My congratulations to the entire MSU-IIT community as we celebrate the 54th Charter Anniversary of the university.

In the 54 years since its founding, MSU-IIT has grown to be one of the leading universities in the country and in Asia for its academic and research excellence, and has become a unifying resource for the communities it serves.

As we celebrate this significant occasion, let us remember all the shoulders we stand on and appreciate the work of the many remarkable faculty, staff, students, alumni, and leaders who preceded us. For many of our constituents, service to this university is a central and enduring aspect of their lives. So we have chosen to mark this very special moment in the history of MSU-IIT with a tribute to the outstanding contributions that our faculty and staff, as well as our institutional partners, have made and continue to make to the life of this university on July 8 during the 2022 PRAISE Awards Ceremony.

In addition to the tribute, there are various activities organized in the week-long celebration of this milestone. As an alumnus myself, it has been a great honor and privilege for me to be part of so many great IITians who worked hard to make this celebration a success. I wish to extend to all those who have helped in this effort a special note of gratitude.

2022 has been a challenging year for all of us, given the transition of new leadership in the university, as well as the political and economic changes that are happening in our country. But occasions like our charter anniversary are a reminder that great things are happening. While we take time to reflect and take pride in all of our incredible achievements, it is my hope that, in the period of our stewardship, we will continue influencing the future through our shared vision that focuses on excellence in education, research and innovation, collaboration, good governance, and public service.

As we prepare for the future, we must remain dedicated to contributing to sustainable development beyond our regional scope; to honoring the worth of each and every individual; to encouraging students to lead not just a purposeful life, but a life that values relationships with others; and to being committed to the search for ways to remain relevant and responsive to the challenges posed by a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. I believe these will give their own special character to the MSU-IIT experience in the years ahead.

Our responsibility as IITians continues to be great. We are the flagship university of the MSU System. We have, thus, a special obligation to lead the way in influencing the future.

Happy 54th Charter Anniversary to everyone!

ALIZEDNEY M. DITUCALAN, JD, LLM

Chancellor

Warm greetings and felicitations to MSU-IIT for its 54^th Founding Anniversary.

This year’s theme, Influencing the Future, is very apt as it behoves us to make haste in doing quality actions today to make our imagined future a reality. This means MSU-IIT needs to do more hard work as the challenges today perhaps have tripled or quadrupled compared to the past as we seem to be facing a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. MSU-IIT has made it to the top 6 to 8 universities of the country and the big dream is how to keep it at that state or make it better. Equipped with the idealism and guidance set forth by our new Chancellor, with his important Pillar themes like inclusivity, inter-disciplinarity, global competitiveness, sustainable development, transformational public service, and solving societal problems, MSU-IIT’s future to become a research university will indeed spur the holistic development of the individual and society, particularly here in Mindanao and even the world. I do believe that our collective good actions today would be like planting quality seeds that will certainly become a forest made of strong, proud, stable and fruitful trees of the future.

Needless to say, what a momentous occasion for the entire MSU-IIT family as we celebrate the 54th Charter Day Celebration of our university.

Celebrating a day like this leads us to understand our roots. Those who have been here before us should be given recognition for the foundations they had laid down which contributed to the attainment of numerous accolades and awards the university is receiving at present.

I believe that now is the time for all of us to reflect on our existence, vision, mission, and goals, and to remind ourselves that it is our solemn duty to write our institutional history in the tradition of excellence as we continue to influence the future so that those who come after us can look back on these days with pride and gratitude.

Thank you once again to the women, LGBTQ+, and men of MSU-IIT. I call upon us now to move on and work together as best as we can, so we can continuously achieve things in fulfillment of our dream of being recognized as one of the top universities in the world. As Carl Sagan said, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Let's take part in unraveling the incredible unknown that awaits us.

Mabuhay MSU-IIT! Mabuhay MSU system! Mabuhay Philippines!

It is indeed a moment of great pride that we have another milestone. This is an occasion to reiterate our commitment and dedication towards our University’s vision. MSU-IIT has 54 years of existence today and the University has earned many reputations, including being among the Top 10 HEIs in the Philippines, and others.

In these unprecedented times, we are experiencing the growing anxiety around the pandemic COVID-19 and the extraordinary challenges the world is facing today. Congratulations to all the outgoing Vice Chancellors, Deans, and other Responsibility Center heads for their accomplishments and achievements during their term to serve the University. May you have more power and courage to serve the University as faculty or in other capacities. To the newly elected Deans of the various colleges, I know you can make a difference in your new roles in your colleges. To the newly designated VCs, congratulations and best wishes in leading your respective clusters.

Let me acknowledge our administrative staff and officers who have worked tirelessly to keep the University alive. Keep up the good work!

From here on, however, we have to strategically work on a road map of Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan for our next 5 to 10 years, which is going to be decisive in terms of the direction it takes and the new horizon that it creates in evolving the Influencing the Future.

I am confident that our commitment, support, and contribution to the theme Influencing the Future will come in the next few years. I wish to assure you that positive and productive ideas will be nurtured and encouraged.

On this happy occasion, may I take this opportunity to thank Chancellor Professor Alizedney M. Ditucalan for his trust and confidence in considering me as part of his management team.

Happy 54th Charter Anniversary MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology!

MSU-IIT’s celebration of its 54th Charter Day is its Saturn’s second return. It symbolizes renewal. Interestingly, the University is charting its course this year for the next 10 years, continuing the gains it has achieved. It is, indeed, a significant and exciting time.

On this occasion, I pay tribute to the visionaries who were instrumental to its creation and my colleagues who have contributed greatly to the many achievements of the University up to this day. May the University continue influencing the future and making a difference in Mindanao, the country, and the world.

Happy 54th Charter Day, MSU-IIT!

Congratulations, MSU-IIT!

May you continue to help, sustain and influence Mindanao and the whole world.