Two personnel from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) of Region 8—Dir. Pharida Q. Aurelia and Dir. Ariel M. Javier, both holding a Director II position—conducted on October 15-16, 2015 another on-line assessment of VSU under the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

Both assessors scrutinized the documents stored at the CSC Accreditation Room of the Office of the Director for Administration and Human Resource Development under Dr. Lourdes B. Cano. They also had some on-the-spot visits to other units of the University and conducted ambush interviews with the personnel. As expected, they also conducted post-audit on some VSU initiatives in compliance to CSC rules and regulations especially in the implementation of the PRIME-HRM.

The results of their assessment will be sent to VSU once they finished consolidating their reports. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

The Visayas State University (VSU) under the leadership of Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo successfully hosted the 31^st State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games on October 25-30, 2015. The six-day sports joust gathered 2,123 strong athletes and 809 coaches and officials from the 11 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Eastern Visayas. The SCUAA 2015 was hinged on the theme “A New Decade of Partnership.”

The different delegations and their respective athletes, coaches and officials are as follows: Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Borongan City, Eastern Samar – 190 athletes and 52 coaches and officials; Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Tacloban City, Leyte – 209, 95; Leyte Normal University (LNU), Tacloban City, Leyte – 205, 58; Samar State University (SSU), Catbalogan City, Samar – 145, 53; Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), Calbayog City, Samar – 211, 86; Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT), Palompon, Leyte – 177, 61; Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in Sogod, Southern Leyte – 211, 89; University of the Philippines Visayas - Tacloban College (UPVTC) – 85, 16; Naval State University (NSU), Naval, Biliran – 245, 92; University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Catarman, Northern Samar – 242, 157; and the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City, Leyte – 203, 50.

As the host institution of this year’s Regional SCUAA Games, Dr. Bacusmo conveyed his sincerest and warmest welcome to the 11 delegations for fielding their best athletes who will represent Region 8 in the 2016 National SCUAA Games in which the host region has not yet been identified.

Moreover, the Mayor of the City of Baybay, Hon. Mayor Carmen L. Cari, who was on official travel, was ably represented by Mr. Deogracias E. Pernites, the City Administrator, in welcoming the guests.

The occasion was graced by former Secretary of the Department of Energy and then Governor of the Province of Leyte, Hon. Jericho L. Petilla, who inspired the athletes and coaches by relaying the success story of his brain-child, the Leyte Sports Academy, whose athletes did well in the national and even in the international arena by garnering medals for the province and for the country.

Dr. Dominador O. Aguirre, Jr., EVSU President and at the same time President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges of Region 8 (PASUC 8), formally declared the opening of the athletic competition 2015.

Based on medal standing, the different delegations garnered gold, silver, and bronze medals in the different events: LNU (91 gold, 54 silver, 23 bronze); EVSU (29-40-47); VSU (29-34-26); UEP (26-31-34); NSU (24-8-12); PIT (9-9-25);ESSU (7-16-26); NwSSU (7-4-14); SLSU (2-18-20); SSU (1-4-6); and UPVTC (1-0-0).

On the other hand, first in the history of PASUC 8 that the Search for Mr. and Ms. SUC 8 was held at VSU in which two major titles were given to two stunning pairs who will represent PASUC 8 in the national beauty pageants—the Mr. and Ms. PASUC 2015 and the Mr. and Ms. SCUAA 2015.

Mr. Orland James Estologa and Ms. Aura Shaznay Tumulak, both from VSU, won the most coveted title of Mr. and Ms. PASUC 8; while Mr. Raphael Leo Nierra of NSU and Ms. Sarika Janiehn Alota of ESSU won the Mr. and Ms. SCUAA 8 title. The other winners of the pageant were: Mr. Joshua Ismael Salubre of UEP and Ms. Nicole Ann Devora of EVSU, First Runners Up; and Mr. Franklin Losanga from ESSU and Ms. Airene Grace Paler SLSU, Second Runners Up.

The SCUAA banner was turned over to the representatives of Naval State University, the host of the 2016 Regional SCUAA Games. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

The ViSCA Foundation Elementary School (VFES) celebrated its 40th Founding Anniversary on October 6-8, 2015 with the theme “Developing young individuals by reinforcing that values are as precious as gems.”

The celebration kicked-off with a thanksgiving mass at the VSU Convention Hall and was immediately followed with a parade and opening program with playground demonstration and band exhibition at the VSU Lower Campus Oval Grounds.

Hitting two birds with one stone, the activities lined up on the second day were attuned to the Scouting Month celebration wherein the pupils enjoyed playing in the Larong Pinoy, Treasure Hunting, and other Parlor Games facilitated by the VFES teachers.

The major highlight of this year’s anniversary celebration was the search for Little Miss VFES in which the beauty-and-brains tilt comes once in every five years. It was participated in by eight cute young children from the Kindergarten to Grade Three.

Proclaimed winners in the pageant including the special awards were: Marian Grace C. Panonce – Little Miss VFES 2015 and Best in Talent; Bryssa Maye Nicole L. Makabenta – 1^st Runner Up, Best in Gown, and Little Miss Avon; Loriene Grace B. Britos – 2^nd Runner Up, Little Miss Photogenic, Best in Production Number, Best in Beach Wear, and Little Miss Popularity; Antoinette Josephine M. Siarez – 3^rd Runner Up; and Ashanti Louise Caindoc – 4^th Runner Up. The other candidates included: Mikelyn Gift Soriano, Nicole T. Roa, and Kira Munick P. Rapi.

Atty. Gwen Manuel P. Santiago, a VFES alumnus, served as the convocation speaker. Atty. Santiago had a recollection of his elementary days spent at VFES for the children to pick up and get inspiration. The speaker lauded the teachers for inculcating in the young minds of VFES pupils the correct values they should live when they grow up including their active participation in the curricular and extra-curricular activities, and teaching them to be independent. “VFES is a strong institution that could help them achieve their goals and ambition. VFES has a very big contribution of what I am today,” Atty. Santiago said.

VFES also recognized the sincerity and dedication of its faculty and staff as evident in the number of years they served the school. The Loyalty Award with certificate and monetary value attached to it were given to Rogelio A. Tabudlong – 30 years, Zenaida S. Mercurio – 29 years, and Corina M. Sacro – 15 years.

The activity was concluded with a Family Day among the parents, pupils and the teachers. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

Mr. Deogracias E. Pernites, the President of the VSU Alumni Association, took his oath of office as member of the VSU Board of Regents (BOR), representing the VSU Alumni.

Likewise, the two Private Sector Representatives, namely: Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel, and Mr. Joel R. Caminade, who have been endorsed by the Search Committee for Two Private Sector Representatives chaired by Dr. Edmundo F. Gariando with Mr. Jude B. Rola, representing the Academic Community, and Mr. Jose Alvin P. Sumalinog, representing the Private Sector, as members, also took their oath of office before CHED Chairperson and VSU Board of Regents Chair, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, on October 24, 2015 at the CHED Central Office in Quezon City.

As new members of the Board, the three shall enjoy the privileges attached to their respective positions. Their appointments were issued based on BOR Resolution No. 55, series of 2015 dated October 10, 2015 whose appointments shall commence on October 24, 2015 and expiring on October 23, 2017. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

A number of students from the Visayas State University won top places in the Regional PASUC Culture and the Arts Festival held on October 19, 2015 at the Leyte Normal University and the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City. The competition was part of the regional selection of PASUC-8 to the 7^th National PASUC Culture and the Arts Festival in Bicol University, Legazpi City, Albay on November 30 – December 2, 2015.

The following are the categories won by the VSU students and they will represent PASUC-8 in the national competition with their coaches: Pop Solo – Melanie P. Cinco with Mr. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos as coach; On-the-Spot Painting – Larry A. Salvatera with Mr. Jude Nonie A. Sales as coach; and Radio Drama – Marelie D. Dacera, Dhea Maureen Millana, Joshua Levi S. Montero, Mariane B. Ubay, and Tomas A. Yamada with Dr. Christina A. Gabrillo as coach.

The other places won by the VSU students were: (Second Place) Instrumental Guitar Solo – Lejhen Rey Villacorte, Story Telling – Edelle Marie Tulin, Short and Sweet Play; and (Third Place) Choral Singing, Vocal Duet – Ryan L. Panto and Marianne D. Balladares, Hip Hop Dance, Extemporaneous Speech – Jamaica C. Mueda, and Essay Writing – Irish Jane Calungsod. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

After the Search Committee for VSU Presidency led by Dr. William D. Dar, former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, endorsed the three applicants who went through the rigorous processes and successfully complied with all the requirements for the selection of the next president of the Visayas State University (VSU), the VSU Board of Regents in its 71^st Meeting (Special) on October 24, 2015 at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Quezon City by virtue of Resolution No. 86, series 2015, through the majority votes among the members of the BOR, issued the appointment of Dr. Edgardo Escuadra Tulin as VSU President commencing on October 30, 2015 and expiring on October 29, 2019 vice Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo whose term as VSU President shall end on October 29, 2015 after serving the University for two consecutive terms (one term is equivalent to four years of service) .

The VSU BOR is composed of Hon. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chairperson and Chairman-VSU BOR; Hon. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President and Vice Chairman; Hon. Pia S. Cayetano, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture; Hon. Roman T. Romulo, Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education; Hon. Bonifacio G. Uy, Regional Executive Director of NEDA 8; Hon. Leo P. Cañeda, Regional Executive Director of DA-RFO 8; Hon. Deogracias E. Pernites, President of VSU Alumni Association; Hon. Luz O. Moreno, President of VSU Faculty Association; Hon. Dexter P. Relevo, President of the University Supreme Student Council of VSU System; Hon. Roy Bernard C. Fiel, Private Sector Representative; and Hon. Joel R. Caminade, Private Sector Representative.

On the other hand, the Search Committee for VSU Presidency is composed of Dr. William D. Dar, as chairman; with Dr. Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal, CHED 8 Director; Dr. Dominador O. Aguirre, Jr., PASUC 8 President; Dr. Candelario L. Calibo, Academic Community Representative; and Dr. Edmundo F. Gariando, Private Sector Representative, as members.

As the new VSU President, Dr. Tulin shall have all the powers, rights, responsibilities, and privileges attached to the position.

It can be recalled that all the applicants—Dr. E. E. Tulin, Dr. Roberto C. Guarte, and Dr. Othello B. Capuno—were asked to present their vision, mission, and development thrusts for the University before the Faculty Association, Alumni Association, Administrative Personnel Association, and Supreme Student Council during the Public Forum on October 16, 2015 at the VSU Convention Hall. The candidates wittily responded to the questions raised by the different organizations. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

The results of the October 2015 Geodetic Engineer Licensure Examination added another feather on VSU’s cap as four of its graduates landed in the top ten and all of them, the eleven VSU graduates, passed in the said exam giving VSU an institutional passing percentage of 100% as compared to the national passing percentage of 35.10%.