MMSU CAS Department of Social Sciences

23/09/2026

The Mariano Marcos State University College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Social Sciences congratulates all of our new Psychometricians who passed the recently concluded 2026 Psychometrician Licensure Examination.

The University garnered a 100% institutional passing rate and among the Top 1 Performing Schools with 50-99 examinees.

Along with this, the University has produced new topnotchers namely, Ayunon, Wincy (Top 4); Catillejos, Maria Alyssa P. (Top 7); Ipac, Mark Stephen (Top 7); Gumarang, Ricka Sarah B. (Top 8); Pascual, Mark JC M. (Top 8); Antonio, Ariel Cesar B. Jr. (Top 9); and Colobong, Moyrah Shaina F. (Top 10).

The new 54 Psychometricians are also the pioneer batch of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program of the University.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR NEW PSYCHOMETRICIANS!

23/09/2026

Congratulations to our new Psychometricians from MMSU-College of Arts and Sciences. We are so proud of all of you!

25/08/2026

The Department of Social Sciences congratulates MR. MARK JOSEPH A. BUENAVISTA for passing the August 2026 Guidance Counselor Licensure Examination. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have finally paid off.

Wishing you all the best as you begin this new chapter as a Registered Guidance Counselor.

Basta SokSay, mahusay!

15/07/2026

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗗𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗢 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕-𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗗 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗗𝗲𝘃 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮

𝘉𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘖𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘢

In a constant endeavor to strengthen effective leadership and promote good governance, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Department of Social Sciences (DSS) triumphantly executed its latest extension program titled “PanagTARIBAY Iti Ili: Technological Assistance in Revitalizing and Initiating Boundaries Towards Yielding Productivity, Profitability, and Sustainability” under Project PanagDAULO on June 29, 2026 at Brgy. Sacritan Covered Court, Pinili, Ilocos Norte.

With the theme “Crafting of the Barangay Agenda for Governance And Development (B-AGAD) Plan and Capacity Development (CapDev) Agenda”, Project PanagDAULO’s second installment of training workshop brought together barangay officials of Pinili from Brgy. Sacritan, Brgy. Lumbaan-Bicbica, and Brgy. Liliputen for an immersive session centered on the B-AGAD Plan and the CapDev Agenda.

Facilitating as the resource speaker, Breanna Francesca T. Alcid captivated the barangay officials with a compelling analogy to elaborate these comprehensive planning methods. In her discussion, Alcid associated a community to a house, where the barangay officials act as the parents and the citizens serve as the kids. “Just as good parents produce a loving family and well-guided children, good leadership from barangay officials naturally fosters responsible and proactive citizens.” Alcid explained. “When you have good leadership, you inspire citizens; and when leaders and citizens work hand-in-hand, it results in good and efficient systems within the community.”

Alcid then transitioned the family dynamic into structural planning, reminding the barangay officials that even the best families need a solid roof over their heads: the B-AGAD Plan as the Blueprint and the CapDev Agenda as the Maintenance. To build a functioning house, a blueprint is absolute. Without it, the design fails—leading to structural inefficiencies. The B-AGAD plan serves as this blueprint, mapping out the goals and layout of the barangay. And even the most beautiful home will crumble without upkeep. The CapDev Agenda represents this continuous maintenance and strengthening of the local leaders' skills, ensuring the "house" stands firm against time and unexpected challenges.

Turning these conceptual models into reality, the project’s management team guided the participants throughout the training workshop. Together with the resource speaker, the team—composed of Rex-Belli L. Alejandro (President of the MMSU Faculty Association Inc.), Bensen Alex U. Pola (Director of the General Services Division), Zacarias G. Damo, Rommel John G. Obena, and Leoj Jelfemar P. Dizor—led the officials through a series of interconnected activities: SWOT Analysis–assessing the internal strengths and weaknesses, alongside external opportunities and threats, of each barangay. Drafting the B-AGAD Plan–outlining precisely what the barangays want to achieve for their "home." And lastly, drafting the CapDev Agenda–identifying the specific training and organizational maintenance needed to support their outstanding blueprints.

The program concluded with a strong message of fellowship and camaraderie from Fides Bernardo A. Bitanga, MMSU Vice President for Administration and Finance. Bitanga expressed his profound satisfaction at the growing partnership between the university and the Pinili local government units, emphasizing that collaborative efforts are the cornerstone of sustainable community development.

07/07/2026

Project UKRAD Empowers 4Ps Parents Through Leadership Skills Training in Pinili

Project UKRAD (Unlocking 4Ps Beneficiaries’ Potentials, Knitting Wholistic Literacy, Revitalizing Partnership and Cooperation, Arranging Trainings and Tutorials, Developing Self-Knowledge), a sub-component of the PanagTARIBAY ti Ili Extension Program of the Department of Social Sciences (DSS), conducted its Leadership Skills Training with Group Dynamics for 4Ps Parents Beneficiaries at Brgy. Lumbaan-Bicbica, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, June 30.

Already on its second session, the project members aimed to address key gaps in program implementation and long-term poverty reduction by empowering poor Filipino families to govern their communities actively and sustainably. The said session was customized to meet the needs of low-literacy adults and it also integrated relevant information on responsible parenthood.

Asst. Prof. Rodel Reyes, Project Leader of UKRAD, discussed about Self-Awareness and Personal Leadership through the practice of 3Cs (Communication, Conflict Resolution, Collaboration and Trust). He emphasized the importance of the three skills to strengthen family dynamics and to create a more functional and healthier environment within barangays.

Moreover, he also talked about empowerment. He reminded the 4PS parents that having empowerment entails helping individuals and groups build agency, power, and inclusion. It is a way for them to have the ability to change the existing system by using their voice and acting upon their collective decisions instead of being passive recipients.

Aside from the short but meaningful lecture, the program members also facilitated several games to assess the team-building skills of the attendees. After each game, the attendees were encouraged to do a reflection to process how the games affected their group dynamics. The process of internalizing the result of the games served as a way for them to inculcate the leadership skills mentioned during the discussion. More than just simple games, the activities were carefully chosen to train the 4ps parents on how to be a good team player, whether as a member or a leader.

The 4Ps parent-beneficiaries from came from Barangays Sacritaan, Liliputen and Lumbaan-Bicbica participated in the said event. Project UKRAD will continue its next session on the last quarter of the year and will target the children of the 4Ps parent-beneficiaries with a focus on career guidance.

05/07/2026

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | AKEM Empowers Pinili Barangays Through AI-Enhanced Ordinance and Resolution Making Workshop

By Cyrelle J. Dominico

The 𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐌 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 under the 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐭𝐢 𝐈𝐥𝐢 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 of 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 successfully conducted a Capacity Building Workshop on Ordinance and Resolution Making on June 30, 2026, bringing together barangay officials from Lumbaan-Bicbica, Sacritan, and Liliputen for a whole-day training aimed at strengthening local legislative capabilities. The workshop combined traditional legislative principles with emerging technologies, particularly the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), to promote more effective, efficient, and legally compliant ordinance drafting.

The morning session featured lectures from experts in local governance and legislative drafting. Mr. Janlee J. Sardeng discussed the overview of ordinances and resolutions, followed by Assistant Professor Jerry C. Buenavista on legislative drafting and Ms. Girlie Obrero on the approval process of local legislative measures. Ms. Cyrelle J. Dominico introduced participants to the emerging role of AI in ordinance and resolution drafting, while Dr. Leslie Kay R. Corpuz highlighted the importance of accuracy and data security in technology-assisted drafting. Mr. Sherwin Paul Erlou U. Galicinao concluded the morning session with a lecture on the ethical use of technology in legislative work.

In the afternoon, Atty. Lorma Auria Q. Cuadro emphasized the vital role of legal principles in drafting effective ordinances before participants engaged in a hands-on workshop. Each barangay prepared draft ordinances and resolutions, which were presented and critiqued by the expert panel composed of Atty. Cuadro, Dr. Bensen U. Pola, and Dr. Leslie Kay R. Corpuz, providing participants with practical guidance to improve their legislative outputs.

Representatives from the three participating barangays expressed their sincere appreciation to the resource speakers and the AKEM Extension Team for the valuable learning experience, noting that the workshop enhanced their confidence in crafting responsive and legally sound local legislation. The activity concluded with the presentation of certificates and tokens of appreciation to the experts, while each participating barangay received a certificate recognizing its commitment to strengthening grassroots governance through continuous learning and innovation.

The workshop reflects AKEM's commitment to empowering local government units by integrating legal expertise, practical legislative training, and responsible technological innovation to promote effective and responsive barangay governance.

03/07/2026

06/02/2026

𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁: 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

We know the semester can get heavy, so we’re keeping things light. Consider this your "open invitation" to take a breather. No formal appointments, no pressure, and no heavy topics required, just a simple, chill kumustahan over at the CAS Guidance Office.

Whether you need to vent, want to share a win, or just need a safe spot to sit and breathe between classes, our doors are wide open.

𝐻𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑢𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑎𝑛, 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑝. 𝐾𝑎𝑦𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑝𝑎ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑎, 𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑎.

📍 Where: CAS Guidance Office
🗓️ When: February 9–28, 2026

Tara, usap tayo.

09/12/2025

Happening Now: The Department of Social Sciences is currently conducting its Extension Project titled ‘PanagTARIBAY ti Ili’ at Brgy. Sacritan, Pinili, Ilocos Norte.

14/08/2025

The Department of Social Sciences congratulates, Assoc. Prof. Rex-Belli L. Alejandro for being elected as the new MMSU Faculty Association, Inc. President, during the election held at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia, August 14, 2025.

Prof. Alejandro served as the president of the MMSU College of Arts and Sciences Educators' Society (CAS Faculty Association), and is currently the department chair of the MMSU CAS Department of Social Sciences.

We are so proud of you Sir Rex, and we wish you all the best as the new faculty regent.

Congratulations, Sir!