27/07/2025
NEWS FEATURE: ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐: ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ-๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐
๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐
It was a bittersweet afternoon at the Y-Building Conference Room on July 24, 2025, as the first-ever Indonesian academic exchange program hosted by Mindanao State University โ General Santos City (MSU-GSC) came to an emotional close.
The two-week cultural and academic experience wrapped up with heartfelt testimonials, a video presentation, and a touching community rendition of Yeng Constantinoโs โSalamat.โ As the closing song played, eyes glistened with tears, and delegates held hands with their Filipino hosts, marking the end of an exchange filled with learning, laughter, and lasting friendships.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ณ๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ข๐ณ๐ณ
The ceremony was opened by welcome remarks from Dr. Anderson V. Villa, Director of the Office of International Affairs. In his speech, he emphasized the strong relationship between Indonesians and Filipinos, expressing hope for more exchanges and collaboration in the future. He shared the College of Educationโs intention to continue the partnership by sending MSU-GSC students to Universitas Negeri Malang, aiming to make such international activities a regular part of their academic programs.
โIndonesians and Filipinos always work together, and hopefully, in the future, we'll engage more, through the efforts of the College of Education. We look forward to visit again, so our students will visit your university in Malang. So hopefully we will make this a regular activity,โ he said.
Prof. Cathy Mae D. Toquero, Project Leader and Chairperson of the BEED Department, emphasized that the exchange experience at MSU-GSC was not just academic but also a lesson in resilience. She described how the students, despite facing unpredictable weather, illness, and unusual campus conditions, managed to overcome challenges.
โWhat MSU is teaching you is resilience because the students here are actually very resilient. Imagine, UM is way too much because you have beautiful sceneries here, we have wild grasses, dogs, cats, cows probablyโbut you see, that's part of the survival of our students, and you learn that from our culture,โ she said.
Prof. Toquero expressed her well wishes for the delegates' safe return to Indonesia, hoping they would carry with them the values of peace, inclusivity, and excellence that embody the spirit of the exchange program.
โSo I hope that you'll have a safe travel when you go back to Indonesia and carry the word of peace, inclusivity, and excellence along the way for us.โ
The Indonesian delegates from Universitas Negeri Malang also gave heartfelt testimonies. One delegate, Raka, grew emotional as he thanked everyone who welcomed them throughout their two-week stay. โWe truly learned about culture, friendship, food, and so much more here,โ he said, naming friends, mentors, and volunteers who made them feel at home. He added that he would never forget the memories created at MSU, urging everyone, โDonโt forget us, donโt forget meโRaka. If you want to laugh and smile, remember Raka in every one of your smiles.โ
Dr. Michael B. Cahapay awarded certificates and tokens to the delegates and volunteers. Program coordinator Janel S. Talaman reminded everyone that the closing marked a new beginning for lasting academic and cultural ties. The event ended emotionally with a community song, as delegates and students sang together, smiling through tears.
๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
Before the closing ceremony, the delegates attended a stage play titled โStellaโs Missionโ held at the AVR Library, performed by BEED Elgen B students from MSU-GSC. The play was a vibrant mix of storytelling, dance, and music that showcased Filipino values and childhood experiences.
Vebri, one of the Indonesian delegates from the Faculty of Education, shared how the performance moved her. โIt amazed my eyes and touched my heart,โ she said, adding that her favorite part was the โUnder the Seaโ segment because of the beautiful setting and its message about friendship. For her, the play was not just entertainingโit was also meaningful. โIt taught us that when youโre with good friends and working as a team, you can do anything,โ she added.
From the perspective of the MSU faculty, the play served a deeper purpose. Ms. Claire Tusoy explained, โThis is how we show our teaching strategies in the Philippines. The play reflects our curriculum, our pedagogy, and how we prepare our students to be dynamic educators.โ She emphasized that teaching in the 21st century is more than just lectures; it involves creativity, performance, and emotional connection with students.
The performance allowed the delegates to witness how Filipino student-teachers apply what they learn in the classroom. It also gave the MSU community a chance to learn about Indonesian educational practices through their interactions. As the curtains closed on the stage play and the final community song echoed through the conference room, one thing was clear: this exchange was not just a program, it was a shared journey of growth, understanding, and cultural love.
Writer | Joshua Raneses
Layout artist | Krystyll Faith Surriga