“And now, we officially open the Matuguinao Extension Classes!” With that declaration, Northwest Samar State University President Atty. Lorelie Fabillar-Tangaran, DM, brought public higher education to one of the province’s most remote municipalities. Pioneering students, parents, and local officials answered with applause. The launch of the NwSSU Extension Classes began with the first morning flag-raising ceremony on the new learning site. Matuguinao is a landlocked, fifth-class municipality of 20 barangays, home to some 7,300 residents in the uplands of Samar. For generations, young people here who wanted a college degree had to contend with long distances, limited transportation and the cost of studying away from home. These barriers often ended their dreams of getting a college degree. Growing the next generation of agriculturists The first cohort is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program. The four-year course combines classroom instruction with intensive hands-on training. The students will be guided by a high-caliber roster of NwSSU faculty members, spearheaded by their Dean, Dr. Jessie Sabijon, who is a recognized expert in the field of agriculture. The program aims to produce skilled horticultural professionals and agri-entrepreneurs who can contribute to the local economy of their home communities. To ensure these students have everything they need to succeed, the Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU) stepped up to provide a fully equipped modern classroom. The new learning hub is complete with quality furniture, essential equipment, and vital internet connectivity which proves that rural learning does not mean compromised learning. Part of Project S.A.M.A.R. The launch aligns with Project S.A.M.A.R. (Smart Access and Mobile Academic Resources), a flagship initiative of Samar Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan that seeks to extend academic opportunities to communities that have long been underserved. Governor Tan, who attended the launch, spoke candidly to the freshmen about her own student years, when her mother held her to strict financial limits. Staying focused and disciplined, she told them, is what carries a student from humble beginnings to graduation. She said she hopes to see a Matuguinao led by professional agriculturists who choose to return home and apply their expertise to the town’s growth. Achieving together The milestone was deeply personal for Mayor Aran Boller who was visibly moved during his message. He recalled that the project was once only an aspiration: “Sadto, inop ko la ini.” (“Long before, this was just a dream.”) Addressing the 30 pioneering students directly, he said: “Kay aadi la kami para sa iyo.” (“We are here for you.”) He assured them that the community stands firmly behind their ambitions. Opening the extension classes meant working through logistics, resource-sharing and the coordination of several mandates. In her closing message, President Tangaran credited the collaboration for overcoming those hurdles: “We can achieve kun nagbunurublig.” (“We can achieve when we help one another.”) By raising the flag in Matuguinao, NwSSU, Project S.A.M.A.R. and the municipal government opened more than a classroom. They opened a path toward individual success and a more resilient future for the people of Samar.
