The Compass

EARTHQUAKE ALERT | PHIVOLCS reports a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at 12:13 PM, located in Sarangani, Davao Occidental. Intensity V was felt in the same area. Moreover, tremors were felt in Davao City.

As aftershocks may still occur, stay alert and prepared. Keep a go bag ready with essentials like water, food, flashlight, and a first-aid kit. When resting, avoid sleeping near windows or heavy furniture, and keep the items you need close by.

𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

As the new academic year begins, this first term, The Compass opens its doors to aspiring student journalists dedicated to pursuing the truth and to serving the community. Ready to share stories that matter? Join us now in the radius!

Submit your application through the link or by scanning the QR code below:
https://bit.ly/TheCompassJSA2026
https://bit.ly/TheCompassJSA2026
https://bit.ly/TheCompassJSA2026

𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊, 𝐌𝐀𝐏𝐔𝐀𝐍𝐒!

The summer breeze and lively hum of students continue to fill the corridors of our satellite learning hubs at the RSY and RG Birrey Buildings as we welcome a new academic year. Mapúans, may this new term bring you fresh opportunities, lasting memories for the books, and a fresh chapter of growth to carry forward.

See you when we do!

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | Freshmen Treat welcomes new Mapúans

Two days before the start of the academic year 2026-2027, Mapúa MCM welcomed its newest Mapúans through the Freshmen Treat held on August 1, 2026 at the RG Birrey Building, Ma-a, Davao City.

Organized by the Office for Student Services (OSS), the afternoon event brought together student organizations from every college department, allowing freshmen to discover communities that align with their academic programs and personal interests. Department-based organizations from the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Health and Sciences (CHS), College of Computer and Information Sciences (CCIS), and Alfonso T. Yuchengco College of Business (ATYCB), introduced freshmen to the many opportunities available. Institution-wide clubs, including Mapúa in Motion, Mapúa Curtain Call, Red Cross Youth, Mapúa Malayan Peer Facilitators Club, and many more, also showcased their initiatives and welcomed the incoming batch.

Throughout the afternoon, the students also explored various booths and participated in interactive activities prepared by the OSS, clubs, and organizations. These initiatives allowed freshmen to connect with fellow Mapúans while learning more about campus life. The excitement was further heightened by captivating performances from Mapúa Curtain Call, making the orientation both informative and memorable.

Earlier in the morning, an orientation for both parents and freshmen was also conducted face-to-face and via MS Teams.

As the newest members of the Mapúan community begin their college journey, the Freshmen Orientation served as an opportunity to build connections, explore opportunities, and take their first steps toward a meaningful and enriching college experience.





IN THE RADIUS | Elyn Julia Basilio, Ian Saromines

NOW HAPPENING | Freshmen Orientation is Now Live

The Mapúa MCM Freshmen Orientation for the Class of 2027 is now underway at the RG Birrey Building, Maa, Davao City.

The program opened with a welcome message from the Office of Student Services (OSS) Director, Sir Lindy Paul S. Aldaba, who welcomed the freshmen as they embark on a new chapter of their academic journey. In his address, he emphasized that the orientation marks the beginning of a meaningful college experience, setting the tone for the opportunities and growth that await them in the years ahead.

Joining the freshmen are upper-year students, who continue to embody the spirit of being lifelong learners within the Mapúan community. The event also kicked off with an energetic performance by Mapúa in Motion, setting an enthusiastic atmosphere for the day’s activities.

The program will run until 4:00 PM today and will feature interactive games, informative sessions, and more intermission performances.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | In a response to the editorial, "Is Uncontested Leadership the Norm?", incumbent Supreme Student Council (SSC) Senator and former SSC presidential aspirant Sittie Aisah A. Dinas argued that the issue of uncontested leadership stems from institutional failures rather than student apathy. The senator also claimed that the current SSC has been operating under an unratified Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) and questioned the administration for requiring student organizations and clubs to comply with formal governance requirements, such as a ratified CBL, while the SSC itself continues to function without one.

Senator Dinas also raised concerns over the conduct of the 2026 - 2027 SSC elections by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Among the issues raised were the alleged absence of official election guidelines, an invalid campaign period, inconsistent enforcement of procedures, and the issuance of election directives without a formal election code. Dinas also criticized COMELEC's directive requiring candidates to participate in activities organized by The Compass, arguing that the commission was relying on unofficial directives instead of established election procedures.

In the statement, Dinas called for greater institutional accountability to address issues affecting student governance and urged reforms to restore confidence in student democracy.

"What we are witnessing is a systemic breakdown in the operational standards of this institution. I am not merely calling for a redo of this election; I am demanding absolute accountability from every office. If the student body is expected to adhere to the rigid policies of the Student Handbook, then the Office for Student Services, the Commission on Elections, and all administrative arms must be held to that same standard of procedural excellence. We can no longer tolerate a governance culture where students are held to a strict code of conduct while the offices meant to support us operate in a constitutional vacuum. Moving forward, the expectation for absolute accountability must be universal," Dinas said in their response.

Editor's note: On July 29, the SSC-COMELEC declared a failure of elections after the polls failed to reach the required voter turnout.

Read the full response here: https://medium.com//beyond-apathy-a-response-to-is-uncontested-leadership-the-norm-be54dccac172?sharedUserId=thecompass.mapuamcm

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | The Mapúa MCM Supreme Student Council Commission on Elections (SSC - COMELEC) has declared a failure of elections for the A.Y. 2026 - 2027 SSC Elections after failing to reach the required 50% + 1 voter turnout. According to the memorandum, the COMELEC will conduct a refiling of candidacies and special elections for the affected positions.

As of writing, there has been no information on the total number of votes during the election period.

For more information, kindly refer to the memo here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AXUgybiGa/

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | After careful deliberations by the editorial board members and staff in consideration of its current circumstances, the final composition of The Compass Editorial Board for the academic year 2026-2027 are stipulated in the memo below.

Congratulations!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍!

The Mapúa MCM Supreme Student Council Elections 2026–2027 are officially underway.

Take part in shaping the future of student leadership by casting your vote for the candidates you believe will best represent the Mapúa MCM community.

Before voting, please review the election reminders provided in this post. The official voting link is available in the comments section, or you may scan the QR code provided. Voting is open from July 20–24, 2026.

For Excellence and Relevance.

Lead Forward: Every Voice, Every Vote.



Pubmat by: Dominic Ilyich A. Andulana

#𝐒𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬

The results are in for the trust rating survey for our SSC candidates, with a total number of 94 respondents from the college department. While these numbers reflect the students' sentiment, the numbers that truly matter are the ones casted in the polls.

As the SSC Elections begin next week, we encourage all Mapúans to cast an informed vote and let your voice shape the future of our student council.