By Amado C. Guinto, Jr. and Venus Parmisana
In a flamboyant atmosphere, the MSU-IIT community celebrated its 43rd Charter Anniversary last July 12 in an evening of songs, dances, and food.
The socials clustered the Institute’s constituents in twelve groups each selecting its own theme displayed through costumes and decor. These themes complemented their meanings with motifs that were as varied as they were showy, as mutants, cowboys, Hawaiians, and twilight eccentrics, among others.
With the theme “Going Beyond Borders,” the program opened with a video clip of the IIT Mountaineering Team’s ascent to Mt. Apo, symbolic as the clip visualized the Institute’s climb to the top. In a fitting act documented on film, the team raised the Institute’s banner at the summit.
After SCS Dean Prof. Ernesto Empig, Chair of the celebration, welcomed the IIT community, Chancellor Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol responded with a message commending the committees for organizing the celebrations.
The Rampahan, an impromptu male and female model search for the best-costumed employees, commenced. Eleven “models” in their fashionable interpretations of their cluster’s motifs sashayed on the floor.
Tanggol, who surprising the IITians with his singing talent, joined the band and the rest of the Institute’s administrators with music numbers. They then lighted the ceremonial birthday cakes while singing “Happy Birthday” for MSU-IIT.
Highlight of the event was the “IIT Got Talent” portion that allowed employees in colorful outfits befitting their motifs to engage in a friendly song-dance competition. The College of Arts and Social Sciences won with their Gothic interpretation of Madonna’s “Frozen” and Glee’s mash-up of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll.”
The College of Education and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs got the second and third places, respectively.
Part of the program, too, was the Line-dance with a Twist, a dance presentation from each cluster which climaxed with an unexpected confetti shower surprising all with gifts strewn to the floor.
Dinner followed while the Octava Chorale Society and band lead vocalist Prof. Melissa Casino of the Physical Education Department serenaded the guests.
In the awards, CASS won the “Cluster with Most Participation” and “Best in Theme” for their Twilight motif. The College of Nursing won the best table decoration award.
CASS Dean Prof. Nora A. Clar, Chair of the Evening Socials Committee, in closing the night thanked her committee for their involvement.
Hosting the program were Prof. Mark Tristan Quimqe, Prof. Sasha Anne Valdez, Ms. Lorigen Paterno, and Prof. Venus Parmisana, all members of the committee of this program.
Topics : alumni charter day msu-iit