CSU celebrates 91st Anniversary of Proclamation No. 4

ICT Center, CSU - Caraga State University celebrated yesterday, Feb. 14, 2011, the 91st anniversary of the declaration of Proclamation No. 4 4 by American Gov. Francis Burton Harrison, declaring the reservation of 232 hectares land area for agricultural school in Ampayon, Butuan City.

The 91st Anniversary of opened with ““Hataw””, a 30-minute dance exercise participated by officials, faculty members and staff of the university held at the gymnasium. The early morning exercise which started past seven in the morning was led by Dr. Armie Liela M. Mordeno, the Director for Finance and Administration.

Following the morning exercise, the CSU family held its tree planting activity on the fields of CSU, a couple of kilometers away from the school buildings of the university.

Dr. Rolando N. Paluga, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Dr. Teresita A. Atega, Vice President for Research and Extension (VPRE), led this activity. The CSU community led in planting trees as part of CSU’s Environmental Consciousness Program and in support to the National Greening Program of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III. The tree planting was concurrent with the students campus clean-up led by the Central Student Government (CSG) student officers.

The Ribbon Cutting and Blessing of the Goat Project, Flat Bed Dryer and Tractor was held following the tree planting. Present during the ribbon cutting and blessing were Dir. Reinerio B. Belarmino, Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) – Regional Field Unit (RFU) 13 Director, members of the Board of Regents of CSU, CSU Administrative Officials led by Dr. Luisito I. Tabada, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and the OIC President of the University, with Dr. Danilo A. Gaas, the Director of Office for Resource Generation (ORG) with other CSU officials, faculty members and students.

The Convocation Program and Turn-over Ceremony was held at the Sanchez Gymnasium. The program was attended by all the administrative officials, faculty members and staff of both campuses. Also present during the Turn-over Ceremony were Dir. Reinerio B. Belarmino, and the members of the current Board of Regents namely, Hon. Elena L. Paulma, Hon. Lyndo G. Villacorta, Hon. Carmencita S. Cochingco, Hon. Marlyn B. Castillo and Hon. Winston A. Guillen. Also present in the presidential table during the program were Mr. Angelito Asion, President of CSU Alumni Association, Inc. and Engr. Anselmo L. Sang Tian. CSU thanked Dir. Belarmino and Hon. Villacorta for sharing resources to the university with the donations of the flat bed dryer, tractor and the goats worth millions of pesos.

Highlighted during the program was a presentation of the evolution of the institute before it became known now as Caraga State University, MOA Signing Ceremony, and the singing of the CSU Hymn.

Immediately after the program was a budol fight. A budol fight is a Filipino military tradition wherein the soldiers share and eat food prepared and set on banana leaves on top of a long table. In a budol fight, soldiers eat the same food with their hands to celebrate the camaraderie among fellow soldiers. Like soldiers tired from their military exercises, the community of CSU, hungry and tired from the morning activities, savored the food prepared on the table.

Overall, the celebration was considered as a success. One of the important highlights of the event was the tree planting. Tree planting is our way of paying tribute to the late Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison’s contribution to CSU and the entire Caraga Region. According to Dr. Armie Leila M. Mordeno, CSEE and Director of Administration and Finance, tree planting just goes to show that Caraga State University has never forgotten its whole purpose --- our love for agriculture.