v01 by Jp Eugenio

Palakasan I I T i a n U n it y F o r g e d i n H i s t o r y

2013

he Palakasan. The IITian experience is simply incomplete without it. It is the marquee event that everyone – yes, literally everyone, even those outside the walls of our campus – looks forward to. Not only is it a showcase of prodigious IITian talent and skill, it is the greatest display of unity and camaraderie among all the constituents in the Institute. A friendly competition among the eight existing colleges, the Palakasan annually reminds us how important it is for all colleges to work hand in hand in order to reach MSU-IIT’s goals of becoming truly world-class. In short, it is team building set to the grandest of scales. And on 2013, oh was the scale so grand. To many observers the 2013 Palakasan was definitely one of the more intense competitions in recent memory. The games were more physical. The preparation was more extensive. The result was an explosive bonanza of talent day after day. So how did all the colleges hold up in 2013? Who reigned supreme in your final year as a student in MSU-IIT? What new trends emerged in this particular year? Of course you already know, but let’s just do a recap of the amazing events that transpired in this remarkably well-handled Palakasan run.

NEW EVENTS, SAME INTENSITY KASAMA introduced a new event this year, the Mass Dance, inspired by viral flash mob dance videos that were extremely popular on Youtube during this particular year. The event, meant as a cost-efficient replacement to the uber-expensive Mardi Gras and Cheerleading Competitions, was warmly welcomed by the IITian community. CEDIDS won this event, drawing first blood during the Opening Program. The Booth Making competition was also a brand new addition to this year’s round of

events. All colleges were tasked to create beautiful booths which they felt strongly represented what their college stood for. Many colleges employed splendid designs for their booths. CASS, for instance, created a very huge tarantula spider out of styrofoam; CON and CBAA used multimedia such as projectors and TV screens to impress the judges. What stood out, however, was the marvelously designed, air-conditioned SET Tigers booth. The booth resembled the head of a large tiger with the mouth gaping wide open, made entirely out of papier mâché.

SPORTS EVENTS There’s no denying that sports events have always been the strongest suit of COE’s fiery Dragons. It is no wonder then that COE won all major and minor sports events quite handily, sweeping the entire category unapologetically. They ranked first in Basketball Women, Volleyball Men and Women, Softball Men, Ultimate Frisbee and Futsal, which constitutes 75% of all major sports. In minor sports COE also reigned supreme, gaining a 7.875 percentile out of a possible 10. This made COE the runaway victor of all the sports events, a feat that they’ve now done thrice in a row, as they were also the

sports champions in the 2011 and 2012 Palakasan. SET also had an impressive run in the sports category, winning second overall. They became champion in Basketball Men, Lawn Tennis Men and Sepak Takraw, and ranked second or third in a majority of all the sports events. SCS came in third, garnering first place in Softball Women and Chess Men. The rest of the colleges also did spectacularly well, with all the athletes really putting their hearts into it.

CULTURAL EVENTS The Palakasan cultural events are always the most volatile of the three main categories. You can never be sure who will emerge supreme as it’s a different flavor, a distinct taste every year. Nevertheless, the nightly performances this year have been extraordinary. The SCS Wolves enthralled everyone with their perfectly executed dance numbers, winning second in both Pop Dance and Wannabe. SET also left the entire gymnasium thunderstruck with their acrobatic performances during the Pop Dance, eventually earning them first place. The angelic and near-perfect blending sequences of CON Sharks’ Vocal Trio singers helped them win said competition. Clearly, all colleges had their moments in the spotlight. The bigger story though was the performances of the two colleges who were now clear candidates to win the overall Palakasan 2013 championship: CED-IDS and CASS. The Arachnids, seeking to relive its 2010 glory year, won the Night of Songs, winning first in Band Storm, second in Vocal Trio, and third in Choral Singing. CED-IDS ranked a close second, snagging the first place in Choral Singing. However, it was the opposite case during the

Night of Dances. CED-IDS won both Wannabe and Dance Sport, making them champions on that particular night. Overall, CEDIDS took the Cultural Events crown, gaining 20.625%. CASS gained 17.562%. Of course, this wasn’t the end of the battle yet.

LITERARY EVENTS The literary events were a much different story. Here it wasn’t COE and SET who were waging war against each other, but CED-IDS and CASS. Early on it seemed like the Legendary Fusion was going to take the victory, with very impressive wins in Mural Painting, Storytelling (English) and Oration (English) on the first day. However, CASS didn’t let up and proceeded to win Chamber Theater, Quiz Bowl, and Debate Open, while maintaining very high ranks in the remaining events. In the end the Arachnids’ venom proved most potent in this category. CASS won as champion in the literary events, gaining 20.94% out of a possible 28%. CED-IDS didn’t trail very far behind though with 18.85%. CSM also performed well in this category, gaining a total of 16.34% and most notably garnering first place in Oration (Filipino) and Storytelling (Filipino). CBAA was also remarkable in this category, winning Debate Freshmen and Spelling Bee.

MR. AND MS. IIT The final proving ground of the 2013 Palakasan was the Mr. and Ms. IIT 2013, the last nightly event. This particular event was highly anticipated following some controversial issues (which we’re probably not allowed to disclose here, but let’s just say it involved a lot of cameras and bad graphic design). The competition featured the contestants wearing their college shirts, ethnic attires, cocktail outfits, and national costumes. After all the aforementioned exposures, the Top 3 distinctions were awarded to CASS, CSM and COE for the males, CBAA, COE and CON for the females.

With all the scores back to zero, the candidates gave their all during the Question and Answer portion, braving a highly critical IITian crowd. In the end, Raphael Paolo Purganan of CASS took the Mr. IIT title, declaring that he “has made history”, a subtle pun referring to his course, AB History. Dian Sardalla of CBAA won Ms. IIT, confidently saying that “peace starts with our selves” after being asked “Do only the military officers maintain the peace in a community?” The other candidates also won various special awards.

THE FINAL RESULTS

THE ALLIANCES

UNITY BEFORE GLORY

In third place, gaining an overall total 63.188%, were the COE Dragons. Their near-perfect showing in the sports events helped cement their rank in the Top 3; however, it was not enough as other colleges also gained huge advances in the other categories.

What made this year very special was the unexpected formation of the “alliances”, or informal coalitions of two or more colleges out of friendship. This was very evident during the night events where one college would cheer for another college’s performance. The CON Sharks and COE Dragons were the first to become an alliance, referring to themselves as “CONgineering” (a portmanteau of the words ‘CON’ and ‘Engineering’) and “Shargons” (fusion of the words ‘Sharks’ and ‘Dragons’). The original idea was that nurses were a natural romantic fit for engineers. As such, they were also naturally predisposed to coalesce with each other during the Palakasan. Other colleges followed suit: CBAA and SCS went on to form the “Wolffins” (Wolf + Griffins) while SET, CSM and CASS also formed the “SET Arachlynx” (SET + Arachnids + Lynx) alliance.

The Palakasan indeed is a very fierce and intense competition. It is one that is marked with unmistakable fervor from all sides. No one wants to lose. The legacy of all the colleges is at stake, and it’s not something that the Student Executive Councils take lightly. Anyone who closely follows the championship trail knows that nothing could be left to chance. All the participants are in it to win it. The desire to win the championship, clearly, is a manifestation of the IITian’s commitment to excellence. Therefore, the Palakasan is more than just an array of competitions and events. It is also a mental and spiritual undertaking that promises to provide the holistic development each IITian needs. This is a purpose that far transcends the trophies and the accolades all the participating colleges seek to gain.

The overall first runner-up of the 2013 Palakasan went to the mighty CASS Arachnids (65.884%), whose performance in the literary events was an outstanding return to form. They also ranked highly in the cultural events. Sadly, they only ranked fifth in the sports category, which didn’t bode well for their championship bid. The Legendary Fusion of CED-IDS, therefore, went on to rake their third championship in a row, gaining an overall total of 68.419%. Their win was ensured by their unequaled dominance in the dancing and singing competitions, their consistent efforts in the sports events, and their much-needed second place win in the literary events. This win helped CED-IDS reinforce their Palakasan dominance in the ‘10s era. As of the time of this writing, it seems like no one would be able to stop them from winning it all again and again.

Another very exciting story in this particular Palakasan stint was the unprecedented unity of the college governors. It was unheard of in the past for college leaders to be genuinely close to each other, but Lewey Jimoya (CASS), Aren Daga (CSM), Ben Barrientos (COE), Jomie Hospital (CBAA), Miguel Arazo (SET), Arven Aguilar (SCS), Delvin Marquez (CON) and Jikka Dipasucat (CED-IDS) changed all that this year, becoming very good friends, eventually styling themselves as “The Governors’ League”. The friendship inspired the entire IITian community to treat their fellow competitors with respect and deference, a message that reverberated throughout the entire affair.

Of course, as the Palakasan is a competition, someone still has to win. Unlike most competitions though, unity is the backdrop in which such victories are celebrated. This makes the MSU-IIT Palakasan even more special. The rivalries here are not bitter; the fierceness could not be mistaken for anger or envy. Unity precedes whatever glory is in store for the colleges or the individual participants. Indeed, it is the collective victory of the MSU-IIT community that is forged in history, and not just the victory of the few.

Revisiting istory H T

he MSU-IIT may be climbing greater heights, but it never forgets its humble beginnings with every step. In honor and reverence of MSU-IIT’s past, the Institute’s 44th Charter was celebrated on July 2013 with the theme “Greater Heights through Internationalization”. The event was marked with merriment and just a general sense of elation everywhere, as students and faculty alike prepped up for various events. Banners bearing the Institute colors were set up; food stalls were present everywhere. Freedom walls sprawled throughout the entire campus, and students did overnight work to extensively prepare for the three-day affair.

The annual IIT Tabo was set up inside the IDS Multipurpose Hall, adding to the already vibrant atmosphere of the Charter Week. It is a makeshift marketplace where vendors and businesses from all over the city would peddle their goods and delicacies to IITians who might want to patronize their products.

IIT Remembers Its Past with 44th Charter

Local food stuff and indigenous burloloy, as well as popular ukay-ukay items were sold in droves. Various organizations also had their booths set up, to entice prospect members and to showcase their contributions to the IITian community. Clique, the most prominent photography club inside the campus, displayed their members’ best photographic work. Other groups such as the Humanitarian Affairs, Life Box, and the Philippine Red Cross were also present during the week-long celebration. Thematically, the Charter Week paid tribute to Filipino culture and aesthetics. The opening activity was the Parada de Tartanilla, a parade reminiscent of Filipino fiestas. Colleges and different administrative departments were represented by local, indigenously designed horse carriages, crafted by students and faculty members themselves. Select IIT delegates including peo-

ple from the Chancellor’s and Vice Chancellors’ offices paraded throughout Iligan City’s normally busy thoroughfares. The parade ended at the Institute Gymnasium, where an Opening Program was held. Alfredo E. Pascual, the 20th President of the University of the Philippines, was the Guest Speaker of the 44th Charter Day. He talked about the healthy relationship of the UP system and MSU-IIT, and how MSU-IIT is crucial to the future successes of the country, particularly in Mindanao. He said that “in competition and cooperation, MSU-IIT has what it takes”. The history of the Institute was described shortly thereafter, from its humble beginnings as a high school, to its conversion into a technical school, and finally, to its integration in the MSU system. The first nightly event was the annual Gabi ng Sining. It showcased tremendous IITian talent from various organizations, namely, the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG), the Kalimulan Cultural Dance Troupe, the Octava Choral Society, the Institute band Echoes and the MSU-IIT Cheerleading Squad. As usual, the world-class performances were met with standing ovations and near-universal acclaim.

The students also had something cooking up. The KASAMA, headed by Pres. Redeemtor Sacayan organized activities that were reflective of Filipino culture. Various Laro ng Lahi games such as Tug of Peace, Patintero, Sungka, and Slipper Game were played by the eight colleges. Competitions such as Dula, Sabayang Pagbigkas, Clay Molding and Canvas Painting were also held. The second nightly event, titled Kanyawan, featured Folk Singing, Harana, and Ethnic Dancing competitions. During the closing program, CSM was declared the overall champion for the Charter Week. Much like most of the events were a tribute to the nation’s glorious past, the entire activity was a tribute to the history of MSUIIT itself – how it began, how it flourished, where it is now, and where it is headed.

onorable Guest, Dr. Catherine Genevieve B. Lagunzad, Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Jinky B. Bornales, Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Ferdinand P. Jamil, Assistant Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Prof. Sasha Anne Valdez, Department Chairpersons, faculty and staff, graduates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I feel nostalgic standing here in front of you right now. Exactly four years and twelve days from today, I stood in this very same place to deliver a speech in front of my classmates, together with the other two summa cum laudes of this institution who are now making history being the first summa cum laudes from the Department of Biological Sciences-Den and Arjay, who were also the Salutatorian and First Honorable Mention respectively when we graduated from the Integrated Developmental School of this Institution. It feels like high school all over again except for the fact that we are all grown-ups now, mature and ready to face the real world.v

Institute Valedictory Address

The day has finally come. Today, we get to see the proud smiles of our families and teachers, and we feel the immense fulfillment after all the hard work and struggles. On this day, we celebrate our transformation into equipped adults ready to spread our wings, and ready to take the world by storm. It may sound a bit exaggerated to you, but it is highly possible because it is our dream, our vision to do so. Numerous scientific works recognized in national and international conferences, students competing and winning in various competitions have clearly put an indelible mark on CSM which has Centers of Excellence and Development accredited departments. We have a host of Ph.D. faculty members, various linkages with other prestigious universities around the world and a lot more are proof that College of Science and Mathematics one of the best college that has nurtured and produced brilliant minds. If this still does not convince you, then look back at how CSM has made your college life a living hell. Remember those times when we wished exam dates and deadlines were extended or that the next day was a holiday after spending the night in the laboratory doing experiments? Or even those times when we just wanted to punch a wall to express all the frustration after receiving a failing grade. I even remember the time when we were so happy after finding out that two of our classmates have passed this Math subject when we thought that they have failed it and would not be able to graduate with us. We were screaming in celebration and some of us were even crying because of the good news. Those indeed are great proofs that our life in

CSM has not been easy but you will agree with me that it has molded us into who we are now-stronger and better. I am sure that all the struggles will be remembered but it is the good memories that will last forever. We CSM students are known to be hard workers, resilient and dedicated in our fields but we also know how to have fun. College life would definitely be dull and boring without all the special events and competitions held yearly, either between colleges and schools or between societies. It always excited me when these events were held because it allowed us students to use and express fully our other talents some of which may not ever be connected with the career path that we have chosen. All the rivalries and all the drama kept these events alive and interesting. And then, I have my own impressions about each society within the college. I believe for example, that the Chemistry students and teachers have beautiful toned legs which they may have gotten from all the leg exercises they do every single day. Three flights of stairs was already frightening to most of us. The SMAS people always enthralled us with their heavenly voices. I guess math lovers truly are Music lovers. The Haynayan Society really amused me for having the most number of students and yet not having a society office. Nevertheless, they still managed to win every year during CSM week. Now that’s something isn’t it? Lastly, we KMP students seem to be the noisiest and the most hyper-active bunch. There always seemed to be a live band performance inside our office which attracted a lot of complaints from the neighboring offices. But despite all of these differences, we have become united in times especially when the call to be united came. And of course, college life would have been so difficult without our classmates and friends, not because they are the sources of our homework, but because they have helped make this journey a lot easier by just sharing a laugh with us. A lot of people say that it is in college where you will find yourself. It is where you will get to know yourself better and be able to set out the plan on how you will live your life in the future. Most of us enter this stage unsure of ourselves and of our purposes. That is why we have been given the chance to transfer to a different program in case we felt like we were lost. I remember one of my teachers asking the whole class “why Physics?” and we went dead silent. You know it is quite embarrassing that we could not answer that question but just saying, “Because I love it”. But the years I have spent here in CSM was filled with inspiring events causing me to slowly re-

alize that I have made the right decision in choosing this career path. I am sure you guys feel the same way. Our teachers have never failed in showing us the beauty and importance of Science in our lives. They have continued to inspire us not only to be the greatest scientists and masters of our respective fields but also be responsible as we can be. All of you here sitting in front of me, and wearing these prestigious garments, are proof that they have done their job well an now it is our turn to make them proud-of us! Yes, that is true, whether we look at our teachers as mentors or tormentors, they are proud of us and we will always be grateful for all their efforts. Our time in this college was enough to convince us to become passionate about our work. My classmates at the back are possibly laughing right now thinking that I am passionate of something else which is remotely related to Physics. But no, I would not be standing in front of you today if I was not and I would not be planning to get a Ph.D. in Physics if I did not love it. And then we have our families who are very proud of us especially today. They are our biggest fans for they have never wavered in believing in our abilities. They have supported us financially, emotionally, and in every other aspect of our journey. They cried with us, laughed with us, and celebrated with us. Remember those times when you were so nervous about telling your parents that you have failed in a subject or those times when your mom called and you told her you are studying when you were actually out partying or just hanging out with friends? My Physics classmates have this habit of trying to get one of us in trouble when our parents called us. They would shout “Tagay! Tagay! Imuha nang shot!” to make their parents believe that they were actually drinking, and this worked a couple of times too. But no matter how much we have made our parents disappointed, I believe that this is the greatest payback we could give to them. I have achieved a lot of things in this long journey. I lost weight, gained friends, learned a lot, worked as a lab assistant in NIP, represented IIT in competitions, presented papers in scientific conferences and a lot more. But these accomplishments would not have been made possible without certain people who have made a difference in my life so it is just fitting that I express my deepest gratitude to them for all the things they have done for me. First and the most important of all, I would like to thank Almighty God for everything. He is the reason for all these accomplishments and He will always be the meaning of my existence. To my family, Mama, Tatay, and my sisters, thank you for all the love and support. We have been

though a lot and yet we have managed to stay together. I know you have always told me that you are proud of me, and I promise to continue making you all happy and proud. To my teachers, mentors, and coaches, thank you so much for all the knowledge you have imparted to me and my classmates. I will forever treasure all these. I am especially grateful to my Math teachers, who I respect a lot because Mathematics will always be my first love. To the faculty and staff of the Department of Physics, thank you so much for taking such great care of us Physics students. I know that we have made you proud after receiving wonderful feedback from our bosses during our OJTs, and we promise to continuously do so. I would also like to thank my thesis advisers, Prof. Beverly V. Gemao and Dr. Jinky B. Bornales for their guidance and help in my undergraduate thesis. We will strive never to fail you and embarrass you and we will strive to show the world how fulfilling it is to study Physics. To all of my friends, especially my classmates in the Bachelor of Science in Physics, Jade, Clint, Jayson, Aries, Tin, Dolor, Madam Exedy, Kuya Tom, Roch, Chow, Kenneth, Marjune, Leah, Jessica, Kath, James, June and all the others I have not mentioned, thank you so much for being the best companions in this arduous four year journey. And lastly, in behalf of all the graduates of CSM Class 2014, I would like to thank the College of Science and Mathematics for molding us into being and becoming the best versions of ourselves. I would like to end by saying that we graduates have big shoes to fill in. But we do not have to worry with God’s grace, we will become legends someday because we are graduates of CSM. It truly is marvelous to be part of CSM. Thank you and good morning.

JAN PHILIPPE B. SAMBO

Bachelor of Science in Physics Summa Cum Laude

Red in Grey What is the IITian experience? What is the IITian brand? There is no definite answer - not yet BY

Floraime Pantaleta

his is what we remember. The tangerines and the yellows. The newly painted gates that before featured pink. We are welcomed by gates with flat arches and tiles of grey that aren’t pale enough. We see the faces that first greet us when we arrive. We smile back at them as they check to see our IDs then proceed to walk straight to our colleges. Or we stop because we are reprimanded at first sight. Our hair are too long, too green, too light. Our skirts, too short. Dresses that do not follow the dress code. Pants rolled above the ankles. Tops with no sleeves. Tops too short for our torsos. The words “MSU–ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY” in silver hang above the flat-arched gates commanding people from outside to look at them, to read as if a label. Think about labels like those found on boxes of dolls or Lego blocks. We leave the school through the exit gates eventually every day and the label still hangs there but the words do not stay. We carry the words with us as persons or perhaps yes, dolls in some if not many ways. It says something like “I am formed by this institute.” Tales about people, graduates of this school are found even in corners outside this city. My father once told me about this one friend in Manila who exclaimed

when told that he was sending his children to IIT, “that’s a very good school!” Before, I did not know what that meant. What is a “good school” anyway? Most of those graduating from high school use this criterion in choosing a college besides financial considerations. But what does that mean? We find out only later. The year before I entered IIT as a student, I was told it was the top 4 school in Accountancy in the entire country. This is how we find out—through surveys and rankings of the top schools in the country and even around the world. When we see our school—in this case, when I saw that MSU-IIT was part of the top 10 schools in lists, I felt it had to be saying something. IIT excelling in those areas where it was listed as part of the top 10 schools might be saying that IIT is a good school. Or is it? What is our standard? Are these rankings our standard? What is usually unspoken but overarch our choices in choosing a university education is our desire for branding. What we look for is a particular brand; an identity we can stamp upon ourselves, a tradition that has long been there that we can be part of, a slogan we can also shout with others who have made similar choices and to others who have chosen different.

In my early days in IIT, I asked myself this particular question in a mumble while I walked around school, still wide-eyed (not literally) about many things—what is the IITian brand? “We don’t only admit the best and the brightest, we make them.” I have read these words on the flyer of IIT before I took the SASE. However, what is it that sets us apart from everybody else? Even those who are of high academic achievement as well? What is our formation in IIT? For a while, I was quite obsessed with the question. Every day, it stayed at the back of my mind and until now, I wait until something adds to the answers I have already gathered. I was obsessed and disappointed at how I did not really hear stories about the school’s history or about the halls of our buildings or about people who have walked these halls. IIT was raw to me. Unlike other schools with their own tales to tell and stories that cannot be found elsewhere, the place colored with different shades of tangerine did not have anything to invite a girl with a thirst for stories with. Eventually, I became a sophomore. Three semesters and five more to go (or maybe more, who knows?) I built my theory on the rawness of IIT. The organizations, the student body, the publication, the debate varsity—all of these are not as institutionalized as well as they should be and they sometimes seem to be in their experimental stage. They are not as well-maintained as they should be. They are not functioning to the fullest of their abilities. The yearbook publication does not have a place of its own in the campus (it changes its office every year). Sometimes, organizations are organizations just because they have been there for a long time. The campus activities are activities that have been there for a long time. There are innovations but only very little. I find this to be a paradox because IIT, in all its rawness, gives everybody a chance to begin new things, to create new things, to start new things. Never have I seen a place like IIT where everything is in flux and only very little remain in the memory. Professor Fatimah Joy Almarez of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) once shared in a colloquium how Charlson Ong articulated the importance of memory when he said, “…the fear of death is not the fear of losing the future but of losing the past. It is the fear of forgetfulness, of Alzhiemers… Every story is a hedge against death, against forgetfulness. [One] remembers

for [one’s] self. [One] remembers for others.” Many of us will meet people after we have left the halls of IIT, we will bump into some and not even recognize they have been in IIT as well. There must be something, something that will serve like a badge that should make each of us recognizable as IITians. And I think there is. And I think it is the more important thing than rankings. MSU-IIT tries its best to provide the best quality of education it can for Mindanaoans, catering to those who have academic and artistic talent, and those who have the perseverance to nurture these aptitudes. It upholds the principle of unity in diversity for it attempts at fostering the integration of the tri-people of Mindanao in one community. In the campus, you meet people from every corner of Mindanao, from different backgrounds. IIT provides all these with the very little we pay every semester. This is because as a State University, MSU-IIT and the entire MSU system is subsidized by the government of this country. We are, like the students of the University of the Philippines, also iskolars ng bayan. Perhaps, this is IIT’s identity coupled with its resistance at being defined. These are things unique to us in MSU-IIT. In IIT, we talk about the Indigenous People of Mindanao, the Muslims, the Christians and the clamors of these people. Or at least, we hear about them. In the campus everywhere, we see the Okir. Has it ever occurred to us to ask what it is? The Okir manifests the home-culture of the Mindanao State University—the Maranao in Marawi (where the MSU Main Campus is found). It is a tradition encoded in design by the Maranao artisans. Everywhere we look, there is a bud that only waits to bloom with the help of our conscious will to make it bloom. IIT is a fertile land of great imaginings and bold thoughts. We are in the liminal spaces where we negotiate our identity and build it piece by piece together with every critical decision we make. It is never really about IIT being a good school in conformity to these university rankings. It is about building our own standard, sculpting our own selves to suit our own goals. What do we want to be? Who do we want to be? We realize that we are in a great position to change what we want and can change not only among ourselves but among Mindanao and the Philippines. We are not here to just make a living out of the jobs we get with our degrees. We are here to contribute to the over-all development of the society and human consciousness.

The IITian experience is an experience of rawness, an experience of the grey areas between being and becoming. It is an experience in asking the significant questions that each of us have a responsibility to ask the very moment we have committed ourselves to the task of becoming a graduate of this institute. It is the awakening that realizes there is more that can be achieved. It is what we do at the present moment and what we remember after all has been done. “Imagination entails work of memory,” Gemino H. Abad writes in his introduction in the Likhaan Journal of UP. There is an imperative. It is to remember so we may move forward; to awaken, so we can remember. This is what we remember. The tangerines and the yellows. The red that tell us of a relentless drive to something bigger, to something better. The words “MSU– ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY” in silver hang above the flat-arched gates commanding people from outside to look at them, to read as if a label. We leave the school through the exit gates eventually every day and the label still hangs there but the words do not stay. What do the words say?

THE CASS Executive Committee

(L-R) Prof. Jean Graciela Pe単ola, English Dept. Chairperson; Dr. Marie Joy Banawa, CASS Dean; Prof. Sittie Noffaisah Pasandalan, CASS Asst. Dean; Prof. Priscilla Cada, Gen. Ed. Coordinator; Prof. Eucil Hussien, Pol. Sci. Dept. Chairperson; Dr. Mary Ann Sandoval, Graduate Program Coordinator; Dr. Nerissa Hufana, DFIW Chairperson; Dr. Alma Maranda, Psychology Dept. Chairperson; Prof. Omar Bataluna, Philosophy and Humanities Dept. Chairperson; Prof. Amabelle Arquizal, Sociology Dept. Chairperson; Dr. Ma. Cecilia Tangian, History Dept. Chairperson

CASS

The Host College

Over 30 Lustrous Years of Celebrating the Human Spirit

A pearl is an image for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. And so is the College of Arts and Social Sciences as it celebrates its pearl anniversary this year.

he College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) continues to develop globally competent, socially responsible, culturally sensitive and humanistic scholars and professionals through its programs, linkages, and research and extension activities. Through the vibrant leadership of its present dean, Dr. Marie Joy B. Banawa, CASS has achieved academic milestones in the many salient national recognitions it has received and through the establishment of linkages with other universities in the country and abroad. The College has also been aggressive in its campaign towards developing a research environment as seen in the number of paper presentations and scholarly publications. True to its mission of promoting a peaceful and sustainable society, CASS remains to be a beacon of hope and a shining example of compassion for the community through the various extension programs of its depart-

ments. These include Voterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education, Sagip Aral Program, the women and children psychosocial therapy session for justice and healing, the training of children to recognize notes and sing as a choral group, Alternative Learning System (ALS) for the Bajau community in Iligan City, and the literacy program for Grade 3 pupils of an elementary school. CASS faculty and students also lead in the spirit of volunteerism. In wakes of natural and man-made destruction, the College initiates many Institute-wide Operation Tabang. As it prepares for Level 4 AACCUP Accreditation, CASS envisions itself at the forefront of academic excellence with a more heightened humanistic, cultural and environmental sensitivity. The College of Arts and Social Sciences. Precious. Admired. A Pearl.

rganizations

he MSU-IIT is home to some of the most active and most established student organizations in Mindanao. This has contributed a lot to the very exciting and competitive environment around the campus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; people want to get involved not just inside the classroom, but also outside its proverbial walls. This is part of the fulfillment of MSU-IITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate to provide holistic development to its students. Organizations provide an avenue for students to hone their craft, especially those that are not exactly related to their academic field. In these organizations, therefore, are some of the most talented performers, the most progressive thinkers and the best student leaders in the country. Pictured are some of the most prominent organizations and groups officially recognized by the Institute.

INTEGRITY

GRACE

INTENSITY

LOGIC

The Resident Performing Arts Group

The Official Cheerleading Team of MSU-IIT

The Official Debating Team

KALIMULAN

FREEDOM

HARMONY

PASSION

The Resident Cultural Dance Troupe

The Official Student Publication

The Resident Choir

The Official Institute Band

KATAAS-TAASANG SANGGUNIAN NG MGA MAG-AARAL (KASAMA) The Supreme Student Body

ARDOR

INTEGRATED PERFORMING ARTS GUILD (IPAG)

SILAHIS

MSU-IIT LIONS

THE OCTAVA CHORAL SOCIETY

MSU-IIT DEBATE VARSITY (MIDV)

ECHOES

Red in Grey What is the IITian experience? What is the IITian brand? There is no definite answer - not yet BY

Floraime Pantaleta

for [oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] self. [One] remembers for others.â&#x20AC;? Many of us will meet people after we have left the halls of IIT, we will bump into some and not even recognize they have been in IIT as well. There must be something, something that will serve like a badge that should make each of us recognizable as IITians. And I think there is. And I think it is the more important thing than rankings. MSU-IIT tries its best to provide the best quality of education it can for Mindanaoans, catering to those who have academic and artistic talent, and those who have the perseverance to nurture these aptitudes. It upholds the principle of unity in diversity for it attempts at fostering the integration of the tri-people of Mindanao in one community. In the campus, you meet people from every corner of Mindanao, from different backgrounds. IIT provides all these with the very little we pay every semester. This is because as a State University, MSU-IIT and the entire MSU system is subsidized by the government of this country. We are, like the students of the University of the Philippines, also iskolars ng bayan. Perhaps, this is IITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity coupled with its resistance at being defined. These are things unique to us in MSU-IIT. In IIT, we talk about the Indigenous