ARMM represented in transnational convention of psychologists

COTABATO CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had again been re-introduced to the world with the participation of an ARMM official to an international convention of psychologists in Canada, regional employees said.Ranking personnel of the Department of Education in the autonomous region on Saturday said they were honored with the participation of their regional secretary, industrial psychologist John Magno, to the August 6 to 9 convention in Canada of the American Psychological Association(APA). A fledgling ARMM represented in that gathering. What an honor indeed, said Naila Salik, a senior staff of ARMM's Bureau of Public Information.Hadja Nuring Jamaldin, assistant superintendent of public schools in Basilan, said Magno’s attendance to APA's 2015 convention was a big stride towards the gradual assimilation of ARMM into the global science and education community.Magno said his admission identification card to the APA convention in Toronto City, provincial capital of Ontario, Canada explicitly stated he is from the autonomous region. It bears the acronym ARMM,” Magno said in a private message via Facebook.Magno, who started as chief-of-staff of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman in 2012, is member of APA.He was installed as regional education secretary of ARMM by Hataman in early 2015. Wearing an ID bearing the acronym ARMM during the sessions of the 2015 convention of APA is like waving the banner of ARMM there. It’s an honor for us,” Magno said.Magno said the August 6 to 9 APA event in Canada gave him good insights that can help him and his administrative principal, Hataman, improve their efforts in reforming the regional education department.The DepEd-ARMM was so mismanaged by past administrations that it was known in the past as the most corrupt agency in the region. But more than anything else, it’s the introduction of ARMM to an international organization like this that was more special,” Magno said, adding he is grateful to Hataman for giving him imprimatur to join the event.Magno became a member of APA in 2012. He had studied industrial and organizational psychology as a graduate course. The rank-and-file personnel of other ARMM agencies said they were just as elated with the region’s having been involved, through Magno, in an international gathering of psychologists. He could possibly be the only participant from the country. ARMM is proud of it,” said Sammy Pandapatan, a directorate staff of Magno.