Lasap: The new steward of Dumangas campus

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A Quiet Call to Serve

In universities, leadership appointments often arrive with speeches, ceremonies, and the usual institutional excitement. The appointment came quietly for Dr. Matthew T. Lasap, the newly named campus administrator of ISUFST Dumangas Campus. Known among colleagues as “Sir Math,” he accepted the responsibility with the calm practicality of a lifelong teacher. “I don’t really like positions,” he says candidly. “I’m here because I was asked to, perhaps for a reason.”

Now in his third year at ISUFST, he previously served as dean of the College of Education at the Main Campus – Tiwi Site, mentoring future educators and strengthening teacher education programs. His new assignment places him at the center of Dumangas Campus as the university continues pursuing its vision for academic leadership in Southeast Asia.

He follows Dr. Liza Belandres, who led the campus as administrator during a significant chapter in the institution’s history. It was under her watch that the campus helped steer the transition of the institution from a college into what is now the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology — a shift that reshaped its academic landscape and expanded its mission as the country’s first and only fisheries university.

Yet the story of “Sir Math,” as students fondly call him, begins long before Dumangas.

The Math of Formation

Dr. Lasap’s academic journey reads like the disciplined progression of a well-crafted equation. His academic saga began with a summa cum laude degree in BSEd Mathematics from WVSU as a DOST-SEI scholar. He later earned his Master of Education in Mathematics from UP Visayas before returning to WVSU to complete his PhD in Science Education, major in Mathematics, with high distinction, where his dissertation received the Best Dissertation Award.

But degrees alone never defined his approach to teaching.

Colleagues describe Dr. Lasap as a scholar who insists that mathematics is not merely about numbers, but about clarity of thought and disciplined curiosity. Over the years, he has written research papers and mathematics books, coached student contestants, trained teachers, and presented studies at international conferences in Japan and China, while also winning awards in local research presentations.

Still, the experience that shaped him most, he says, came from his years at Ateneo de Iloilo, where he served as subject area coordinator and associate principal for senior high school, with 14 years of teaching and leadership roles. “The Ateneo leadership formation has played a huge part,” he reflects. There, the Ignatian tradition of reflection, discernment, and service sharpened the leadership style he carries today.

It is a style that blends academic rigor with empathy.

“Servant leadership, consultative leadership, participatory leadership,” he explains simply. “I believe I am placed wherever I am for a purpose, for a mission. I am given graces, and I should use those to uplift others — as good people once helped me.”

Learning the Campus, Listening First

When ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. and the university leadership asked him to take on the Dumangas assignment, Dr. Lasap accepted with the same humility that has marked his career. “I was asked to help push ISUFST forward,” he says. “And so I said yes.”

Dr. Siason expressed confidence in the appointment, noting that Dr. Lasap’s experience as an educator and academic leader will help guide the Dumangas Campus in its next chapter. “Dr. Lasap brings both intellectual depth and a quiet commitment to service,” the university president said. “We believe his leadership will strengthen the campus and its role in advancing ISUFST’s mission.”

Nonetheless, behind that simple answer of Sir Math lies a deeper motivation.

As a former scholar from humble beginnings who understands the value of opportunity, he sees education as a bridge for students who might otherwise be left behind. “I am here because I wanted to help give the opportunity for an excellent education to financially challenged but deserving students — like I once was.”

ISUFST itself carries that mission strongly. Founded in 1957 as the country’s first and only fisheries university, ISUFST now serves more than 8,500 students across five campuses, offering 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs, and still counting. The university has been a CHED-recognized Center of Development in Fisheries for eight consecutive years, holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, and continues to earn recognition for its work in extension, internationalization, peace education, and student services, among many others.

Like the rest of the university, the Dumangas Campus contributes to advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) — reflecting ISUFST’s mission to form globally competitive graduates while strengthening communities.

For Dr. Lasap, stepping into leadership does not mean arriving with ready-made answers.

“I actually don’t fully understand the assignment yet,” he says candidly. “But that is a good starting point.”

Dr. Lasap likens it to working through a math problem. “First you read it slowly, try a few ideas, and understand what it really asks before finding the best way forward.”

Building a Campus Together

His first approach, therefore, is simple: listen.

“Listening and communicating,” he says, “are the foundations of leadership. Listening to your people usually solves half their concerns. Before one could empathize, one should first listen.”

It is a philosophy that resonates in academic communities where faculty, staff, and students often carry different expectations and pressures. By opening channels of dialogue, Dr. Lasap hopes to build a culture where people understand not only decisions but also the circumstances behind them.

“When a leader listens and communicates,” he explains, “people begin to trust. And when people trust, they participate.”

At its heart, a university is built on participation. Dumangas Campus grows through the shared energy of faculty, students, and partners beyond the campus gates.

That spirit of working together will remain central under Dr. Lasap’s leadership.

“This position is temporary,” he says with the same quiet humility that marked the start of the conversation. “But while I am here, I will do my best to guide the campus in the direction that seems best for the times and for the needs of our students.”

Preparing the Next Generation

Ultimately, his vision circles back to the people the university exists to serve.

“The north star,” he says thoughtfully, “is always preparing underprivileged but deserving ISUFST students to become effective, efficient, and progressive professionals.”

Within ISUFST’s ISDA values — Integrity, Social Justice, Discipline, and Academic Excellence — education carries both responsibility and hope. To Dr. Lasap, education goes beyond producing graduates. It is about preparing people to serve.

Such work requires patience, collaboration, and resilience.

In mathematics, he says, solutions appear when people take time to understand the problem.

That same approach shapes how he begins his leadership at ISUFST Dumangas Campus — steady and thoughtful. (Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)