Mariano Marcos
State University

Get to know some of the MMSU alums working at SM City Laoag

By Jesslyn Keith Valite

As the Philippines’ biggest mall operator opens in Ilocos Norte, let us get to know some of the Mariano Marcos State University graduates who hold important positions at SM City Laoag.
Some of these MMSU alumni are part of diverse departments across the mall—from operations and marketing to human resources and customer relations.

𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗮𝗼𝗶𝘁
Gian Carlo Quiaoit is a 2008 alumnus of the MMSU Laboratory High School’s Special Science Class. He now serves as Assistant Manager at SM City Laoag.

He shared that MMSU has molded him, applying these to his professional endeavors.

“Beyond academic rigor, it was the values MMSU instilled in us that made the biggest impact,” Quiaoit said.

𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗮𝘆 
Another MMSU graduate is Abigaile Catubay, Class of 2005 at the Laboratory Elementary School.

Catubay said that it’s the university who taught her to do her best in what she does. “MMSU instilled in me the value of excellence from a very young age,” she explains.

“The school helped shape our character—the foundation of empathy, discipline, and excellence continues to guide me in my role today.”

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗼
A graduate of the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy in 2017, Gene Centeno finished a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management.

Centeno said that the university has prepared her for the ever-evolving business landscape.

“The quality education that MMSU provided became our weapon in securing jobs and building careers,” she explains.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻
A fresh graduate, Justine Asuncion completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management in 2024.
Asuncion, who handles roles in business strategies and customer engagement, said the university exposed him to marketing practices even during his undergraduate studies.
“The firsthand encounters with the real-world business operations and marketing practices deepened my understanding of the industry,” said Asuncion, recalling how MMSU supported student organizations through campus-wide activities and external learning through educational trips.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝘆
Also a 2024 Marketing Management graduate, Justine Culannay shares similar experiences as Asuncion.

Culannay thanked the university for the solid foundation he got from his academic journey. “Through MMSU’s excellence in education, it prepared and molded us to our future careers,” he said.

As SM City Laoag seems to provide opportunities for MMSU graduates, along with the Ilokanos, some of the alumni working for them manifest the quality of education the university provides to its students.

“Our goal is to provide world-class support to our workforce while creating opportunities for growth,” says Catubay. Quiaoit adds, “We will make sure that the developments we bring will help our province thrive.”

There are more MMSU graduates employed at SM Supermalls who have not been listed here, each with their own story to share about how the university prepared them for the industry.

In 2024, MMSU and SM Supermalls entered into a partnership to strengthen the human resources and career development programs of students and alumni of the university.