Builders Pandayan

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: The Miting de Avance and online voting for the Student Elections 2026 will be moved to the first month of the First Semester for the next academic year, expected to be held in July.
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‎According to COMSELEC Chair Aira Kristel Padua, this is due to time limitations brought by the nearing end of the academic calendar.
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‎Unlike in previous elections, only the filing of candidacy and screening of candidates have been completed so far.
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‎Due to this, upcoming first year students are also expected to be included among the voters who will elect the next batch of student leaders.
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‎Further details, changes, and official schedules will be announced by the COMSELEC.
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𝟭𝟯𝟯 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗦𝗨 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗟𝗘𝗣𝗧, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀

Continuing to make its mark in teacher education, 133 graduates from Mindoro State University successfully passed the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), according to results released by the Professional Regulation Commission today.

The university recorded outstanding performances across its campuses, with passing rates in both Elementary and Secondary Education exceeding the national averages.

In Secondary Education, the Bongabong Campus posted the highest performance with a 90.70% passing rate and 39 passers, followed by the Main Campus with a 90% passing rate and 9 passers.

The Calapan Campus produced highest number of 72 new professional teachers with a 78.26% passing rate. All results surpassed the national passing rate of 73.10%.

For Elementary Education, the Main Campus achieved a perfect 100% passing rate with two passers, while the Bongabong Campus recorded an 84.62% passing rate with 11 passers — both higher than the national average of 56.03%.

Overall, MinSU produced 120 new secondary teachers and 13 new elementary teachers.

The university congratulated its newest licensed professional teachers for their dedication and perseverance in bringing pride and honor to the institution and the province of Mindoro.

Via Lorren Balbaira
Graphics by Jhon Carlo Landicho

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: Aspiring student leader candidates from the different colleges gathered in the Audio Visual Room today to kick off their joint screening program for the upcoming student elections.
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‎The screening process, which aims to select qualified student leaders for USG, CSG and FFPCC for Academic Year 2026 - 2027 is currently taking part through a panel interview spearheaded by distinguished panel of evaluators.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗦𝗨 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼

In the mountains of Panaytayan, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, the Mangyan farmers cultivate something close to their identity and life — coffee.
Known as “Kapeng Mangyan,” this locally grown coffee is carefully harvested by the hands of the Hanunuo Mangyan and supported by Awati Ti-Kape Community Development Program of Mindoro State University (MinSU), now brewing a legacy beyond Mindoro’s highlands.

From a small Indigenous community, its rich aroma was showcased in the World of Coffee in San Diego, California last April 6-9, allowing the world to not just know how the coffee of Mindoro tastes, but as well as the enduring culture, the work, and the perseverance of the Indigenous Mindoreños.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

Long before development programs entered the mountains of Panaytayan, Hanunuo Mangyans were already cultivating coffee as part of their everyday life. For more than 80 years, they were keeping their heirloom tradition and livelihood through manual strength of planting, harvesting, and “pagbabayo” or pounding, to produce tradeable coffee. Before, they can only sell green coffee beans — raw, unroasted beans, and usually sold for about P20 to P30 per kilo due to limited processing methods.

Significant changes came when the Mindoro State University through Awati Ti-Kape Community Development Programs and partner organizations extended help through interventions, training and quality control, and new machinery, which refined and upgraded the indigenous farmers production process. This also led to higher profit for Mangyan farmers, earning P80 to P100 pesos per kilos of coffee beans.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Awati Ti- Kape program of MinSU also linked the Kapeng Mangyan to various buyers and cooperatives, participated in expos and forums like the CALABARZON Coffee Expo, and engagement with Cavite State University - National Coffee Research, Development, and Extension Center (CavSU NCRDEC) furthering the skills, knowledge and connection of the Indigenous farmers.

According to MinSU Associate Professor V and Chairperson of Awati Ti-Kape Community Development Program Ma’am Zussette Aplaon through an interview of DZMM Teleradyo, the Kapeng Mangyan’s presence in the World of Coffee in America happened through a collaboration rooted from the Department of Agriculture expo. They met Dom’s Barako, a partner distributor who examined the taste and production process of Kapeng Mangyan, and helped export it to the United States.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀

Beyond the coffee farmland in Panaytayan, Mansalay, the Kapeng Mangyan is also cultivated across Mt. Halcon and various municipalities including Baco and southern Oriental Mindoro. Farmers are planting four types of coffee varieties: Robusta, Liberica, Arabica, and Excelsa.

Though the coffee varieties they plant were never a species distinct to them, the coffee they produce remains theirs for the traditional process it underwent and its unique earthy, chocolaty, and winy taste causing an exhilarating effect if one consumed much. Its aroma reflects the resilience and hard work of the Mangyan farmers.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀

Beyond its growing recognition abroad, Kapeng Mangyan transformed the lives of many Hanunuo Mangyan families by creating additional income opportunities and increasing the value of their coffee products.

“May nakapanayam po kaming katutubo tungkol sa impact ng project…hindi na po sila mamomroblema sa pagpapaaral sa anak. Meron na po kaming katutubo doon nakabili na po sila ng tricycle,” shared by Aplaon in DZMM Teleradyo.

This simple statement reflected a major improvement in mobility and livelihood for families living in the highlands of Mindoro.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘆𝗮𝗻

Despite its growing success, Kapeng Mangyan faces several challenges. One major concern is the aging coffee trees in the mountains of Mansalay. Many existing trees have been cultivated for decades, resulting in declining productivity and lower yields over time.

To address this, MinSU partners with the Mansalay Local Government Unit, Department of Labor and Employement, Public Employment Service Office, and cash for works programs that initiated coffee tree planting activities and sustainability programs to ensure the continuation of Kapeng Mangyan production.

𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

For the Hanunuo Mangyan farmers, the recognition received by Kapeng Mangyan represents more than international exposure. It symbolizes hope that their culture, labor, and identity will continue to be valued in the years to come.

As the aroma of Kapeng Mangyan continues to travel beyond the mountains of Mindoro, the community hopes that the recognition will not fade as a passing trend, but grow into a sustainable future that secures the livelihood of Mangyan farmers for generations. Through every harvested bean and every brewed legacy, Kapeng Mangyan carries an important story of people whose culture remains deeply rooted in the mountains they call home.

Written by Al-Francis Eje
Graphics by Jhon Carlo Landicho