NBSC OPENS NEW MAIN GATE, MARKS ANOTHER MILESTONE IN ITS TRANSFORMATION
Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) formally opened its newly constructed Main Gate and Guard House through a Blessing and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on October 6, 2026, marking another milestone in the College’s continuing transformation.
The ceremony was attended by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Michelle Aguilar Ong, who was in the College for the 3rd Quarter Board of Trustees (BOT) Meeting held on the same day, as well as Mayor Rogelio Quiño of the Municipality of Manolo Fortich and other local officials.
In his opening remarks, NBSC Vice President for Administration and Finance John Kevin A. Artuz, MS, JD, looked back on the College’s journey from its beginnings as a community college to becoming a state college. He described the changes as more than development, calling them a “transformation” and a “metamorphosis.”
He said the new Main Gate represents another mark of progress in NBSC’s journey toward becoming a nexus of excellence and innovation.
NBSC President Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, CESE, welcomed the guests and introduced Commissioner Ong as the guest of honor for the occasion.
In her message, Commissioner Ong shared her appreciation for Bukidnon’s people, places, and culture, noting how the province’s scenery can inspire creativity and innovation. She connected this to the newly constructed Main Gate, saying that the College deserves facilities that reflect the best that Bukidnon has to offer.
The Commissioner also shared that she could relate to NBSC’s beginnings, having also started in a community college. She encouraged the NBSC community to recognize the advantages of being a smaller institution: knowing its needs, understanding its context, and coming together as a community to address challenges.
She emphasized that this commitment should extend to the students, from instruction and administration to the facilities they use. For her, students deserve the best because the College is preparing them for their professional lives.
Commissioner Ong likened NBSC to a second home for its students and commended the College for its courage, determination, and heart for its students. She said NBSC could have settled for something ordinary, but instead chose to pursue something better.
She also said that we deserved the best, for we are Filipinos, emphasizing the importance of not settling for mediocrity.
She also encouraged NBSC to continue experimenting and finding ways to improve based on its own context and needs. She assured the College that CHED is willing to listen and support institutions as they pursue initiatives that respond to their communities.
She emphasized that being small does not mean we cannot be excellent, encouraging the NBSC community to make the most of its opportunities, work together, and leave a meaningful legacy for its students.
Mayor Rogelio Quiño, meanwhile, recalled the humble beginnings of the community college, which started with only a few classrooms, personnel, and student scholars. He acknowledged the support of local government officials and Senators Chiz Escudero and Juan Miguel F. Zubiri in the College’s journey toward becoming a state college.
He also noted the LGU’s support through projects such as the installation of solar street lights and road concreting, which complement the newly constructed Main Gate and contribute to the College’s first impression.
In her closing remarks, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jovelyn G. Delosa described “gratefulness” as the word that best captured the occasion.
She said that behind the beautiful new gate are three things: committed leadership, sincere partnership, and a shared vision for NBSC.
“This is not just a gate,” Dr. Delosa said, emphasizing that it represents the College’s gratitude to God, the people who continue to support NBSC, and the faculty and non-teaching personnel who remain committed to its mission: all for the students.
The program culminated in the blessing and ribbon-cutting of the newly constructed Main Gate, officiated by Rev. Fr. Antonio Villarin.
For NBSC, the new Main Gate stands not only as a new entrance to the campus but also as a visible reminder of the College’s journey, the partnerships that have helped shape it, and its continuing commitment to provide its students with a better place to learn, grow, and build their future.
Written by: Jan G. Soriano
Photos by: Public Affairs and Information Office
