I am Neorichcel: SPEECH: Grand Launching of Padian sa CBAA 2018 Opening Remarks

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

Greetings of Peace and Prosperity!!!

First Lady of the University System President, Madame Pamela Rehanna Biston Macaayong who is also the President of the MSU Botanical Gardens Society.

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

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

Other university officials in attendance.

Dean of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy and Chair of Padian sa CBAA 2018 Prof. Imara C. Andam. Assistant Dean, Prof. Roxan A. Tamondong, College Secretary, Mariz Jor M. Paler, Department Chairpersons Prof. Alcasar P. Maongco, Prof. Corazon M. Mangelen, Sir Hanafe L. Abdulmalik and Ms. Diana Ruth L. Bico who is also the Co-Chair of Padian sa CBAA 2018, College Extension Coordinator, Sir Halim M. Noor, 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 55^th 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 pronouncement 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 55^th 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 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.

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!