Grand Opening of Padian sa CBAA 2018

Opening Remarks Speech

by: Prof. Richard S. Celeste, MBM, REB

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress and working together is

success.

Greetings of Peace and Prosperity!!!

To the man of vision and action, our ever hardworking University President, Dr. Habib
W. Macaayong

With him is his ever beautiful wife, the newly inducted and highly requested President
of the MSU Botanical Gardens Society, Madame Pamela Rehanna Biston Macaayong

To the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Alma E. Berowa

To the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Atty. Jamaloden A. Basar

To the Vice President for Planning and Development, Prof. Rasid M. Paca

To the Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents, Sir Usman D. Aragasi,

To the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Florencio D. Recoleto, Jr.

To the newly appointed Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Cesar M. de
la Sena

Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Atty. Saaduddin M. Alauya, Jr.

To the Presidential Management Staff Director, Ma’am Aliah P. Cali-Pascan

To our ever generous, ever supportive and highly dedicated dean of the College, Prof.
Imara C. Andam

Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Pangandag M. Magolama

Dean of the College of Fisheries, Prof. Evelyn C. MOldez

Dean of the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Prof. Teresita Sanchez

Director of Senior High School, Prof. Melba MAngandia-Angni

Our University Registrar, Dr. Ansano M. Ampog

Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao, Dr. Acram
Latiph

Executive Director of the Center for Women Studies, Atty. Norma A. Maruhom
Director of the Audio Visual Center, Sir Nasser M. Andam

Director of Cultural Affairs Office, Dr. Juhary Pangandaman

Director of Security Services Division and Fire Department, Sir. Normen M. Biston

Director of the Office of Administrative Services, Sir Rasid Salic

Director of Supply and Property Management Division, Sir Datudacula L. Mandangan

Director of the Center for Local Governance, Prof. Norkaya S. Mohamad

Director of Research, Dr. Fema M. Abamo

Director of the University Extension Services Center, Prof. Pandao O. Bula

Director of Regional Adaptive Technology Center, Mam Sarifa Sofia A. Macarambon-

Ali

Director of the MSU Ceramics Development Center, Engr. Rebesalam L. Amama

Director of Motor Pool and Water System Division, Engr. Labimombao A.D.
Macabando

Director of the Campus/System Budget Office, Dr. Soraida A. Esmail

Finance Director and our University Chief Accountant, Ma’am Saliha M. Guinal

University Chief Cashier, Ma’am Hashmina M. Dimalna

Chief of the Campus Budget Office, Sir Muhaimen C. Umpat

Chief of the MSU Office of Internal Fiscal Review, Sir Faisal P. Mangandog

College of Business Administration Officials,

Our Assistant Dean, Prof. Roxan A. Tamondong

Our College Secretary, Mariz Jor M. Paler

Department Chairpersons Prof. Alcasar P. Maongco, Prof. Corazon M. Mangelen, Sir

Hanafe Abdulmalik and Ms. Diana Ruth L. Bico who is also the Chair of Padian sa
CBAA 2018

College Extension Coordinator, Sir Halim M. Noor, College Livelihood training

coordinator Prof. Maria Stella G. Codas.

MY MSU-OIPP family
Fellow faculty, staff, students, ladies and gentlemen, today is Thursday, March 1, 2018
and welcome to the Grand Launching of Padian sa CBAA 2018. Today is also the
official opening ceremonies of the weeklong celebration of the 55th College of Business
Administration and Accountancy Founding Anniversary.

The Islamic City of Marawi has been dubbed as the economic center in Lanao del Sur
because of its strategic location and the number of entrepreneurs and customers
converging in the area for commercial transactions. The City has also been known for
its rich cultural heritage and Her people, the Meranaws are among the best producers
of brassware, wood ornaments, malong, langkit and other clothes of distinct cultural
designs and as well as their delectable Malay inspired cuisine.

When the City was besieged by ISIS-inspired Maute Group which started on May 23,
2017, the economy in the province was totally down with its commercial center greatly
devastated and people’s livelihood hampered. Worstly damaged were 46 Barangays
as well as the adjoining Municipalities where many residents have evacuated. The war
which culminated in Butig and Piagapo has caused the exodus of her people in a
massive number one can hardly imagine, leaving behind an irreversible economic
loss. The siege lasted until October 27, 2017 and the extended crisis has had a severe
impact in the livelihood of the many.

We thank God, Mindanao State University remained steadfast because of the

unwavering commitment of the University officials headed by our strong-willed
President Dr. Habib W. Macaayong who, together with his family, never left the
campus to ensure that the constituents are safe and the academic stature of the
university is well preserved. We can hardly imagine what Marawi City would be like
without MSU and the declaration that MSU is Marawi City and Marawi City is MSU by
no less than the City Mayor Atty. Majul Gandamra was never an understatement. True
enough, MSU has initiated, organized and facilitated various activities to help the
victims of the Siege. One notable example is the resumption of classes last August
2017 despite the ongoing battle in the Ground Zero. I salute the University
administrators for their zeal and fervour to open classes despite the odds. Such a
heroic move has made MSU all the more, the beacon of light and hope to the people
of Marawi and hundreds of student hopefuls in Mindanao.

We all know that MSU has really done a lot for Marawi. While it is very true that the
university has been instrumental in making the City thrive and flourish, there still
remains a clarion call for a lasting peace and progress in Mindanao. It is a call for our
collective action to empower the IDPs economically and financially. As CBAA
celebrates its 55th Founding Anniversary, the faculty, staff, students and alumni
converge and join hands in PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD
DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS A LASTING PEACE AND PROGRESS IN MINDANAO.
We firmly believe that it is one of the feasible and doable strategies to revive and to
awaken the passion of the IDPs to be productive and gain income through
entrepreneurship. We believe that it will pave the way to a successful rehabilitation
and reconstruction of Marawi because as people wait for the infrastructures to be in
place, they are already earning an income initially enough for their daily needs and
hopefully become more sufficient for their long term survival. Similarly, we are inspired
with the famous saying on empowerment that goes “Give a man fish and he will live
for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will live for a lifetime.”

Ladies and gentlemen, that is our rationale as we launch Padian sa CBAA 2018 today.

CBAA has always spearheaded PADIAN including Padian SA MSU for several years
and every time we hold this, students and local entrepreneurs as tenants or
participants share how happy they are serving customers and gaining profit at the
same time. Padian is a strategic avenue where the produce of our fellows will be
displayed for sale. Let us all patronize the products of our students and in the coming
days and months the products of our IDPs from Marawi City.

In line with the theme, CBAA will also be conducting livelihood trainings to our IDPs
such as sewing and Palapa Preservation among others. The College will also be
assisting the IDPs in marketing their products to Iligan and other neighboring cities.
We hope to have our Palapa have a longer shelf life with a presentable package so it
would be a good advantage to make it highly saleable, thereby giving more income to
our IDPs.

Allow me to take this opportunity to thank the good President for the trust and
confidence afforded me as the Acting Director of OIPP. To Sir VP Paca, Sir Registrar
Ampog, Prof. Bag-ao a very dear friend and Mam Dean Andam for the support
because long before I became part of OIPP, I have been posting a lot about the
beautiful spots of MSU and Marawi in facebook and my blog. I just love telling the
world that Marawi is a wonderful place with peace loving citizens and that the stigma
should not be used to generalize what is in Marawi. So when the opportunity came, I
was readily willing to say YES.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us join hands in strengthening the extension services of
MSU not mainly because it is in preparation for our plans for Accreditation, but
because we have a primordial responsibility to help our community thrive and flourish.
Together we will promote, champion and support sustainable livelihood development
towards a lasting peace and progress in Mindanao. And as the saying goes, “The
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Mabuhay ang CBAA! Mabuhay ang MSU! Mabuhay ang Marawi! Mabuhay ang
Mindanao!