The Mountain Collegian (2025)

15/07/2025

𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆?

This July 15, 2025 marks the 38th Cordillera Day celebrating the regions heritage, culture, and road to autonomy.

Due to the 1986 Mt. Data Peace Accord between the Philippine Government and the Cordilleras People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), it resulted to the signing of the Executive Order No. 220 by the late President Corazon Aquino on July 15, 1987.

With July 15 being held as the official Cordillera Day, another commemoration for the Cordillera is being celebrated every April 24 which is the People’s Cordillera Day.

On the flipside, the People’s Cordillera Day is commemorated due to the assassination of Macli-ing Dulag who fought and pitted powerless communities to resist and reject the destructive development of the Chico River Dam Project during the Dictatorial regime of Marcos Senior - proving as a testament to the struggles and efforts of our people to fight for our lands and rights.

Celebrating its 41st People’s Cordillera Day on April 24, 2025, the commemoration has evolved from not only commemorating the death of a respected leader fighting for land and justice but a broader celebration of indigenous rights and resistance against the aggressive developments of the government and private entities.

Having two distinct days to celebrate the identity, heritage, culture, and honor for heroes and martyrs, some things are still definite: The Cordillera Region still struggles as it has a long way to give awareness to its stagnancy of autonomy, land grabbing of its ancestral domains, discrimination, and other oppression it is yet to put an end to.

The Mountain Collegian, the official student publication of Benguet State University (BSU) is one in honoring the identity and in supporting the unity of the Cordillera region.

We honor its rich, diverse, and resilient culture and people that strives for a better future in the region.

Layout and caption by Jaime Bernabe II

15/07/2025

𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗨-𝗦𝗡 2025 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳; 25 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲

Consisting of 25 participating State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) from Regions I, II, III, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Association of State Colleges and Universities-Solid North (ASCU-SN) Midyear Culture and Athletics Sports 2025 Festival has commenced at the Benguet State University (BSU) Gymnasium on July 15, 2025.

Anchored on the theme “Siged ASCU-SN: Celebrating Athleticism, Culture, and Unity,” the next three days of the event will consist of athletics and socio-cultural competitions that will be joined by faculty and staff of the various SUCs.

Before the opening program, a parade was conducted along with the partner SUCs of ASCU-SN, signifying the opening of the week-long event. The parade followed a route that started at the Administration Building, exiting onto the highway, and then reaching the BSU gymnasium.

Officially starting the opening program, BSU President Kenneth Laruan gave the opening remarks, thanking the good weather.

Moreover, La Trinidad Mayor Roderick Awingan gave a message to the delegates, ensuring his support for the event and promoting La Trinidad and Benguet.

“There's a lot to see in the municipality, there’s a lot to see in the province of Benguet, start it here at Benguet State University, start it here in the municipality of La Trinidad,” he stated.

CHED Commissioner Desiderio Apag III also gave a message emphasizing the role of SUCs in the country’s progress.

“SUCs have been a bastion of hope and access, especially for students in the regions. You open doors of opportunity to young people who might otherwise be left behind, and in doing so, you empower entire families, communities, and local economies,” Apag said.

CHED Chairperson and former ASCU-SN President Shirley Agrupis, the event's Guest of Honor, gave her video message for the event.

"This is not just a festival as we used to celebrate together, but this is also a form of thanksgiving in strengthening our collaboration as one family in Solid North. This festival is one of the most anticipated traditions, which provides an avenue to showcase not only athleticism and artistic talents but also the values of discipline, camaraderie, and shared identity,” she expressed.

Furthermore, ASCU-SN President Silvero Ramon Salunson officially declared the opening of the ASCU-SN Friendship Games.

For further announcements and information about the ASCU – SN 2025, please follow the page below:

https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577717353412

Photos by Peter Josh Ramos and Tito Sanqui Jr
Caption by Jaime Bernabe II

01/07/2025

One day, a little prince and his fox friend found themselves in a rose garden.

The little prince was overwhelmed with the number of identical roses in front of him, all of them looking like the one he had back home, to which he was deeply in love.

However, he soon realized that his beloved rose was different from the others.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said.

"You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."

He went on.

"To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you—the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses:

because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe;
because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen;
because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars;
because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or ever sometimes when she said nothing.

Because she is my rose."

- an edited passage from Antoine de Exupery's The Little Prince

---

This short excerpt is a reminder that only quality time spent together makes someone special to us.

The passage was even followed up with one of the most memorable quotes in the story:

"It is the time you wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important."

With that, to our dear roses,

We may find a garden of roses brimming to the horizon, but it will be always you.

After all, it is we who wasted our time together:

on pressworks where you taught us not only technical skills, but also, patience, humility, empathy, and kindness (even you not realizing it);
on small talks in the office about food, movies, and TV shows;
on brisk walks across the university, chasing signatories and deadlines while catching up both to our breaths and to the latest events on each other's student lives;
on jokes and laughters, where the latter were obviously funnier;
on serious table talks and major setbacks where you held your heads up high for us;
on moments where you all showed us what real camarederie is, what genuine sincerity is, what it means to have each other's backs;
and on many more moments.

And we thank you for these slices of your lives you shared to us. We are truly grateful that our paths crossed and in that, we paved the destiny of our organization.

With your departure, may you all grow gracefully as the roses you are.

Break limits. Break expectations. Break hearts.

Caption by Armi-Jay Paragas
Pubmat by Emmanuel James P. Brabante

27/06/2025

𝗕𝗦𝗨 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Once again, Benguet State University (BSU) has produced students ready to step into the modern world. For a century, BSU has been cultivating competitive students, marking the two days of its 100th Commencement Exercises held on June 26 and 27, 2025.

A total of 2,332 graduands were recognized on the ceremony.

On it first day, Cluster 1 consisted of the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), which graduated 44 students, the College of Agriculture (CA) with 284 students, the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) with 155 students, and the College of Numeracy and Applied Sciences (CNAS) with 82 students.

Cluster 2 in the afternoon resumed with the graduates of the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) with 215 graduates, the College of Forestry (CF) with 71 graduates, the College of Information Sciences (CIS) with 159 graduates, and the College of Nursing (CN) with 153 graduates.

Meanwhile, Cluster 3 consisting of College of Natural Sciences (CNS) with 87 graduates, the College of Social Sciences (CSS) with 17 graduates, the College of Teacher Education (CTE) with 438 graduates, and from the Open University with 51 graduates officially started the second and final day of the commencement excercises.

Lastly, the fourth cluster was comprised of the College of Engineering (CE) with 91 graduates, the College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET) with 348 graduates, and the College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG) with 137 graduates.

As for the valedictory addresses, it was delivered by Jackie Lou Cariño of CNAS for the first cluster, where she was also awarded the Unifast Academic Excellence Award. In the second cluster, the valedictory address was assigned to Jude Bradley Raza of CIS. Jessie James S. Alawas, a graduate from the CTE delivered the address for the 3rd cluster. For the 4th cluster, Clarence L. Lartek a graduate from CPAG gave the final valedictory address.

Their speeches resonated closely, uniting to address over a thousand graduates. One voice shared the same sentiment as the others.

These graduates knew what to expect as soon as they left the exercise. Anxious yet determined, they understood the road ahead would not be easy.

"The hard work begins after this," Cariño stated.

Raza then compared himself with an elephant - slow but moving, moving not with weakness but with wisdom.

And just like Cariño expressed, “Malayo na, pero malayo pa”. These words were what all students thought about, and it was delivered wisely by Cariño.

Jessie James S. Alawas of the College of Teacher Education spoke passionately about purpose and global responsibility. “Let us commit to not wasting what we have learned,” he urged. Alawas highlighted how the interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education is rooted in eco-cultural responsibility.

Hanna Lei C. Pacito delivered the final valedictory address for Cluster 4, sealed the day with a message of service and leadership. “Let us serve with commitment, and commit to serve,” she declared. Her words were a call to action and urged graduates to move forward not just with ambition, but with compassion and accountability.

The ceremony ended, but the celebration was only beginning. As graduates posed for photos and embraced their mentors, they looked ahead with hope and purpose. Guided by the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Eco-Cultural Responsibility, and Serving with Commitment,” BSU sends off the Class of 2025 ready to meet their future and shape it.

Caption by Monica Luz To and Elijah Jemimah Masiong
Photos by Peter Josh Gabriel Ramos and Armi-Jay Paragas

25/06/2025

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | 𝗕𝗦𝗨 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝐞𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 '𝟮𝟱

"The seeds they sought though may not be seen will be fruitful in due time."

Today, candidates for graduation of Benguet State University (BSU) La Trinidad campus came together to receive blessings during the Baccalaureate Service held at the University Gymnasium.

The service was done to ask for guidance and pray for their well-being.

Meanwhile, students from the different colleges proudly wore their togas, some with their beloved ones attending the mass.

The Baccalaureate Service was held twice where two clusters each attended the said event.

The first session composed of graduating students from: College of Agriculture (CA); Colleges of Human Kinetics (CHK); College Numeracy and Applied Sciences (CNAS); and College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for the first cluster.

In addition, the second cluster was formed by the College of Information Sciences (CIS), College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), College of Nursing (CN), and College of Forestry (CF).

The second session of the mass was attended by the third cluster from the College of Teacher Education (CTE), College of Natural Sciences (CNS), College of Social Sciences (CSS), and the Open University (OU).

For the fourth and final cluster of the mass, it was attended by the College of Engineering (CE), College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET), and College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG).

Caption by Aubrey Mendegorin
Photos by Tito Sanqui Jr

23/06/2025

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | Despite the cloudy weather, graduates from Benguet State University-Buguias Campus (BSU-BC) lined up outside the campus gymnasium for their processional this morning, June 23.

This batch featured the 21 graduates for pioneer class of the Bachelor of Science in Criminology program in the said university, including the sole magna cm laude.

Meanwhile, 109 other students finished their undergraduate degrees on Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education, Technical-Vocational Teacher Education, and Agricultural Technology. There were also eight masteral and lone doctorate program finishers in the roster.

Photos by Armi-Jay Paragas

12/06/2025

"𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴."

Hindi maihahalintulad ang sakripisyo at paghihirap ng ating mga ninuno laban sa mga banyaga upang makamit ang ating kasarinlan bilang mga Pilipino. Mula 1898 hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ginugunita natin ang makasaysayang araw ng ating kalayaan—hindi lamang laban sa Kastila, pati rin sa ang mga iba pang bansang sumakop sa ating lupain at mga karagatan.

Sana'y huwag nating kalimutan: isa itong marka sa kasaysayan, simbolo ng ating katapangan, at inspirasyon na malampasan ang anumang hamon sa buhay.

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan sa ating bansa! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

06/06/2025

𝗘𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗨𝗠 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘!

Art, as we know, can serve as an escape from the real world. With the heavy-hitting headlines bannering the newspapers and even social media, life can be rough.

Elysium, the Mountain Collegian's (MC) latest magazine, offers a sanctuary to which we can offer solace and warmth from the cold world projected through our screens.

We hope to be an outlet for creative expression either through strokes, scribbles, and shutters.

𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/fd4f6e05d5.html

05/06/2025

𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱.
𝘐𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘢 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦.
𝘐𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮

Close your eyes and count to ten~
The wait is over! Turn the page, and step into Kalaleng XVII, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻'𝘀 (𝗠𝗖) 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄! Come read what the sun, moon, and stars watched us write!

CLICK THE LINK TO READ KALALENG ONLINE:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0e3c122b58.html

28/05/2025

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.

It meant freedom, peace, courage, and pride.

In our nation's case, the Philippine flag also equates to our history of resilience and valor against our usurpers. The red and blue symbolize the tug-of-war between war and independence, while the sun and stars depict our unity as a country.

Consequently, our flag has to be celebrated with glee. Let it flap along the Filipino breeze. Let the colors of blood and peace ripple in the streets as this was our history. Let it be free in the wind, like a bird that once caged but now unchained.

Pubmat by: Miguel Ephraim Maliwat

Monday	08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 18:00
Thursday	08:00 - 18:00
Friday	08:00 - 18:00

The Mountain Collegian

15/07/2025

15/07/2025

01/07/2025

27/06/2025

25/06/2025

23/06/2025

12/06/2025

06/06/2025

05/06/2025

28/05/2025

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