‘Father of ISUFST’ to keynote Univ Week

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Iloilo 4th district Rep. Ferjenel Biron, author of the law that converted Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF) into the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), will be the inspirational speaker in the University Week opening ceremony here on Monday morning, January 8, 2023.

Rep. Biron, who also a member of the university’s Board of Regents, sponsored the legislation that led to the enactment of Republic Act No. 10604 and, later, RA 11012. These laws laid the foundation for transforming the then 65-year-old ISCOF into the now one-year-old ISUFST.

His continued support for the school’s development projects has been instrumental in its growth and development.

Among those who were also invited to grace the inaugural event are Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Director Dr. Raul Alvarez and San Enrique Municipal Mayor Hon. Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez.

CHED Commissioner Dr. Prospero de Vera, and International Affairs Staff Director Atty Lily Freida Milla, and ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr. will also give their messages.

The day’s events will start early with a Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. at the Parish of Mary, Help of Christians, setting a reverent tone for the celebrations. This will be followed by a foot parade at 8 a.m. from the Municipal Plaza to the ISUFST San Enrique Campus, featuring a wide array of participants, including the San Enrique marshalls and uniformed personnel, ROTC Officers, various Drum and Lyre Corps from local schools, guests, and cheer dancers, faculty, students, and staff from the Dingle, San Enrique, Dumangas, campuses and the Barotac Nuevo Main campus Ilaya-Poblacion and Tiwi Sites.

The opening program will kick off at 8:30 a.m. at the ISUFST-SEC University Grounds, followed by the spirited cheer dance competition.

The attendees, which include faculty, staff, and students from various ISUFST campuses, will be treated to a feast of talent and enthusiasm, showcasing the university’s diverse community.

At 11:30 a.m., the university will open its Food Fest and Exhibits at the College of Agriculture Grounds, offering an array of culinary delights and creative displays. The luncheon at noon will provide an opportunity for guests and participants to mingle and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

The afternoon will be filled with a range of sports activities starting at 1 p.m., including volleyball at the University Grounds, basketball at the San Enrique Municipal Gym, badminton at the ISUFST Civic and Cultural Center, and chess at the ISUFST Library Audio-Visual Room, highlighting the university’s commitment to physical education and sportsmanship.

The University Week, themed “ISUFST @ ONE: Building Bridges, Breaking Waves,” reflects ISUFST’s dedication to bridging academic excellence with the dynamic challenges and opportunities of the Blue Economy. This event marks not just a celebration but a reaffirmation of the university’s guiding principles of integrity, social justice, discipline, and academic excellence.

The week-long celebration, scheduled to run from January 8-12, 2024, will culminate in the Awarding of the Great Men and Women of ISUFST, recognizing the outstanding contributions of its alumni and community members.

This first-ever UWeek signifies ISUFST’s commitment to nurturing future fisheries science and technology leaders and its role as a beacon of academic and community development. (Text by Herman Lagon and photos by Ricky Ramos)