Office of the President

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Apayao State College (ASC), the province’s lone Higher Education Institution (HEI), – envisions being an innovation-driven HEI in the Asia-Pacific region pursuing excellence in instruction, biodiversity conservation and protection, pioneering research, and community empowerment.

In undertaking its vision, the college commits to nurturing and developing nation builders in critical fields towards producing graduates equipped with internationally competitive innovations that can transform society for sustainable development.

Therefore, ASC ensures that its current curriculum is responsive to challenges and needs in the local and international context, faculty members are skilled in their respective specializations, its policy environment supports innovation and excellence, there is strong participation in research as a venue for innovations, and the evident presence modern facilities for instruction, research, extension programs, and production.

The college, though thus far relatively young, will continuously persevere and charge forward in exploring and expanding its horizons across its four-fold functions with Agile, Sustainability & Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Excellence, and Innovation, hence keeping up with the uncertainties and the tremendous change in the dynamics of the education landscape.

Dr. John N. Cabansag: 5th President of Apayao State College

Dr. John N. Cabansag serves as the 5th President of Apayao State College. He was elected by majority vote of the ASC Board of Trustees during a meeting on June 24, 2022, and took his Oath of Office with Dr. Marita R. Canapi—CHED Commissioner and Chair of the ASC Board of Trustees—serving as inducting officer. The ceremony was witnessed by the board’s other members.

Prior to this role, Dr. Cabansag was Vice President for Planning, MIS, External Linkages, Public Relations, Resource Generation, and Management at Isabela State University System. His impressive academic credentials include two doctoral degrees: a Ph.D. in Language Education (Academic Excellence Awardee) from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, and a Ph.D. in Institutional Development and Management from Isabela State University. He also holds an Executive Master’s in Public Safety Administration (full scholarship) from the Philippine Public Safety College in Quezon City—where he earned Best Policy Paper and José P. Rizal Academic Excellence awards as Class Salutatorian (MPSA Executive Class 2020-18)—a Post Graduate Diploma in General Management and Executive Course in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management from the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City, a Master of Arts in Teaching English and Juris Doctor from the University of La Salette in Santiago City, and a Bachelor of Arts in English (Cum Laude).

Dr. Cabansag rose through the ranks from Instructor to Professor VI, holding key teaching and administrative positions such as Dean of three colleges (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, Central Graduate School), Director of Student Affairs and Services, Campus Director for Academic and Related Affairs, College Planning and Development Officer, Executive Assistant to the University President, and Campus Executive Officer (Main Campus). He spearheaded major projects and university programs that revitalized planning, internationalization, public relations, and resource generation. Additionally, he is commissioned in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (serial number O-160206 PA (RES)).

He played pivotal roles in securing the Philippine Quality Award, ISO certification, Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, and various program accreditations—positioning him as a proven leader in higher education management.

Dr. Cabansag remains deeply engaged in community service, including as Municipal Federation President of the Parents-Teachers Association of Tumauini, Isabela (2018–2021); Auditor of the Provincial Federation of PTA in Isabela (2018–2021); Vice President and President Nominee of the Rotary Club of Abante Echague; President of the Ateneo Schools Parents Council (ASPAC) at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City; and Country Chair Committee Member of the Association of Universities in the Asia Pacific (AUAP). An active extensionist, he evaluates research for his university and other state universities and colleges in the region. He has published in international journals and presented papers at conferences on language, literature, linguistics, culture, communications, and management in the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, and India.

Dr. Cabansag is happily married to Dr. Marie Grace S. Cabansag, Professor VI and former Dean of Academics and Indigenous Peoples Education at Philippine Normal University-North Luzon Campus in Alicia, Isabela. They have two children: John Vic Lesther, a licensed pharmacist (BS Pharmacy, Magna Cum Laude, University of Santo Tomas, Manila) and fourth-year Doctor of Medicine student at St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-WHQM; and Shiela Marie, BS Biology (Honors Program, Cum Laude, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City) and second-year Doctor of Medicine student at St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-WHM.