By Leilanie Adriano/Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY – More than 2,000 delegates from the 23 state universities and colleges in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera regions joined the 2019 Association of State Colleges and Universities – Solid North (ASCU-SN) Summer Olympics held at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) main campus in Batac City on May 7-10.
MMSU president Shirley Agrupis, also the incoming president of ASCU-SN, said she was delighted to see the largest gathering of inter-regional groups of state colleges and universities in the country, which aims to foster solidarity and promote health and wellness among employees and the communities they serve.
“Over the years, we realized there is something more to geography that brings us all together and that is our collective character, common vision and the solid, lasting and invaluable friendships we have forged over the years,” Agrupis said in her welcome speech.
With this year’s theme dubbed as “Igniting the Amianan Spirit”, she underscored that people in the northern Philippines have strong leadership if one reviews the roster of former Philippine presidents who trace their roots to the so-called “amianan” or solid north.
As the incoming president of ASCU-SN, Agrupis said she hopes to strengthen the solid north’s common vision and goals in harmonizing various academic and research programs of the member colleges and universities from the four regions.
“Maybe it’s high time that we unify our teaching materials and other programs,” Agrupis said, as she expressed excitement over the number of delegates, which doubled compared to last year.
Every year, Dr. Eduardo Bagtang of the Kalinga State University, also the outgoing president of ASCU-SN, said the event is a way of benchmarking activity among its members and learn from the experiences and best practices of each other.
“We hope that we will remain solid and for all employees to be aware about the value of having a healthy mind and spirit,” Bagtang said.
Aside from sports and cultural events, ASCU-SN is also engaged in academic, research, and other activities of mutual benefit to its member institutions.
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