"Be the best and make a mark,"

Basilan solon urges WMSU alumni

House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin

ALUMNI of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) have been challenged to be innovative and conscientious professionals to be able to contribute their best to the development of the community and nation and leave a personal mark in society.

This was the gist of the keynote speech of House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and Basilan Lone District Rep. Gerry Salapuddin when he graced the opening program of the 86th Grand Alumni Homecoming of WMSU.

Salapuddin, himself an alumnus, acknowledged his personal debt to the university for his college education. He enrolled in WMSU soon after returning to the fold of the law after ending many years as head of the provincial revolution command of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Basilan.

The Basilan congressman also expressed in his remark his support for the plan for WMSU to establish several extension campuses in various parts of Western Mindanao, making it a regional university system.

He said the system would enable WMSU to provide higher education to the young living in remote parts of the peninsula. The plan has been filed as a bill in Congress, where Salapuddin is the deputy majority speaker for Mindanao.

WMSU Vice-President for Corporate Affairs Prof. Clemencio Bascar welcomed on behalf of President Dr. Eldigario Gonzales the alumni attending the two-day homecoming. Alumni association President Nerlyne Concepcion while giving the welcome address also led the alumni in renewing their pledge of allegiance to their alma mater.

In his speech, Prof. Bascar hurled a challenge to the alumni and their association to "globalize" the homecoming event since, he pointed out, many graduates are now working or living in many foreign countries. They would be glad, he noted, to participate in one way or the other in the annual event. (Press Release)