23 March 2026
The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) led this week’s flag-raising ceremony.
Following the ceremony, CVM Faculty Member Dr. Alken M. Sasa noted the observance of Rabies Awareness Month alongside Fire Prevention Month and Women’s Month.
Fellow Faculty Member Dr. Richard P. Dumapis emphasized its importance, sharing recent rabies case statistics, prevention remedies, and tactics to avoid incidents. Dumapis then invited BSU constituents to bring their pets to the Benguet State University Teaching Hospital for their Anti-Rabis vaccination. Sasa then added that those who were bitten by animals should go to the bite centers closest to them.
CVM students were then recognized by Paraclinical Sciences Department Chair Dr. Edlyn Mae N. Ciano for participating in various activities during the Mikrobyong Mikrobyo Quiz Contest with the theme “Outbreak Origins” held at the Lecture Hall 1, University of the Philippines, Los Baños on March 21, 2026.
Two teams were formed by three members each, where team one consists of Franz Lyndon Paligpig, Julius Bryan Caacbay, and Celine Diantha Cuna while team two consists of Hayden Tudayan, Mickaella Jurado, and Jespie Olanio with Ciano as their coach.
Team two won third runner up (over-all) out of 18 teams from different Veterinary Schools within the country with a title of Best in Virology.
Likewise, Mountain Collegian (MC) members were presented by their adviser, Karen O. Laking for garnering achievements during the 21st Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference held at the NGN Gran Hotel, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley on March 16-19, 2026.
For the group awards, the MC won 10th place for Best News Page, 2nd Best Editorial, 5th Best Development, 5th Best Development Communication Page, and 10th Best Overall Newsletter.
As for the individual events, Athena D. Manolog won 9th place for Editorial Writing in Filipino, Jaime A. Bernabe II won 5th place for Development Communication Writing in English, Armi-jay R. Paragas won 4th place for Copyreading and Headline Writing in Filipino, Shekinah B. Hombrebueno won 3rd place for Photojournalism in Filipino, jhade C. Cuerdo won 8th place for Digital Editorial Cartooning in English, 8th place for Digital Comic Strip Drawing in English, and 8th place for Digital Literary Graphics in English while Steffy Gwyneth L. Rafael won 3rd place in Filipino.
Emmanuel James P. Brabante also won 10th place for both Layouting and Infographics Making. Bernabe ranked 1st as one of the outstanding tertiary campus journalists. Other participants were Romina Mae O. Hidalgo for the News Writing in Filipino, Kimberlay Gail L. Germano for Sports Writing in Filipino, Alexon Philip C. Budas for Photojournalism in English, Iver N. Gao-ay for Traditional Comic Strip Drawing in English and Michaella T. Cerezo for the Filipino category. Cerezo also participated for the Traditional Literary Graphics in Filipino.
Laking thanked the BSU officials and Alumni who provided financial support and other sacrifices In order for the students to participate In the event.
Next, VP for Administration and Finance Richard H. Kinnud invited BSU constituents to join the Bamboo Unity Run and the “Juana” Ride on March 30, 2026, at the BSU La Trinidad Campus in celebration of this month’s observations.
College of Numeracy and Applied Sciences Dean Ederson G. Bawang announced the observation of Mathematics Week which he then further highlighted this week to be the college’s first time to celebrate. Bawang invited all BSU constituents to join their college in celebrating the event. The opening program started right after the flag-raising ceremony at the CAS-Annex in collaboration with the College of Teacher Education.
This was followed by the oath taking of newly hired Benguet State University teaching and non-teaching employees officiated by BSU President Kenneth A. Laruan.
VP for Research and Extension Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres, in his closing remarks reiterated anti-rabies precautions shared by the veterinarians. He urged veterinarians or animal scientists to apply at the Cordillera Center for Animal Research, and encouraged all staff whether teaching or non-teaching, permanent or temporary to innovate.//EBawang
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The Flag Raising Ceremony and the short program that follows it usually consisting of announcements, recognition of student and employee achievements, physical exercises, performances and speeches from guests and university officials is a regular activity of BSU that supports and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals specifically #Goal3, #Goal4, #Goal8, #Goal10, #Goal16, and #Goal17. In essence, the activity serves as a regular platform to reinforce values, disseminate information, and celebrate achievements.