Oriental Mindoro now has a state university, and I’m proud of it
MinSU was once a seed we’ve planted; now, it has come to fruition.
I still remember the hype surrounding MinSCAT inching closer to becoming a full-pledged standalone state university in the province of Oriental Mindoro. And, I just can’t believe this ultimate wish of every single MinSCATean has come full circle today.
CHED Regional Director Dr. Joselito Alisuag, in a Facebook post, certified the fulfillment of this long journey to universityhood, unveiling the Mindoro’s premier state college as the Mindoro State University, certified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) no less. The memorandum was inked a month ago but the confirmation today has sent the entire MinSCAT community in jubilation.
READ: History of MinSU
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Could have been an even greater celebration if not for COVID.
But the long voyage to the universityhood wasn’t a walk in the park. It brought with it lots of sacrifices, efforts, and full support from everyone — from the Administration, the faculty, the students, the stakeholders, and those who have seen the College as the huge vehicle of instruction in Oriental Mindoro. I myself have been a witness to it. And it takes y’all back to six years ago.
We have now landed to 2015 — the year the Warriors is building up an NBA dynasty and revolution, the time TikTok is not even the talk of the town, but it’s AlDub. Anyway, I was still a kid coming out of high school looking to perform my final educational act in an ideal college. I shouldn’t be here in the first place, because, you know, Manila is enticing me and initially, I’ve thought it’ll smell like a Chanel №5 men’s cologne if they know I’m studying at a university in Manila (with emphasis). The enrollment was a long, tedious process, and yes, full of papers to fill up. Regardless, I got in and had the first taste of what MinSCAT, formerly, I forgot about that, is brewing.
Unfortunately, it was cut short. I wasn’t able to continue to second semester, suck you, financial restraints. But a highlight event there was MinSCAT blowing 50 candles, golden anniversary that is. Not only I witnessed the entire community (witnessed that from home, scrolling Facebook by the way) put themselves up as one in celebrating the longevity and continuous passion for education and changing lives by the College, but also, its motivated and inspired drive to finally achieve the prize at the peak of Mt. Olympus — a state universityhood which it will solely hold in the province.
After my educational layoff, the drive continued. New courses, automated systems, school buildings on the rise. Accreditation, conformation, strengthening of academic foundations and frontline services. The College used to be shamed and named as ‘poor man’s Ateneo’ and ‘the lone choice when there are no choices left’ is now undergoing a huge make-up transformation, setting its sights to the ultimate pot of money at the end of the rainbow.
To be specific, MinSCAT fortified its capabilities on instruction, research and development and extension — all anchored towards its core values of responsibility, involvement, commitment, and excellence as well as the vision, mission, goals, and objectives (VMGO).
With the aid of President Rodrigo Duterte inking the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, more known to y’all as the Free Tuition Act, the College was able to expand its curricular offerings among its three campuses — Victoria Campus, Bongabong Campus, and the Calapan Campus, inviting more students to experience quality MinSCAT education in the process, coupling it with a beefed-up, competitive faculty.
Research and development have been one of the most significant progress drivers in the College, adhering to its objective of intensifying research and extension services. The past few years have seen numerous students and faculty members excel in research projects and get recognized and cited locally, regionally, nationally, and even in the international stage. As another way to reach out to the community, the extension services done through numerous community immersions, outreach programs, and livelihood assistance activities, were also reinforced, and I myself can attest to it. Being a frequent visitor at our Extension Office to sign proposals for such, it was indeed a fulfilling one when you’re able to help out a person or two through this initiative set up by the College, again, formerly. Prioritizing gender and development has also been an important element in all these.
And although COVID-19 has exposed a lot of rooms for improvement towards universityhood, the College was able to respond to it by giving students and teachers freedom on ways and means of administering classes. It has also kept in step with becoming a trusted community mover in the pandemic through giving out its very own herbal soaps as a way to assist medical frontliners.
And there it is, the dream that was formed almost a decade ago, built and nurtured years following, has finally transpired. Although there still are things that need to be attended, too, this already is a historic, momentous moment for the institution that has seen the best and worst of times, but continued to serve its purpose of becoming a self-reliant development center in Oriental Mindoro. No one’s left behind, because this is a collective success by all of us!
Tipping my cap for my alma mater, now Mindoro State University!
Thy great mission will never fail, and has never failed indeed!
