“Welcome to Capiz State University; to the Province of Capiz – your home away from your home.” – CAPSU President Dr. Efren L. Linan
To formally welcome the participants of the 10th Batch of the Southeast Asia (SEA) Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange Project, the Office of the Vice President for External Affairs and Linkages (OVPEAL) organized a welcome ceremony at the Auditorium of Capiz State University (CAPSU) Roxas City Main Campus on January 30, 2025.
CAPSU hosted 21 inbound participants from its partner universities in Indonesia: Universitas Nusa Cendana, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Kotabumi. These student-teachers will be assigned across various CAPSU campuses and satellite colleges and will complete a 28-day deployment at cooperating Department of Education (DepEd) schools in Roxas City and Capiz.
The program commenced with a processional entrance of colors; CAPSU key officials; campus administrators and satellite college directors; Mr. Agustinus Harry Setyawan (a visiting lecturer from UMBY); Local Government Unit (LGU) representatives; SEA Teachers participants; DepEd school heads, External Affairs and Linkages (EAL) chairs and coordinators, and faculty members and staff.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Salvacion J. Legaspi, Vice President for External Affairs and Linkages, encouraged the participants to embrace the experience wholeheartedly.
“As you immerse yourselves in this experience, you will come to know the Filipino people, celebrated for their hospitality, resilience and deep sense of community. In the Philippines, we often say “kapwa” – a word that embodies our shared humanity and interconnectedness. This value reminds us that regardless of our differences, we are united by our collective aspirations and shared commitment to learning and growth,” Dr. Legaspi shared.
She emphasized that the program extends beyond academic learning, highlighting the importance of fostering meaningful relationships that transcend borders. “We are honored to share this space with you, and we are excited to see how your experiences will shape you into educators who inspire change, promote inclusivity, and uphold excellence,” she added.
CAPSU President Dr. Efren L. Linan then extended his gratitude and warm welcome to the attendees.
“The CAPSU community is thrilled to have you, exchange students, to join our community of passionate educators. Your presence brings a rich diversity of experiences, knowledge, and cultural insights that undoubtedly enrich the learning environment for both of you and our students,” Dr. Linan said.
He encouraged the participants to embrace the culture and traditions of Capiz, urging them to share their experiences with their families, classmates, and mentors back home. “We hope you’ll find inspiration in the connections you make, the challenges you overcome, and the meaningful impact you will have in the classrooms you serve,” he added.
Dr. Linan assured the participants of CAPSU’s full support throughout their journey. “We look forward to supporting you in every step of the way, just tell us on how we can help along the way. Again, welcome to Capiz State University; to the Province of Capiz — your home away from your home,” he concluded.
Distinguished guest and representatives also shared their messages of support and encouragement, including: Mr. Agustinus Harry Setyawan; Dr. Renato T. Ballesteros, School Division Superintendent of Roxas City, represented by Mr. Ariel Andutan, Administrative Officer V; Dr. Roel F. Bermejo, School Division Superintendent of Capiz, represented by Ms. Yzarda Claudette Ballera, Project Development Officer I; Roxas City Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas, represented by Mr. Glenn L. Amane, Executive Consultant; and Capiz Governor Fredenil H. Castro, represented by Vice Governor James Magbanua. They expressed their continued support towards international collaboration.
Dr. Marien A. Laureto, CAPSU Director for National and International Affairs then introduced each SEA Teachers participant to the attendees.
Dr. Annalie G. Campos, Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the program a success.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have made this initiative possible. To our esteemed guests, our dedicated DepEd partner schools, and most especially, to our inbound student-teachers from various universities in Indonesia — welcome to Capiz State University,” she said.
Dr. Campos underscored the significance of the program in strengthening education and cultural ties across Southeast Asia. “May this program be a stepping stone toward greater cooperation and excellence in teaching,” she added.
As part of the celebration, SEA Teacher participants showcased their culture through engaging performances. Likewise, CAPSU Main Chorale (CMC) under the baton of Dr. Vivian B. Ampuang and CAPSU Main Dance Troupe (CMDT) entertained the visitors with musical and dance performances.
| via Marco Jeslie B. Tuazon & Frederick D. Almeida, CAPSU-PIO.