prize of P4,000; Katribu band (mostly outsiders) had the Second prize title, with the P2,500 prize; and the Reject band, the only three-member student band which had the title for third prize with a P1,500 prize. All participating bands were awarded with certificates of participation and P500 consolation prizes.

A Solidarity Night and recognition program in the honor of the 2011 and 2012 retirees were tendered, in the night of June 21 at the MSC-Boac Covered Court. It was a harmonious celebration, with the officials, alumni, faculty and staff of the College. Among the well-respected retirees who were honored in that occasion were Conchita M. Leyco, Porferio L. Lope, Angelita SJ. Logmao, Trinidad M. Magahis, Imelda B. Nepomuceno, Cristito E. Racion, Lucita O. Oliverio, Judith L. Magalang, Rosalinda M. Castro and Amelia M. Merano. The said retirees were highly commended for their contributions to the college, for they were part of the MSC family and of its soon-to-come achievement in universityhood.

In the next years, MSC aims to continue with its legacy of providing quality and dynamic leadership and high educational excellence in instruction, research, extension and production, for the sustainable development of the province and the country as a whole. (Jofel Joyce D. Lancion-MSC/ Mlagran)