It must be providential that recently installed as the fifth president of the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College at Pili, Camarines Sur is a man known for his perseverance and capability to doggedly and relentlessly pursue his goals and objectives and whose guiding principle in life is that there is no substitute for success.
Atty. Marito Tolentino Bernales succeeded Dr. Wilfredo G. Olaño who completed last December his mandatory tenure, at a time when the institution was in a crisis of sorts and the man at the helm must necessarily have the inherent iron will to surmount the odds. First, two catastrophes last year left parts of the government institution in shambles. Still unidentified arsonists torched a building at just about the same time last year another government school in neighboring Albay province suffered the same fate.
Then, typhoon Reming wrought so much havoc on the school’s physical facilities that the school president himself has to hold office temporarily in a very uncomfortable corner of the school library.
The school organization appears to be torn in conflict over certain issues and unless the undercurrents of antagonism are assuaged it would be difficult for one of the oldest agricultural schools of the country to move forward.
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The new CSSAC president stops at nothing but success |
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Then, too, the bill filed by Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte for the conversion of CSSAC into a state university was stalled in the Senate after breezing through the House of Representatives last year. It will have to be refiled during the next session in July and with the new composition of half of the upper legislative body the bill could be given priority. But this would also depend basically on a unified, harmonious stand from among the CSSAC community that must necessarily set aside personal animosities to achieve the paramount goal.
The herculean tasks ahead do not, however, faze Atty. Bernales. Known to be an indefatigable and dedicated worker, he looks at every challenge as an opportunity. And he believes very firmly that he will always succeed because he is one person who does not easily succumb to failure.
In the first place, he is amply prepared for the formidable mission placed on his shoulder. After passing the bar examination in 1978, he continued to upgrade his professional capability by finishing his Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Criminology, Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and presently he is completing his Master of Science in Agriculture. All these academic pursuits have taken him to at least six institutions: his law at Far Eastern University and San Beda College, his MBA at University of Saint Anthony, Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology at the Philippine College of Criminology, his BBA at the University of the East and his Master of Science and Agriculture at the De La Salle Araneta University. Added to these, he took up his secondary course at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary and the University of Northeastern Philippines. To him, such diversity of academic institutions that he went through have served to enrich his experiences and broaden his horizons.
The new CSSAC president has led a colorful career both in the academe and in public office. Prior to his installation, he was Dean of the University of Saint Anthony, College of Criminology. He owns an amazing record as an elective official having been elected for three successive terms as provincial board member of Camarines Sur from 1995 to 2004. From 1986 to 1992 he was city councilor of Iriga City.
He had been president of the Iriga City Jaycees, Tolume Club of Iriga and the Holy Name Society, Fatima, Iriga City and Vice President of the Iriga City Lions Club and Philippine Educators Association for Criminology Education for Southern Luzon. Presently, he is also a member of Regional Quality Assessment Team, CHED, Region V; Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Rinconada Bar Association, Canarines Sur Trial Lawyers League, Lex Taliones Fraternity of the San Beda College of Law, Knights of Columbus and Rotary Club of Iriga City.
Born in Iriga City to Felix de Lima Bernales, Sr. and Rosario Calleja Tolentino, he is a devoted husband to Maribeth Vargas Idioma with whom he is doting father to only two children, Mar Victor, 18, and Mar Spyros, 14.
