In a momentous ceremony held during the Monday flag-raising event, Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong, President of Mabalacat City College (MCC), presented the Times Higher Education (THE) award trophy to Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.

The trophy symbolizes the exceptional achievement of MCC against top colleges and universities in Asia, including the prestigious National University of Singapore, known for its competition with Ivy League institutions such as Harvard University.

“This is the trophy that brought us to the Malacañang Palace,” remarked Dr. Ong, referring to President Marcos mentioning MCC in his SONA. “For us in the academe, the Times Higher Education award is equivalent to the Oscars. To surpass such esteemed institutions is truly remarkable.”

Dr. Ong attributed the remarkable success of MCC to the dedication and hard work of the institution, inspired and led by MCG. She expressed her gratitude, stating, “Mayor Cris Garbo led us to accomplish this, and this is his gift not only for Mabalacat City but also for Pampanga province and the entire Philippines.”

Mayor Garbo humbly acknowledged the efforts of the admin, faculty, staff and students of MCC, expressing his gratitude for their commitment and hard work.

Furthermore, the mayor highlighted the rare honor of having a small city and a local college mentioned and cited in a State of the Nation Address by the President of the Philippines. This acknowledgment serves as a validation of Mabalacat City Government’s hard work and dedication to excellence in education.