The Visayas State University (VSU) under the leadership of Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo successfully hosted the 31^st State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games on October 25-30, 2015. The six-day sports joust gathered 2,123 strong athletes and 809 coaches and officials from the 11 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Eastern Visayas. The SCUAA 2015 was hinged on the theme “A New Decade of Partnership.”

The different delegations and their respective athletes, coaches and officials are as follows: Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Borongan City, Eastern Samar – 190 athletes and 52 coaches and officials; Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Tacloban City, Leyte – 209, 95; Leyte Normal University (LNU), Tacloban City, Leyte – 205, 58; Samar State University (SSU), Catbalogan City, Samar – 145, 53; Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), Calbayog City, Samar – 211, 86; Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT), Palompon, Leyte – 177, 61; Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in Sogod, Southern Leyte – 211, 89; University of the Philippines Visayas - Tacloban College (UPVTC) – 85, 16; Naval State University (NSU), Naval, Biliran – 245, 92; University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Catarman, Northern Samar – 242, 157; and the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City, Leyte – 203, 50.

As the host institution of this year’s Regional SCUAA Games, Dr. Bacusmo conveyed his sincerest and warmest welcome to the 11 delegations for fielding their best athletes who will represent Region 8 in the 2016 National SCUAA Games in which the host region has not yet been identified.

Moreover, the Mayor of the City of Baybay, Hon. Mayor Carmen L. Cari, who was on official travel, was ably represented by Mr. Deogracias E. Pernites, the City Administrator, in welcoming the guests.

The occasion was graced by former Secretary of the Department of Energy and then Governor of the Province of Leyte, Hon. Jericho L. Petilla, who inspired the athletes and coaches by relaying the success story of his brain-child, the Leyte Sports Academy, whose athletes did well in the national and even in the international arena by garnering medals for the province and for the country.

Dr. Dominador O. Aguirre, Jr., EVSU President and at the same time President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges of Region 8 (PASUC 8), formally declared the opening of the athletic competition 2015.

Based on medal standing, the different delegations garnered gold, silver, and bronze medals in the different events: LNU (91 gold, 54 silver, 23 bronze); EVSU (29-40-47); VSU (29-34-26); UEP (26-31-34); NSU (24-8-12); PIT (9-9-25);ESSU (7-16-26); NwSSU (7-4-14); SLSU (2-18-20); SSU (1-4-6); and UPVTC (1-0-0).

On the other hand, first in the history of PASUC 8 that the Search for Mr. and Ms. SUC 8 was held at VSU in which two major titles were given to two stunning pairs who will represent PASUC 8 in the national beauty pageants—the Mr. and Ms. PASUC 2015 and the Mr. and Ms. SCUAA 2015.

Mr. Orland James Estologa and Ms. Aura Shaznay Tumulak, both from VSU, won the most coveted title of Mr. and Ms. PASUC 8; while Mr. Raphael Leo Nierra of NSU and Ms. Sarika Janiehn Alota of ESSU won the Mr. and Ms. SCUAA 8 title. The other winners of the pageant were: Mr. Joshua Ismael Salubre of UEP and Ms. Nicole Ann Devora of EVSU, First Runners Up; and Mr. Franklin Losanga from ESSU and Ms. Airene Grace Paler SLSU, Second Runners Up.

The SCUAA banner was turned over to the representatives of Naval State University, the host of the 2016 Regional SCUAA Games. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose B. Bautista, CHED Commissioner and Chair of the VSU Board of Regents, served as the Investiture Speaker during the installation of Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin as 6th VSU President on January 27, 2016 at the VSU Gymnatorium. 

Mr. Deogracias E. Pernites, the President of the VSU Alumni Association, took his oath of office as member of the VSU Board of Regents (BOR), representing the VSU Alumni.

Likewise, the two Private Sector Representatives, namely: Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel, and Mr. Joel R. Caminade, who have been endorsed by the Search Committee for Two Private Sector Representatives chaired by Dr. Edmundo F. Gariando with Mr. Jude B. Rola, representing the Academic Community, and Mr. Jose Alvin P. Sumalinog, representing the Private Sector, as members, also took their oath of office before CHED Chairperson and VSU Board of Regents Chair, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, on October 24, 2015 at the CHED Central Office in Quezon City.

As new members of the Board, the three shall enjoy the privileges attached to their respective positions. Their appointments were issued based on BOR Resolution No. 55, series of 2015 dated October 10, 2015 whose appointments shall commence on October 24, 2015 and expiring on October 23, 2017. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

Though he has been officially functioning as VSU President effective October 30, 2015 after being voted by the majority of the members of the VSU Board of Regents (BOR) chaired by CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan, Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, 6th VSU President, had only been formally installed into office on January 27, 2016 through an Investiture Rites at the VSU Gymnatorium.

After the Search Committee for VSU Presidency led by Dr. William D. Dar, former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, endorsed the three applicants who went through the rigorous processes and successfully complied with all the requirements for the selection of the next president of the Visayas State University (VSU), the VSU Board of Regents in its 71^st Meeting (Special) on October 24, 2015 at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Quezon City by virtue of Resolution No. 86, series 2015, through the majority votes among the members of the BOR, issued the appointment of Dr. Edgardo Escuadra Tulin as VSU President commencing on October 30, 2015 and expiring on October 29, 2019 vice Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo whose term as VSU President shall end on October 29, 2015 after serving the University for two consecutive terms (one term is equivalent to four years of service) .

The VSU BOR is composed of Hon. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chairperson and Chairman-VSU BOR; Hon. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President and Vice Chairman; Hon. Pia S. Cayetano, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture; Hon. Roman T. Romulo, Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education; Hon. Bonifacio G. Uy, Regional Executive Director of NEDA 8; Hon. Leo P. Cañeda, Regional Executive Director of DA-RFO 8; Hon. Deogracias E. Pernites, President of VSU Alumni Association; Hon. Luz O. Moreno, President of VSU Faculty Association; Hon. Dexter P. Relevo, President of the University Supreme Student Council of VSU System; Hon. Roy Bernard C. Fiel, Private Sector Representative; and Hon. Joel R. Caminade, Private Sector Representative.

On the other hand, the Search Committee for VSU Presidency is composed of Dr. William D. Dar, as chairman; with Dr. Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal, CHED 8 Director; Dr. Dominador O. Aguirre, Jr., PASUC 8 President; Dr. Candelario L. Calibo, Academic Community Representative; and Dr. Edmundo F. Gariando, Private Sector Representative, as members.

As the new VSU President, Dr. Tulin shall have all the powers, rights, responsibilities, and privileges attached to the position.

It can be recalled that all the applicants—Dr. E. E. Tulin, Dr. Roberto C. Guarte, and Dr. Othello B. Capuno—were asked to present their vision, mission, and development thrusts for the University before the Faculty Association, Alumni Association, Administrative Personnel Association, and Supreme Student Council during the Public Forum on October 16, 2015 at the VSU Convention Hall. The candidates wittily responded to the questions raised by the different organizations. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos

Dr. Edgardo Escuadra Tulin has a humble beginning. He is the second sibling of Mr. Manuel Peñalosa Tulin from Albuera, Leyte and Mrs. Rosalita Muego Escuadra-Tulin from Baybay City who raised their seven children from their family income. His father was a farmer who later on ventured in land transportation business, and his mother was a plain housewife. Born on December 12, 1961 in Albuera, Leyte, Dr. Tulin has been assessed to have a great potential to excel academically as evident by the scholastic awards he received as First Honors in Cambalading Elementary School and Class Valedictorian in Albuera Municipal High School. His quest for higher education continued as he enrolled at the then Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA), now Visayas State University, in 1977 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Agricultural Chemistry (Cum Laude) in 1981.

Two personnel from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) of Region 8—Dir. Pharida Q. Aurelia and Dir. Ariel M. Javier, both holding a Director II position—conducted on October 15-16, 2015 another on-line assessment of VSU under the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

Both assessors scrutinized the documents stored at the CSC Accreditation Room of the Office of the Director for Administration and Human Resource Development under Dr. Lourdes B. Cano. They also had some on-the-spot visits to other units of the University and conducted ambush interviews with the personnel. As expected, they also conducted post-audit on some VSU initiatives in compliance to CSC rules and regulations especially in the implementation of the PRIME-HRM.

The results of their assessment will be sent to VSU once they finished consolidating their reports. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos