Inaugural Message from the President

Bright afternoon, everyone.

The famous Oprah [Winfrey] once shared: “The more you praise and celebrate your [life] success the more there is success to celebrate.”

Today is a celebration of success and thanksgiving. This marks a historic milestone in our university conversion journey, as we gather to express profound gratitude for the transformation of our formerly esteemed NONESCOST into a full-fledge university – the SUNN or the State University of Northern Negros. This momentous occasion culminates the the 26-long years of dedication as independent state college, the 19-month toil for university compliance after RA 11859 lapsed into law in June 18, 2022. But more importantly, this is a celebration of the stakeholders’ perseverance, and unwavering commitment to higher education excellence and the fulfillment of the  Negrosanons’ aspirations especially the Sagaynons to have a university in this part of the country as first envisioned by the father of this SUC, the late congressman and governor Alfredo “Toto Freddie” Marañon who is ably represented by his better half Dr. Marilyn D. Maranon.

“The sun itself is weak when it first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” This quote from Charles Dickens is akin to the journey of SUNN  or State University of Northern Negros. At first, we were so reluctant to pursue the conversion because we thought that compliance requirements are difficult to attain, but gradually we gathered strength from the people who helped and shared with us this vision. We made hard and painful decisions as oftentimes emphasized by CHED Chair Popoy De Vera; we thank him for that brutally-effective advice. We demanded for everyone’s utmost commitment to work smartly for the compliances; we imposed upon our selves decisive leadership amidst challenging limitations of resources. Most importantly, we built strong alliances and strong collaborations with appropriate agencies and entities. Hence, our Board of Trustees, now Regents has been our fortress and CHEDRO 6 became our refuge.

Our highest appreciation to our BOR Chair Hon Marita R. Canapi for affording us nods to every universityhood-related proposals. Comm, thank you for all your support, your valuable wisdom and your push. Thank you Honorable Jaojoco, Maranon, Casing, Gelonga, Arpia, De Erit, Usero, Layson, Encabo, Jaravelo…the former trustees Hon Cruz and Ogan.

Thanks to RD Raul Alvarez and his helpful and dependable specialists, supervisors  and staff, for an equal commitment to help and mentor NONESCOST to become full-fledge university within the shortest time. RD Raul’s eagerness to realize the SUNN even tripled ours. Saying it figuratively, he did not only push us to the water but he really kicked us and gave us no other choice but to swim and get out — and that had been radically effective to which SUNN is forever grateful. RD Raul isa kang alamat.

We extend our deepest appreciation to all those who have contributed to this remarkable achievement – from the visionary leaders who championed this transition, to the tireless faculty and staff who made all these happened. Our overwhelming gratitude goes to Hon. Leo Rafael Cueva, former Representative of the 2nd District of Negros Occidental and now Sagay City Vice Mayor, as principal author of this law and became my partner -supporter during committee hearings by both House of Representatives and the Senate. The Hon. Senator Joel Villanueva equally deserves an honor for being the Principal Sponsor of this conversion law.

We are grateful because efforts paid off after relating aspiration, forging excellence and quality services, reporting extent of compliances and even risking my neck by accepting the challenge of the CHTE Chair Hon. Mark Go to substantially comply the requirements for the grant of university status within 2 years after the approval of the law. We did it in 1 year and 7 months.

Our appreciation also goes to the Honorable 2nd District Representative Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon who had been our resource-provider and budget lobbyist who sustained us during the compliance process up the present; to the Honorable Sagay City Mayor Narwin “Guapo” Javelosa and the SP Members for backing us up in terms of utilities, logistics and policies supporting the compliance requirements. We also acknowledge the Chief Executives and Councils of the cities and municipalities in our service areas for being so supportive to SUNN; [to the Honorable Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson for the notable assistance to the university in terms of scholarships and partnerships; most especially thank you for your valuable presence today].

To my fellow SUC Presidents and Heads of HEIs, thank you for all your prayers, inspirations and affirmations of the SUNN”s capabilities as a university. My RASUC family deserved special appreciations for their valuable contributions:

• President Millet as my prayer advocate and secret negotiator; President Alfon as inspirer of grace under pressure;
• President Nomer  as adviser and SUNN’s upkeeping and beautification/aesthetic consultant;
• President Nonoy M. as SUNN’s logistical and technical partner;
• President Lilian as conversion and accreditation technique consultant;
• President Gab as mentor and collaborator;
• President Nordy as our university conversion benchmarking mentor and accommodator;
• President Noy C. as inspirer and curriculum-benchmark provider;
• President Bebong as our research structure augmenter and my personal shock-absorber and medication prescriber;
• and NISU President Bobby tops them all as SUNN’s rescuer and talents provider.  Amazing 10, I can’t thank you enough for your nurturing support to me and to my beloved SUNN.

An equally special acknowledgement is afforded to the significant people who gave us hopes in hopeless situations during the last stretch of the compliance battle: ika nga they’re The Last of the Mohicans. Maraming salamat po CHED Executive Director Atty. Cindy Jaro, OIQAG Director Raul Muyong; CHED OPSD, CHTE (herein represented by CommSec Frances Melanie Mauricio and company), AACCUP Executive Director Milabel Ho and this one person I considered hulog ng langit, the Program Head of our DIT program who left his employment in Davao to help the SUNN, Dr. Patrick Cerna. You, guys know how you helped us achieve this accolade.

I commend and thank all the people who have been working hardly and smartly for the SUNN :my past and current designated officials, faculty, non-teaching personnel, enabling partners and collaborators, public officials , most especially my conversion champions. All your contributions big and small are merited and appreciated. Thank you for affirming that in comfort zone, there is no growth that’s why we willingly went out of it.

We also owe gratitude to the students for the boundless curiosity, passion for learning, and quest for excellence. They are the heart and reason of this university, and their achievements inspire us to do more.

We also convey our heartfelt thanks to our past presidents (Dr. Sisno and Dr. Artajo), former officials, retirees, alumni, supporters, and the broader community for your unceasing support  to our mission and your steadfast commitment to our success.

Of course, this gratitude speech may not be complete without thanking my family especially my unquestionably-supportive wife Marylou for pampering and spoiling a university President.

Each member of our community has played a vital role in shaping the identity of this newly-converted university and for that, we are truly grateful.

As we embrace our new status as a university and my being the first university president, we are filled with a profound sense of pride coupled much responsibilities. We recognize not only the immense opportunities but also challenges that come with this distinction, and we pledge to uphold our BRIGHT values as we repositioned and envisioned SUNN to be come a glocally recognized futures ready  inclusive university niching in science and technology. We never rest on the glory of this conversion; I never rest on the prestige of being the first university president; this is just the beginning of a more challenging trek towards higher education excellence. We  are not the best yet. SUNN’s ceiling is just another university’s floor, so we have a long way to go. Ika nga marami pa kaming kakaining bigas to be like UP, WVSU, TUP, BulSU and other universities. From NONESCOST UPGRADE, the university now rebrands and embarks on my new 7-point Agenda dubbed as RISEN UP

• Research, technology and innovation
• Internationalization
• Sustainability of good governance
• Excellence in academics and services
• Novelty in practices
• University recognition and rankings
• People.

With this trajectory, we will definitely shine at any perspective.

Like the SUN marking the highest heat index, this historic event is a nuclear fusion because we are all combining our energies to let the SUNN shine brightest. Notwithstanding the amount of its brightness, one thing sure is, it finally rises and shines in the North. We are all SUNNrays! Sa muli maraming salamat po from the SUNN where the future shines brightest. May the good Lord be with us all. Mabuhay tayong lahat.

DR. RENANTE A. EGCAS
University President