Warmest Christian greetings to the CM community, alumni and friends!

This academic year 2020-21 started with uncertainties in CM's journey, and the situation remains volatile. Yet it is also a challenging time for CM to rediscover its strength: to be resilient, creative and innovative, deeply rooted in our confession that "without God all is in vain." It also teaches us the most important lesson for any person, organization or institution: the value of people. People matter.

Now is the best time to re-image CM in its 100 years and more, and how CM should look in the next decade.

Maasin Institute - The College of Maasin (MI-CM) has been through thick and thin since its founding in 1924. A rented bodega with kerosene cans as chairs recalls its humble beginnings as the only and preferred secondary school in the southern part of Leyte. When the Second World War broke out, MI ceased operations but not its spirit. It reopened after the war and reached its best in the 1950s and early 1960s. It dwindled in the 1970s and 1990s, yet with a surviving spirit it struggled to rise and reclaim its past stature, gaining momentum for growth with new courses and breakthrough programs.

Along with this historical struggle came the evolution of its academic thrust. It began as a secondary school known for excellence in leadership, literature and music. It grew into a liberal arts and teacher education institution producing excellent teachers and leaders. It spearheaded technical courses in response to the needs of the time, and offered new and breakthrough courses in which it excelled.

CM's quest for excellence continues, and in the next decade it needs to re-imagine its academic niche. Retracing our past and reading the signs of the times, now is the best time to re-image CM: to revisit its vision and mandate, define its academic niche and sustain its institutional life.

It shall be CM's commitment that in any path of development, the benefit to people and clientele takes primacy, and the preservation and conservation of the environment is always considered and respected.

As we have been in the past, as we are now, and as we will be in the future, our confidence is in God. It has been and will always be an empowering journey with you and the CM community.

This pandemic humbles us and keeps us rooted in the truth that without God, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Nisi Dominus Frustra. Thank you, and God bless.

Pinakamainit na pagbating Kristiyano sa komunidad ng CM, sa mga alumni at mga kaibigan!

Nagsimula ang academic year 2020-21 na may mga kawalang-katiyakan sa paglalakbay ng CM, at nananatiling hindi matatag ang sitwasyon. Gayunman, ito rin ay isang mapanghamong panahon para matuklasang muli ng CM ang lakas nito: maging matatag, malikhain at makabago, na malalim na nakaugat sa ating paniniwala na "kung wala ang Diyos, lahat ay walang kabuluhan." Itinuturo din nito sa atin ang pinakamahalagang aral para sa sinumang tao, organisasyon o institusyon: ang halaga ng mga tao. Mahalaga ang mga tao.

Ngayon ang pinakamahusay na panahon para isipin muli ang CM sa 100 taon nito at higit pa, at kung ano ang dapat maging hitsura ng CM sa susunod na dekada.

Nakaranas ng hirap at ginhawa ang Maasin Institute - The College of Maasin (MI-CM) mula nang itatag ito noong 1924. Ang isang inuupahang bodega na may mga lata ng kerosene bilang mga upuan ay nagpapaalala sa payak nitong simula bilang nag-iisa at piniling secondary school sa katimugang bahagi ng Leyte. Nang sumiklab ang Second World War, huminto ang operasyon ng MI ngunit hindi ang diwa nito. Muli itong nagbukas pagkatapos ng giyera at naabot ang pinakamahusay nito noong 1950s at unang bahagi ng 1960s. Humina ito noong 1970s at 1990s, ngunit sa nananatiling diwa ay nagsikap itong bumangon at bawiin ang dating katayuan, at nagkaroon ng sigla para sa paglago sa pamamagitan ng mga bagong kurso at breakthrough programs.

Kasama ng makasaysayang pakikibakang ito ang pag-unlad ng academic thrust nito. Nagsimula ito bilang isang secondary school na kilala sa kahusayan sa pamumuno, panitikan at musika. Lumago ito bilang isang institusyon ng liberal arts at teacher education na nagluluwal ng mahuhusay na guro at lider. Nanguna ito sa mga technical course bilang tugon sa mga pangangailangan ng panahon, at nag-alok ng mga bago at breakthrough course kung saan ito nangibabaw.

Nagpapatuloy ang paghahangad ng CM sa kahusayan, at sa susunod na dekada ay kailangan nitong isipin muli ang academic niche nito. Sa pagbabalik-tanaw sa ating nakaraan at pag-unawa sa mga palatandaan ng panahon, ngayon ang pinakamahusay na panahon para isipin muli ang CM: balikan ang vision at mandato nito, tukuyin ang academic niche nito at panatilihin ang buhay ng institusyon.

Magiging pangako ng CM na sa anumang landas ng pag-unlad, ang kapakinabangan ng mga tao at clientele ang pangunahing prayoridad, at ang pangangalaga at pag-iingat sa kapaligiran ay laging isinasaalang-alang at iginagalang.

Kung paano tayo noon, kung paano tayo ngayon, at kung paano tayo sa hinaharap, ang ating pagtitiwala ay nasa Diyos. Ito ay naging at palaging magiging isang paglalakbay na nagbibigay-lakas kasama kayo at ang komunidad ng CM.

Pinabababa tayo ng pandemyang ito at pinananatili tayong nakaugat sa katotohanan na kung wala ang Diyos, wala tayong magagawa (John 15:5).

Nisi Dominus Frustra. Salamat, at pagpalain kayo ng Diyos.