VSU Baybay - University Supreme Student Council

We hear you, Viscans!

The Office of the University President through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has approved the re-extension of the deadlines for academic requirements and clearance processing.

This re-extension was granted in consideration of the joint request of the University Supreme Student Council (USSC)-Baybay with the Office of the Student Regent, together with the recommendation of the Council of Faculty Deans and Department Heads.

The appeal was made in response to the concerns raised by graduating students, particularly those who are still completing thesis defenses, revisions, and the corresponding approval processes. It was likewise supported by projections on the number of students who have yet to fully complete their academic requirements and clearance.

We thank the university administration for its consideration and responsiveness to the concerns of the graduating class.

𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗨𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝗩𝗬𝗠 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗣𝗔 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

Viscan YouthMappers (VYM) relaunched Project MAPAGUAPA on June 10, reviving an improved digital mapping platform that helps Viscans navigate and discover housing options within and near Visayas State University.

MAPAGUAPA—derived from the nearby barangays of Marcos, Pangasugan, Guadalupe, and Patag—allows users to browse boarding houses, dormitories, apartments, and cottages, along with information on price ranges, room availability, resident preferences, and other services.

Originally launched in 2023, the initiative was developed in collaboration with the 2022 thesis prototype of former VYM member Engr. Robeth Kathleen Datoy. The website was later discontinued due to maintenance limitations, prompting the organization to revisit the project and develop an improved platform using the same methodology. The team continues to utilize KoboCollect and KoboToolbox for field data collection and server management.

In an interview with Amaranth, Project MAPAGUAPA proponent Benson Clark Dagalea said the initiative was revived after the original website ceased operations following the completion of the thesis.

“Since it was discontinued and wasn’t maintained after the thesis compliance, there was already a consideration last year to bring back MAPAGUAPA, and it was really planned na for good na siya,” Dagalea said.

He added that the goal is “not just to revive the old website, but to create a new and improved one.”

According to Dagalea, the redevelopment process consisted of two phases: data collection and validation, followed by web development. He said most setbacks occurred during the first phase, particularly due to financial constraints affecting on-site mapping activities, which remain among the team's primary challenges.

Dagalea also expressed hope that the platform would reach more students, especially incoming freshmen in the upcoming academic year.

In a separate interview, project website developer Christian Boyles highlighted the need for long-term sustainability by integrating Project MAPAGUAPA into the university’s official domain and server system.

“Ang current man gud is running in a free domain and ang database is free ra pud so always need bantayan,” Boyles said.

Despite resource and maintenance limitations, the team remains committed to improving the platform and providing updated, reliable accommodation information for Viscans.

As the only YouthMappers chapter in Asia to receive the 2024 YouthMappers Community Outreach Award, VYM, which also received the Women's Participation Award, continues to utilize mapping technologies to enhance community accessibility..

Project MAPAGUAPA can be accessed here: https://mapaguapa.vercel.app

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via Jazvenne Niña Onde | Amaranth
Photo Courtesy of Viscan YouthMappers

𝘌𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘮: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.

𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝘄𝗮, 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻. 🇵🇭

From the struggles that shaped our nation to the responsibilities that define our present, freedom remains a shared journey. May this day remind us that a strong nation is built by citizens who choose awareness over apathy, unity over division, and action over silence.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝟭𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆.

Don’t miss the chance to witness an inspiring talk from a true youth leader and changemaker, Mr. Dignity Yap Lagunay, as he shares his journey in leadership, innovation, and community impact.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, governance, and youth empowerment, his work continues to inspire meaningful action and positive change.

Be part of a moment that celebrates purpose, leadership, and transformation.

𝗔 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

The USSC Baybay presents PAGDAYEG NG USSC 2026, honoring the student organizations, leaders, advisers, and partners who shaped transformational student leadership and convergence across the university.

As part of : Advocacies Beyond the Rainbow, the University Supreme Student Council (USSC) Baybay conducted “Living Beyond the Ribbon: An HIV Awareness Seminar” to strengthen awareness and promote informed conversations on HIV among Viscans. The activity highlighted the importance of understanding HIV through facts, encouraging students to become more responsible, informed, and compassionate members of the community.

We thank Ms. Zarlin Jecel Z. Compendio, RN of the University Health Services for leading the discussion and sharing valuable insights on HIV prevention, testing, and available support services.