| The formal installation of Dr. Paciencia P. Milan as the first president of the Leyte State University (LSU) System on August 16, marked a historical milestone in the life of the institution. The whole day affair commenced with a thanksgiving mass at 8:00 a.m. at the LSU gymnatorium with Fr. Dennis M. Cagantas and Fr. Philippe Perruchot as the main celebrants. It was immediately followed by the installation ceremony as the principal highlight of the occasion at 10:00 a.m. and the luncheon at 12:00 noon. The event was made more festive and colorful by the motorcade of the LSU constituents, guests, and visitors to Baybay town from the main university campus and back; and the inaugural ball in the evening. During the installation ceremony, top government officials as well as leaders of the higher education sector gave their salutations to President Milan and the LSU constituents. They were Dr. Manuel D. Punzal, CHED Commissioner and Chairman, LSU Board of Regents (LSU-BOR); Mr. Edwin C. Codilla of Ormoc City representing Senator Renato Cayetano, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture and LSU-BOR member; Dr. Rolette Palacio on behalf of Hon. Harlin C. Abayon, Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and member, LSU-BOR; Ms. Dalisay Sevilla who conveyed the salutation of Leyte Governor Remedios Petilla; Dr. Cres V. Chan-Gonzaga, Chairman of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) - Region 8, and President of Leyte Normal University; Atty. Lilia S. Garcia, President, Lady Presidents of SUCs Association, and President of Philippine Normal University (PNU); Sis. Joane Malazarte on behalf of Sis. Mary Paul Pfaupsch, OSF - former Directress, Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC); Dr. Kate C. Botengan, CHED Consultant; and Dr. Ruperto Sangalang, President of Cavite State University (CSU). The installation rites immediately followed the salutations. The ceremony included the reading of the scroll of appointment by Atty. Judith D. Chicano, Director III of the Civil Service Commission - Region 8, on behalf of Atty. Ireneo A. Morales, CSC Regional Director; imposition of the presidential medallion by Hon. Ester A. Garcia, CHED Chair; presentation of the university mace by Hon. Manuel D. Punzal; and the presentation of the LSU System colors by the LSU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Manuel K. Palomar and the superintendents of the external campuses. The ceremony was clinched with Hon. Ester A. Garcia's message. She stressed that ViSCA's conversion into a university gives the institution more reasons "to continue to be one of the foremost research universities in the country". She expressed hope that despite the challenge to maintain its mark of excellence, the university would foster closer collaboration with other learning institutions and uplift the smaller state colleges in the Visayas especially the CHED-supervised institutions (CSIs) integrated with LSU. She explained that CHED believes that the integration of the CSIs and SUCs would help the smaller institutions to perform better through the assistance of the SUCs. |
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| See Also: Inauguration Speech |
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