Stronger & Bolder JHCSC for Quality Tertiary Education

JHCSC President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales attended a coordination meeting and reorientation on the salient provisions of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), led by Dr. Marivic V. Iriberri, Regional Director of CHEDRO-IX, on February 23, 2026, at the Convention Center of Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City. The activity placed particular emphasis on the proper implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) under Republic Act No. 10931.

The JHCSC Technical Working Group (TWG) for Manual Review convened for a Cluster 1 manuals review meeting on February 20, 2026, at the JHCSC Hostel of the Pagadian City Extension Campus. The session was led by College Legal Officer Atty. Esther Marie S. Ringon and TWG Secretariat Prof. Marjo S. Malabanan. The meeting aimed to harmonize institutional manuals to serve as guiding frameworks for decision-making, conflict resolution, and overall governance of the College.

The delegates from J.H. Cerilles State College participated in a one-day institutional benchmarking activity on February 18, 2026, at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) Main Campus, aimed at strengthening campus disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) systems. The JHCSC delegation was led by Campus Director Dr. Trinidad C. Abapo, accompanied by DRRMO Director Mr. Jerry R. Redoblado, Security Head Jonathan Reville, and Pagadian Extension Campus Clinic In-Charge Niko Marie T. Casiñas, RN, along with other institutional staff. Their participation underscored JHCSC’s commitment to enhancing capacity in emergency preparedness and response operations.

The JHCSC-Pagadian Health Services Unit, spearheaded by Ms. Niko Marie T. Caseñas, Clinic In-Charge, with the support of Prof. Marjo S. Malabanan, Dean of the School of Nursing, and Dr. Patricia D. Bahian, Campus Director, successfully conducted the Blood Letting Activity 2026. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Red Cross 143 – JHCSC Pagadian Council led by President Krischan Kyle Tayurang, the Nursing Student Body Organization (NSBO) under President Juanie G. Marchan, and NARS CARE. The activity, held at the Skills Laboratory, Nursing Building, JHCSC–Pagadian, was conducted in close coordination with the medical and technical team from the Philippine Red Cross Zamboanga del Sur–Pagadian Chapter, with their full support.

JHCSC President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales participated in the 1st Executive Board Meeting of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), held under the leadership of Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo on February 19, 2026, at the Rizal Park Hotel in Ermita, Manila. The meeting convened leaders of state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide to discuss strategic policy directions, organizational enhancements, and financial planning initiatives in support of the continued advancement of public higher education.

The J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC) proudly celebrates another significant research milestone as Dr. Starr Clyde Lumanta Sebial, Dean of the School of Teacher Education (STE), together with his international co-authors, published a scholarly article in the Q1 Scopus-indexed and Web of Science–listed journal Thinking Skills and Creativity. The study, titled “Applying the Torrance Test: Developing a Rubric to Evaluate Function Art in Educational Settings,” advances innovative approaches to assessing creativity in STEAM classrooms by providing a standardized and psychometrically validated evaluation framework.

Under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin B. Mangila, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, the Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies (BAELS) student interns conducted their pinning ceremony on February 16, 2026, at the Main Campus Gymnasium in Mati, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur. The event, themed “From Theory to Professional Practice: Preparing Future Language Professionals for a Dynamic, Technologically-Driven Workplace,” marked the students’ transition from academic preparation to professional readiness.

An Ash Wednesday service was conducted by Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church for the students and staff of the Pagadian City Extension Campus, under the leadership of Dr. Patricia D. Bahian, Campus Director, on February 18, 2026, at the Conference Room, 3rd Floor of the IT Building. The religious activity, held exclusively for baptized Catholics, brought together members of the campus community to solemnly observe the beginning of the Lenten season, a sacred time for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

Developed by J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC) through its research and extension initiatives led by Dr. Jerry B. Superales, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Resource Generation, ePharian continues to serve as a digital marketplace that connects farmers directly to buyers. The application is funded by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research in collaboration with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. Derived from the Subanen term “PHARIAN,” locally known as “Taboan” in Bisaya, the platform serves as a modern-day marketplace, empowering farmers with accessible digital marketing tools and strengthening the local agri-economy.

CHED Commissioner Desiderio R. Apag III served as resource speaker during the Project Proposal Presentation on JHCSC Digitalization on February 13, 2026, at the JHCSC Hostel, Pagadian City Extension Campus. The presentation highlighted the institution’s strategic direction toward universityhood and its vision of becoming a research university.