Perhaps making up for not being able to organize a ceremonial investiture when Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol became the head of MSU-IIT in 2011, the Office of the Chancellor threw a surprise party for the “second termer” when he returned to the Institute on Wednesday (October 12) from the Board of Regents meeting and other engagements in Manila.
Wearing a pink polo shirt, and looking tired from the journey, the Chancellor’s mood lightened when he was brought to the boardroom next to his office where employees and Institute cost center heads had gathered to welcome him home and congratulate him for being re-appointed Chancellor until September 2021.
“Although, I am not a fan of pageantry, I am grateful that I have a chance to express my gratitude for the support that has been extended to me and the administration,” Tanggol told everyone at the surprise party.
Three of IIT’s Vice Chancellors who were present took turns at the podium giving short speeches for the Chancellor, and expressing their thoughts about his re-appointment.
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance David Almarez likened Tanggol’s first term to that of a lawmaker in Congress, as it was a “learning experience”.
“However, on his second term, we will really get things done,” Almarez said referring to Tanggol’s perceived resolution to finally address a few old complaints in the campus that were deep-seated, and which could not be given adequate attention before due to other more immediate and pressing concerns.
For his part, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Feliciano B. Alagao offered words of advice to the Chancellor concerning stress on the job.
“You must take more vacation trips with the wife on weekends” Alagao said alluding to the Chancellor’s habit of working on Saturdays and Sundays, and even on holidays.
Ms Beverly Faith Talpis-Tanggol, the elegant better half of the Chancellor, was also at the Boardroom to celebrate her husband’s re-appointment and to thank those who supported him.
Tanggol was renewed as Chancellor by the MSU Board of Regents (BOR) on September 30 in a unanimous decision.
The BOR followed the unanimous recommendation of the seven-member evaluation committee formed in July that assessed Tanggol’s performance as Chancellor and determined his fitness to be given a second term.
The evaluation committee was chaired by Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, the first woman President of the University of the Philippines (2005-2011).
The surprise party had simple but delicious food, including tilapia brought in from the Hinaplanon property that was cooked in coconut milk or fried and marinated in vinegar and spices.
Mr. Eugene Leonides Legaspi of the Office of the Chancellor organized the party while Ms Sheena Gem Harun of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs livened things up as emcee.
MSU-IIT Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol will deliver two keynote lectures at the Borneo International Islamic Conference VII (KAIB VII) in Sabah, Malaysia on September 10, 2014 and during the ICER 2014 conference in Khon Kaen University in Thailand on September 13-14, 2014.
In the invitation to the Chancellor from Datuk Dr. Haji Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Rosline, Rector of the Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Sabah, the KAIB VII is an annual program for the discussion of ideas and issues about Islam. It aims to provide “a meaningful coverage on current trends in the dynamic Islamic teaching in Borneo” and within the region. The theme of the conference is “The Islamic Sustainability in Borneo” which seeks to highlight Borneo’s potential for growth in the development of Islam and in future challenges.
The invitation was extended to the Chancellor for his “invaluable experience and insights” as a former Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait, as a prominent Muslim scholar in the region and as Chancellor of the MSU-IIT. His insights, according to the Rector could help enlighten and strengthen relationships between the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia.
Chancellor Tanggol proceeds to Thailand to deliver the keynote address for the ICER 2014 Conference to be held at the Khon Kaen University with the theme “Challenging Education for Future Change”.
The two keynote addresses by the Chancellor focus on the challenges confronting the Ummah today such as poverty, disease, homelessness, political disunities and extremism as well as in education, and how Malaysia and Thailand are able to cooperate with each other in order to strengthen the BIMP-EAGA network and the ASEAN region through respect and tolerance.
In his keynote address for Malaysia entitled “Borneo, EAGA, and the Crisis in the Muslim World: Challenge to Islamic Education” Tanggol says in part “the multiculturalism of Malaysia is part of the country’s success and Borneo can be a good example of cultural tolerance, respect and collaboration. This can be a challenge to the Muslim majority, especially to those Muslims who have more conservative views or those with narrow or compartmentalized interpretations of Islam. …There is no compulsion in religion, we are told. And the best Dawah is for Muslims to live as Muslims.” …
“The development of Borneo depends on bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation among Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. National, state, and provincial plans and policies call for synchronization on all levels of governance. While allowing each state or province to grow autonomously or independently, each component must be cognizant of its role and contribution to the overall development of the island.”
For his ICER 2014 address in Thailand which has for its theme, “Challenging Education for Future Change”, Tanggol echoes his sentiments on respect and tolerance but shifts the geographic range from the BIMP-EAGA to the ASEAN in that “the center of the ASEAN 2015’s goals is, and should be the improvement of the quality of life of its citizens of each member nation upon the theory that education is the true key to economic growth and stability”.
“Amid such atmosphere for the educated masses the free flow of ideas and the willingness to work together will result in lasting respect and peaceful co-existence within the region”. –for OC-OPI
Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol chairs the panel on The Bangsamoro (Sub) State: Its Identity, Nature, Struggle and Movement during the SEA Studies Symposium on March 22-23, 2014 at the Keble College, University of Oxford in London with the theme “Southeast Asia in Transition”.
In its announcement, the Southeast Asian Studies Symposium says it is the largest annual conference on Southeast Asia in the world with 50 panels and 300 delegates.
The Symposium aims to present interdisciplinary and transnational solutions to contemporary Southeast Asian issues; to provide opportunities for dialog and networking among academic, business, political, and civil society leaders from Europe and SEA; and to provide a platform for emerging and established scholars to demonstrate their latest research on SEA.
The other presenters and the titles of their papers in the panel are: Nassef Manabilang Adiong of the International Relations and Islamic Studies Research Cohort (Co-IRIS) and of the Middle East Technical University, “Question of Bangsamoro: Its Geopolitical Issue Areas and the BATNA Approach on GRP-MILF Peace Process”; Raison Dimaampao Arobinto of the University of the Philippines, “The Voice of the Ulama on the Bangsamoro Struggle”; Leila Asani Halud of the University of the Philippines, “Transitional Justice: Post-Conflict Reconciliation in Southern Philippines”; and, Tanggol’s “Between Autonomy and Independence: Is Federalism the Answer to the Bangsamoro Question in the Philippines?”
Tanggol’s paper “explores the option of federalism as a theoretical mean between autonomy and independence; revisits the relevant discourse, initiatives, and issues within the Philippine polity regarding the federal option and the Bangsamoro issue; and, analyzes its implications for Philippine politics and governance, as well as the OIC and the ASEAN”.
Tanggol has done extensive research on federalism and has authored the book, Regional Autonomy and Federalism: Concepts and Issues for the Bangsamoro Government published by the MSU-IIT in 2012.
While in London, Tanggol will likewise benchmark on the best academic practices at Oxford and at the Cambridge University. Upon leaving London, and in the Special Order signed by the MSU President, he, Tanggol, will proceed to Kuwait to “explore possible linkages with Kuwait University and funding support” for MSUS projects. Christine Godinez Ortega, OPI
Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol was invited as observer, to a three-day international symposium by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture in Istanbul, Turkey on September 22-24, 2013.
Scholars will present papers from the social science perspective during the conference which tackles the theme “The Role and Place of Prophet-hood in Humanity’s Journey to the Truth: The Perspective of the Risale-I Nur”.
Later, on October 2-7, 2013, Chancellor Tanggol and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Edgar W. Ignacio will visit Osaka University in Osaka, Japan to present plans for exchanges in research and other academic aspects between the Institute and Osaka University based on a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the two universities earlier this year.
