BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
ONCE AGAIN, the Mindanao State University-Integrated Laboratory School (MSU-ILS) clinched the best position paper award during Model United Nations Korea (MUNK 2023) conference that took place at the International Exhibition (KINTEX) Center held Goyang City ,South Korea from November 24 to 26, 2023. The school sent nine student delegates to represent the Philippines to participate in said conference .
Of the six Grade 10 level students delegates namely (Zainab A. Abdulatiph who was awarded with the BEST POSITION PAPER), Princess Alyanna H. H. Yassin, Abdullah L. Rasol, Allysha Khadiyah P. Alug, Abdulrahman M. Pangcoga Jr. and Marniza R. Shiek , a lone Grade 8 student of the team), participated in the Yale Model United Nations Korea (MUNK 2023, with the goal of preparing young minds to become future diplomats who can tackle the world’s most pressing international issues.
This year’s Yale MUN Korea presented formidable obstacles faced by the MSU-ILS delegates, from the initial application process to the final day of the debate conference. They went through the eye of the needle, starting from scratch to craft their individual position papers, which they then submitted to their debate advisers, 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓸 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓜𝓪𝓬𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓰, for revision and commentary. They then defended their papers to the said advisers as part of their intensive training leading up to the conference, all the while hoping that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
The conference drew roughly 500 international delegates and drew roughly from various countries including the USA, China, Malaysia, Canada (Toronto), Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Finland, Uruguay among others. Despite the tough competition, MSU-ILS student delegate 𝓜𝓼. 𝓩𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓫 𝓐𝓫𝓭𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓹, a Grade 10 student, managed to clinch the top accolade with the 𝐵𝐸𝒮𝒯 𝒫𝒪𝒮𝐼𝒯𝐼𝒪𝒩 𝒫𝒜𝒫𝐸𝑅 𝒜𝒲𝒜𝑅𝒟 during the closing and awarding ceremony of the Yale MUN Korea 2023.
Assistant Dean Prof. Intesar T. Aba-Conding said the MSU-ILS delegates would like to convey their heartfelt gratitude to the following individuals who, in one way or another, have helped them make their travel come into place:
“Our unconditional thanks to our own President Atty Basari D. Mapupuno for approving all our requests and financial support to the ILS team. Lanao del sur governor Dr. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong and his First Lady, Madame Sittie Aisah “Nancy” Tomawis-Adiong, Municipal Mayor of Tangcal, Lanao del norte for their untiring support to MSU-ILS team.”
MSU-ILS Administration under the stewardship of 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝒻. 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓈𝒶𝓇 𝒯. 𝒜𝒷𝒶-𝒞𝑜𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 has demonstrated a visionary and concerted effort to elevate the school’s competitiveness to an international arena, as evidenced by the outstanding performance of the MSU-ILS in the Yale MUN Korea 2023; and to all their generous donors, whose generosity has no bound. May Allah (SWT) shower them with bountiful blessings.
They are especially grateful to Sir Andy and Ma’am Vilma for their graciousness and unwavering hospitality in giving them a tour of Seoul, Korea, and for treating the team to sumptuous Korean cuisine in Lotte Tower. (With reports from Prof. Nasif T. Macaslang Layout by Prof. Sa-adon M. Baro).
