Beyond academic excellence, Mark Lawrence G. Articuna stands out as a visionary whose journey took him far beyond the comforts of home. Leaving behind the familiar embrace of his mother’s care, he set his sights on a new horizon, determined to fulfill his own aspirations.
Born and raised in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Mark felt the pull of something greater. The moment he passed the West Visayas State University College Admission Test (WVSU-CAT), the vibrant, bustling city of Iloilo beckoned. It was more than just a new chapter—it was the start of a journey that would push him beyond his limits. As if in perfect alignment, another opportunity arrived: being chosen as a qualifier for the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program under R.A. 7687 in 2020. And he was ready to seize it.
“Leaving home to study in a new city was never easy; it weighed heavily on me, especially with the looming uncertainties of the pandemic,” he shared. Initially filled with hesitation, Mark could feel the weight of doubt in every step, yet deep down, a quiet determination stirred. Drawing strength from that inner resolve, “I pressed forward because I knew my dreams were within reach, and nothing would hold me back.”
Grateful for the financial support he received through the DOST Science Education Institute, funded by taxpayers’ money, he knew that giving back to the community that empowered his education was a responsibility he could not ignore. Driven by a vision to create a platform for DOST scholars at WVSU to contribute meaningfully while still benefiting from the scholarship, Mark, together with his fellow scholars, established the West Visayas State University Association of DOST Scholars (WVSU-ADS) in September 2021.
As an aspiring educator, he spearheaded the association’s first initiative: a collaboration with the local government of Tigbauan, Iloilo, where they launched a Review Program aimed at preparing prospective scholars from Tigbauan and neighboring towns for college admission tests and the DOST Scholarship qualifying examination—a valuable resource that Mark himself never had when he took the exam. This pioneering effort was not just about academic preparation, “it is also about inspiring the next generation of scholars to succeed and pay forward the opportunities they received,” he added.
In the following years, Mark’s involvement in WVSU-ADS became more limited as new responsibilities emerged. He joined SILAK Media, his college’s student publication, where his leadership skills and dedication to delivering stories that matter led him to the role of Chief Editor in his final undergraduate year. Balancing the demands of being both a graduating student and the editor-in-chief was no small feat. He silently struggled with the immense workload and responsibilities, but his tenacity saw him through, proving once again that resilience defines his journey.
Just when he thought leading SILAK Media would be his last major responsibility before graduating, fate had yet another surprise.
In January of this year, he was appointed the founding Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology Scholars’ Association in Region VI (DOST-SAIS), the regional council of DOST undergraduate scholars in Western Visayas. Once again, he was entrusted with the task of building something from the ground up—this time on a regional scale.
“This is an opportunity to establish a platform that would nurture future leaders, innovators, and agents of change across the region,” Mark reflects as he took on the role of Regional Director of DOST-SAIS.
Driven by the trust of his fellow scholars behind him, Mark worked to help them recognize their own potential. Through DOST-SAIS, he ensured that scholars would not only contribute meaningfully to community development but also empower themselves in the process. His leadership is a testament to how one individual’s drive can inspire many, creating ripples of action and impact across Western Visayas.
And when he thought his journey with DOST might conclude with his graduation, the universe once again had other plans. Today, he serves as a project staff at the DOST Region VI under the S&T Human Resource Development Section (STHRDS). In this role, Mark continues to give back, but this time as a dedicated professional who aids in processing financial assistance and overseeing DOST-SEI programs and services for undergraduate scholars in the region. Through his work, he ensures that the same support he received reaches future generations.
“Building a brighter future hinges on trusting in the potential of the youth. By investing in their capacity to achieve greatness, we are not just shaping a better tomorrow for a few—we’re empowering a multitude,” Mark shares his vision of youth empowerment. He envisions a future led by inspired, united youth who will rise to the challenge, carrying with them the hope, vision, and determination to create a better society.
As a proud DOST scholar, he graduated magna cum laude from West Visayas State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, major in Science. Moreover, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Western Visayas also recognized him as a 2024 IWAG Awardee, a recognition given to campus journalists who excel in development communication and related fields.
𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳: 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘝𝘐 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘚𝘛𝘏𝘙𝘋𝘚) 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛’𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘯𝘪. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛-𝘚𝘌𝘐 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱@𝘳𝘰6.𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘵.𝘨𝘰𝘷.𝘱𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 033 320 0907 𝘭𝘰𝘤 107.