MMSU holds film festival

“We learn only from the best.”

Students from Mariano Marcos State University attended a two-day film festival cum workshop at the Teatro Ilocandia and University Training Center, Sept. 9-10.

Dubbed Cinemajarlika, the festival featured movies from award-winning independent film directors Ron Bryant and Raymond Red. It was the first of its kind to be held in the region.

Bryant, who conducted the workshop on directing, is the director of the highly-acclaimed films Rotonda, Baryoke and Alon. His films have been screened in the Cinemalaya Film Festival, an annual showcase of independent films funded by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Veteran actor Ronnie Lazaro facilitated the acting workshop, while noted Iluko writer and founder of Gumil Filipinas Juan SP Hidalgo shared his expertise on scriptwriting.

Bianca Pastor, president of the AB English Studies Society, said, “This festival is a dream come true for us students who have been wishing for an opportunity to hone our talents. We are thankful that they (Bryant, Lazaro and Hidalgo) came to teach us because we need to learn only from the best.”

Pastor said that many ABES students have already drafted scripts for future independent film projects.

University President Miriam Pascua, in her message during the opening program, expressed hopes that the Cinemajarlika festival will be an annual event in the university. “Independently produced movies or Indie movies have democratized the way films are made,” she noted. “With the advent of digital technology, which dramatically brought down production costs, the young and idealistic generation of film makers may now, without pressures to prioritize sales over creativity, produce movies that can truly compete with the world’s best.”

In a recent press conference, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, an independent film producer, cited the activity as an “excellent start” and said that the provincial government will collaborate with MMSU for more activities that will promote the province as a film location and boost the filmmaking capabilities of Ilocanos.

The activity was organized by CAS and AB English Studies Society in cooperation with Association of Students in Humanities, English, and Literature.

Sociology student joins national interfaith dialogue

Reindel Owen E. Salvador, a third year BA Sociology student, and 33 other youth leaders from all over the country, made their voices heard at the recent interreligious workshop “yPeace: Youth in Action for Interfaith Dialogue.”

Initiated by the US Embassy and facilitated by the Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation Inc., yPeace gathered 34 participants, some from as far as Tawi-Tawi, who, aside from representing schools and peace-related organizations, also served as spokespersons for their respective faiths: Catholic, Protestant, Born-Again, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Islam, as well as indigenous beliefs. Participants were chosen based on their personal essays which were evaluated by the US Embassy.

Held Aug. 30-31, the two-day intensive workshop was at the posh Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila. In group discussions and creative presentations, participants related personal stories on conflicts in their respective communities, and their hopes for better interreligious coexistence in the country.

To concretize their aspirations, participants were asked to formulate action plans—proposals for achievable goals they could implement in their communities.

In the spirit of interfaith peace, each session started with an ecumenical prayer. An Iftar dinner (a religious observance during Ramadan where a community gathers to break the fast together) served as the workshop’s closing ceremony.

“The experience was so enthralling. I had a chance to mingle with people from different walks of life, of diverse cultures, beliefs and language,” says Salvador, who hails from Piddig, Ilocos Norte. “Most importantly, what matters is the friendship built and memories I shared that I have taken home with me.”

Ypeace is just one of the US Embassy’s efforts to encourage the youth to be more proactive in different social issues. Past activities included concerts, summer camps and basketball clinics all over the country. The embassy also offers the youth study abroad programs.

Salvador, a Catholic, is vice president of the MMSU Central Student Council. He is a member of the award-winning SIFE team of the university. Last February, he won as Best Public Speaker in the Ilocos Norte Debate Cup.

MMSU produces 13 new electrical engineers

THE SEPTEMBER 2010 Licensure Examination for Registered Electrical Engineers is reputed to be among the most difficult in the profession’s history, but 13 graduates of MMSU hurdled the challenges. They posted a 48.15 percent passing rate for the university, higher than the national figure of only 33.99.

MMSU is ranked 37th among the 166 schools that participated in the examination.

The new electrical engineers are: Jeomar D. Adaon, Mark Glo Renwick D. Aguinaldo, Gretchen Mae C. Calapit, Karl Mark G. Cariaga, Charles T. Dangcil, Earvin D. Domingo, Vicente O. Duldulao, Viclor M. Dumlao, Rudy F. Garcia, Ryan Josef S. Garvida, Glenn Mark L. Sagucio, Pricious Gem E. Salarzon, and Albert R. Tabije.

In addition, Dangcil and Sagucio also hurdled the Registered Master Electrician examination, delivering a 100 percent performance for MMSU. The national average is only 36.33.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees will be held Nov. 6 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

88.89 % passing rate posted in mechanical engineers exam

SIXTEEN OUT of 18 examinees from MMSU hurdled the September 2010 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission Sept. 9-10 in the cities of Manila and Cebu. The university’s 88.89 percent passing rate was above the 66.79 percent national average.

The new engineers, all from Batch 2010, are: Paul Bryan S. Agustin, Christopher V. Batara, Julius S. Brillantes, Cristian V. Fabian, Christopher V. Flores, Nexon Jay Lucas, Ryan L. Martinez, Mark Anthony P. Molina, Janssen I. Monroy, Dennis D. Ramos, Christian Neil A. Sabas, Windell H. Sadian, Daryl Saguid, Harry Lloyd I. Semanero, Connan F. Tugade, and Andy Harold V. Viernes.