11/08/2026
๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ-๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐บ๐ฒ๐ป; ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ% ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ
โ๏ธ Lynxter Gybriel Leaรฑo
Months after the devastating earthquake shook the halls of MSU-GenSan, leaving cracks in its facilities with uncertainty among its students, the campus welcomed a new batch of freshmen as Chancellor Shidik T. Abantas vowed that the university, though bruised by the disaster, will deliver 100% semester readiness.
In an interview with BAGWIS, Abantas stated that several buildings remain unusable, such as Y Building, H Building, CoEd Dorm (IIAIS) building, College of Business Administration & Accountancy (CBAA), ICT Complex, and College of Medicine (COM) building.
โThe ICT Complex and CBAA buildings are expected to be fully repaired by middle of September. The Department of Public Works and Highways is handling the repairs. All the rest of our buildings are safe for use with some with minor restrictions,โ Abantas further explained.
The university chancellor said that during their meeting last week, he endorsed a proposal allowing colleges to reduce face-to-face classes by at least once a week during the first half of the semester.
โThe second session may be done asynchronously or online. GEC subjects may follow this,โ Abantas noted.
๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ
Despite the ongoing recovery efforts, each college welcomed freshmen with its own spectacle on the morning of the first day of classes on August 10.
The College of Engineering (COE) embraced a medieval fantasy-inspired theme, while the College of Education (COEd) took on the โIsland of Dreamsโ theme with a Mamma Mia! concept. The Institute of Islamic, Arabic, and International Studies (IIAIS) featured an Upin & Ipin concept, while the College of Agriculture (COA) adopted the โMidnight Sunโ theme.
Meanwhile, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) presented the โRise Beeyond: Mythical Creaturesโ theme, while the College of Natural Science and Mathematics (CNSM) drew inspiration from the Powerpuff Girls.
The College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) came up with the โWansapanataym: Mga Istorya sa Woodsโ theme, while the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS) featured a Scooby-Doo-inspired theme titled โSealogue: Ag Kapegkilalay.โ
In the afternoon, a grand opening salvo was held at the University Gymnasium to welcome all freshmen, featuring a series of performances and the introduction of the universityโs administration officials.
Alongside the said event, the Supreme Student Council (SSC) also conducted the โHugyaw sa Unang Adlaw: MSUโGenSan Org Fair 2026โ, an organization fair that was held outside the gymnasium, spearheaded by various student organizations on campus to promote their groups and encourage students, particularly freshmen, to join their clans, aligned with their interests.
For some freshmen, the festivities helped make their first day on campus more welcoming.
โVery enjoying jud ang first day kay wow, very welcoming ang seniors. Ang katong mga booth, mga free na murag makahatag ug kalipay sa amoa kay daghan silag mga pasabog. Ang each colleges kay different na mga pasabog na makahatag lingaw sa mga freshies,โ Riebe Boy Galo, 1st year BA Political Science student said.
He added that he is looking forward to seeing how the administration can continue implementing face-to-face classes despite the damage caused by the earthquake.
In addition, Reyna Claire Baliwis, a first-year Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) English student, shared that MSUโGenSan did not disappoint on her first day, noting that there were many organizations to join and that the senior students were approachable.
โThis is what I have really expected. Sana ma-enjoy ko ang years ko dito sa MSU. I hope to live my life to the fullest here,โ she remarked.
Meanwhile, Iyah Apil, acting president of Maratabat, shared a message with the freshmen as they embarked on their college journey.
โMarunong po tayong makipag-socialize sa ating mga people around the campus. It's good that marunong kayong mag-build ng connection and networking outside your program as well. Kasi it will really help you build your character, yourself as a student of MSU,โ she emphasized.
Ending the celebration festivities, SSC unveiled the winners of the aforementioned organizational fair, with Empress securing the Overall Champion title and taking home the special awards for Most Organized Booth and Most Creative Booth. The Biodiversity and Wildlife Advocates Society placed first runner-up and was named Most Active, while the MSUโGSC Debate Society finished as second runner-up. #
