Established in 1905, the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) marked its 107th Foundation Anniversary last September 2-8 with various activities.
Anchored on the theme “Continuing the Legacy of Craftsmanship through Science and Technology,” the foundation anniversary celebration kicked-off with an off-site exhibit at SM-City-Mandurriao on September 2 at 10 a.m. featuring the different products of the college and its campuses. In the afternoon, a thanksgiving mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Julius Almeria at the WVST Multi-Purpose Hall. This was followed by a motorcade which wound up at SM City-Mandurriao where the Craftsman Fashion Runway 2012 was held at 6 p.m. The fashion show showcased the cocktail dress, gown and Filipiniana collections designed by the WVCST Bachelor of Fashion and Apparel Technology (BFAT) students and Iloilo City designer Hector Gellangarin. The candidates for Mr. and Miss WVCST 2012 were also presented during the fashion show.
On September 3, a foot parade around the campus was held participated in by the students, faculty and staff of the different colleges and campuses of WVCST. This was followed by the opening program with Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, CESO III, CHED Executive Director, as guest speaker. Other activities of the day included fiesta of invention/robotics showdown where students and faculty displayed their inventions; academic quiz contest in science, mathematics, information technology and general information categories; and a cultural show participated in by students from the different colleges of WVCST-Main campus.
A Skills Olympics was held on September 4 with Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, TESDA Deputy Director General for Field Operations, as guest speaker. After the program, the students from the different WVCST colleges and campuses competed in the skills trade areas. (click list of winners of the Skills Olympics).
On September 5-6, the Pahampang 2012 (Sportsfest) was held with Dir. Ponciano M. Ligutom, Regional Director, Department of Labor (DOLE)-VI, as guest speaker during its opening program. In his speech, Dir. Ligutom stressed the values that can be learned from sports and what they can do to the lives of students. The College of Industrial Technology (CIT) emerged over-all champion in the Pahampang 2012 with the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) as first runner-up; College of Education (COE), second runner-up; and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), third runner-up. In the evening of September 6, the Search for Mr. and Miss WVCST 2012 was conducted with Franz Josef Napugan and Sheila Mae Rojo of the Hotel and Restaurant Technology Department winning the titles.
Activities held on September 7 included Faculty and Employees (FEA) and Alumni Showdown in volleyball, badminton, table tennis and football; fellowship luncheon, lecture forum on the life of Dr. Joaquin Maranon; and the fellowship night and awarding of loyalty awards (system-wide) with Congressman Jerry P. Treñas as guest of honor. Fifty-one faculty and staff received loyalty award for 10, 20 and 30 years of service to WVCST. (click list of loyalty awardees).
On September 7, at 8:30 a.m. at the Covered Court, was the 2012 Alumni Homecoming which started with a business meeting of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology Alumni Association (WVCSTAA) presided by Atty. Leo S. Sombiro. This was followed by the election of new chapter officers and then the program for the alumni homecoming in the afternoon. Dr. Luis M. Sorolla, Jr., WVCST President, welcomed the alumni and guests. The Jubilarians (Silver, (Class’87); Pearl, (Class ’82); and Coral, (Class ’77) were recognized and feted. Alumni who excelled in various fields were also recognized and given the 2012 Alma Mater Award. The recipients were: Engr. Norman Z. Samoro (Class ‘81), Business and Engineering; Engr. Arthur Gerardo M. Fajardo (Class “81), Performing Arts and Entertainment; Hector C. Gellangarin (Class ‘87), Fashion and Apparel Industry; Atty. Sulpicio G. Gamosa (Class ’89), Law. Other awardees were: Capt. Cesar Ledesma (Class’56), Alma Mater Plaque of Appreciation and Dr. Renato M. Sorolla (Class ’83), Alma Mater Plaque of Recognition.
Dr. Carmelo V. Ambot, Chairman, 107th Foundation Week, officially closed the activity.
The Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) was established in 1905. Originally called the Iloilo Trade School, it first catered to elementary trade skills. In 1939, it was converted into Iloilo School of Arts and Trades (ISAT) and finally as WVCST in May 1983 by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 395. WVCST is one of the oldest colleges in Iloilo and Region VI.
