German Gervacio
Writer
German V. Gervacio is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of AB Filipino in MSU-IIT. He took his MA Malikhaing Pagsulat in UP Diliman and his Ph. D. in Filipino in MSU-IIT. He was a three-time winner of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and a four-time winner of the Homelife Magazine National Poetry Competition. He is the author of Hari Manawari, Si Tanya, ang Uwak na Gustong Pumuti, and 101 Bugtong na Hindi Alam ng Titser Mo. His works have been included in various anthologies and journals like CCP’s Ani 22 and UP Likhaan Anthologies. He is currently an Associate Professor of the Departamento ng Filipino at Ibang mga Wika in MSU-IIT. He is also lauded as an Outstanding Alumnus of MSU-IIT.
Imelu Mordeno
Psychologist
Imelu G. Mordeno is a clinical psychologist, consultant, and academician. He earned his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Santo Tomas. He has served as a volunteer psychologist delivering immediate interventions to various major natural and man-made calamities. He has substantially helped in the development of school-based centers. He established the Center for Psychological Research and Practice of the Universidad de São José, in Macau, China. An expert on disaster preparation, trauma, resiliency, and other mental health-related issues and concerns, he has presented and published numerous papers on trauma, compassion fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), growth and thriving. As a consultant he has worked on establishing centers and psychological clinics funded by international humanitarian agencies. He is currently an Associate Professor at the College of Education in MSU-IIT.
Jinky Bornales
Researcher
With the desire to enhance the reception of Physics in Mindanao, Jinky B. Bornales is one of the few Physicist in the Philippines to study Brownian Motion and its applications on polymers. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and has been actively engaged in numerous collaborative researches with top institutions of Physics in Germany, Italy, and Portugal. To date, she has conducted and published more than a dozen researches on Brownian Motion. Currently the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension of MSU-IIT, she spearheads the aim to make the institution a research university.
Nacianceno Pacalioga
Town Mayor
Passion for agriculture has been Nacianceno “Jun” M. Pacalioga’s calling. He started his career as a community organizer but envisioned that he could serve more as a politician. From a town council member to deputy mayor to elected mayor, he has always been focused on the development of organic agriculture as the key to sustainable rural development. He ensures awareness on and training for organic farming not only among farmers but also among other professionals and the youth. He is a man who values conservation of cultural heritage thus in his town, the Subanen tribe is protected and supported. In 2010, Jun’s town through his leadership received the Galing Pook Award for its project Steering Local Development thru People Empowerment. He won the prestigious international One World Award 2012 in Germany.
Salima Saway-Agraan
Artist
Being the youngest daughter of Talaandig chanter Datu Kinulintang and sister of world-renowned performing artist Waway Saway, Salima honors her family’s artistic tradition through painting. Using soil as a primary medium, Salima tells the story of the Talaandig people on canvas. She has exhibited her artworks in the Philippines through Kalinawa Art Awards Foundation, Bae Mindanao, Agyu sa Lupa and Huning Lumad. During the Singapore Biennale 2013:If the World Changed event, Salima and the Talaandig Artists Group staged an art exhibit entitled Memories of The Peoples of The Earth: The Revolution of the Talaandig People at galleries of the Singapore Art Museum, the National Museum of Singapore, and the Peranakan Museum.
Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman
Congresswoman
Being a mother of five and a wife never stopped Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman to pursue her own plans as a woman and an individual to be active in civil society movements. In 2007, she established Pinay Kilos! (Pink!) a group that believes in the potential fullness of every woman. She has been serving as co-convener of Citizens Peace Watch and a member of the Mindanao Solidarity Network since 2007. She was one of the fellows of the Mindanao Bridging Leaders Program of the Asian Institute of Management. As a member of the Philippines House of Representatives 16th Congress, she has authored 12 house bills and co-authored 57 house bills and was awarded as one of the eight Outstanding Congressmen of the Philippines by the Superbrands Marketing International Inc. during her first year as a congresswoman.