Alumni Letter September 2013

Alumni Letter September 2013

DEAR FELLOW SILLIMANIANS AND FRIENDS:

The month of September found the whole Silliman community in deep prayer. Silliman University Church in partnership with the Silliman University Student Government, spearheaded a prayer gathering at the SU Church last September 11. The prayers focused on the concern for our country leaders, the Zamboanga crisis and the Syrian conflict. We thank the SU Church Justice and Peace Committee Chair Atty. Joshua Francisco Ablong and the SU Student Government Religious Life Committee for initiating and planning this activity.  

The Silliman Alumni Association Inc., Davao Chapter gathered for a Post- Founders Day Fellowship last September 20 at Nanay Bebeng Restaurant in Davao City.  The highlight of the evening affair was the donning of the Outstanding Sillimanian Awards (OSA) Medallion on Davao-based OSA recipients.  Awarded that evening were: Gabriel B. Atega, Business Management 2002; Eduardo A. Bangayan, Entrepreneurship 2009; Aida Rivera-Ford, Literature and Cultural Arts 1994; Rosita Villafuerte-Fundador, Environmental Science 1992; Felipe Q. Tan, Agri-Business 1996; Evelyn Tan-Requiza, Education and Historical Research 2010 and Eleuteria C. Rodriguez (posthumous), Humanitarian Services 1988. (Another Davao- based Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee, Fele D. Magdamo in the field of Nursing Administration, received her OSA Medallion earlier during the 112th Founders Day Vespers Service at SU Church last August 25, 2013.) Other university officials who were present were: Vice President for Development Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino, Alumni and External Affairs Director Mr. Ruben N. Bokingo and Office of Information and Publications Director, Mr. Mark Raygan E. Garcia.  Also present was SAAI National President, Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor. 

A student recruitment campaign was conducted earlier on September 19-20, 2013 in selected schools in Davao City. Mr. Mark Raygan E. Garcia headed the recruitment team. Schools visited were: Ateneo de Davao, Davao Christian High School, Stella Maris Academy and Christian College of Southeast Asia.

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Newly elected alumni officers for the Davao Chapter are: Susan B. Palad, President; Briccio M. Merced, Vice President;  Juni Jane Barroquillo-Lee, Secretary; Jennifer Romulo-Dejolde, Assistant Secretary; Shiela Tubongbanua-Palma Gil, Treasurer; Ian Vladimira Tampac-Cabey, Auditor; and Cerlito M. Animo, PRO and Alumni Affairs. We wish to congratulate the Davao Alumni “old guards” headed by SU Trustee Mrs. Ma. Elena Ravello-Mangaoil, Ms. Fele D. Magadamo, Mrs. Helen D. Magadamo-Guillergen and Dr. Rosita Villafuerte-Fundador for a very well-attended fellowship. Special thank you goes to Mr. Cerlito M. Animo, for going the extra mile in all the preparations for the student recruitment and alumni fellowship.

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Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee Mr. Dionesio R. Flores in the field of Sports Development 1999 was recently honored with an OSA medallion at his home here in Dumaguete City. Silliman University Trustee Dr. Angel C. Alcala and Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III donned the medallion. Others present were OSA Dr. Fe Sycip-Wale, OSA Dr. Efren N. Padilla, SAAI Vice President Atty. Mikhail Lee L. Maxino and Mr. Flores’ immediate family members.  Mr. Flores was a trainer and coach of Sillimanians who have made a name in archery in the country and abroad.

SILLIMAN CHURCH celebrates Christian Education Month

September kicked off as Christian Education and Nurture (CEN) month. With the theme from the Founders Day “Joyfully Lift Up the Lamb,” Silliman University Church had various activities for the celebration. Emphasis on the role of the children, youth and young adults in the life of the church gave these groups the opportunity to lead in the worship services for the whole month of September. Other activities were devotions in the campus dorms, a Faith Run, CEN Fair, inter-school organization Bible Quiz and an acoustic afternoon with the church youth band J2MAD, among others.

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Silliman University Church longest running Bible study group, the Silliman Park-Bantayan Bible Cluster is now on its 55th year.  It was in 1958 that a group of SU faculty living at Silliman Park started meeting every Saturday at 6:30 in the morning. The pioneer families were the: Dolumbals, Songcos, Ratertas, Wicklers and Bokingos.  Today the Silliman Park-Bantayan Bible Cluster has continued to be an active Bible study group with Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, SU Church Senior Minister as facilitator. The latest outreach project that the cluster recently implemented was the turn over of a 3-bedroom parsonage to the UCCP Lamdas Church in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. This was made possible through the help of Mr. and Mrs. Rolando Venturanza Magdamo and the Presbyterian Church of Nevada, USA. 

Also recently, the Silliman Park-Banatayan Bible Study Cluster gifted the Lamdas UCCP Church with 20 Alawiton sa Pagtuo hymnals. The Bantayan Cluster, through its Faith-at-Work Assistance Program, made this donation possible. The hymnals were received by Lamdas Church Pastor Gideon Casusi with the church members last September 22, 2013 during their 29th Year Thanksgiving Day Service. Rev. Ricky C. Anfone, Central Negros Associate Conference Minister delivered the Thanksgiving Day message.  

Panhellenic and Iligan Alumni Chapter Join SU Student Recruitment Campaign

ImageMembers of the Panhellenic Society, a student organization on campus headed by Kyle Duazo, Paco Guarin and Jiaan Francis Gomez, recently visited the Alumni Affairs office to give assistance to the student recruitment campaign of the university. They will be reaching out to high school students this semestral break in their respective home towns covering the areas of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Bukidnon. Campaign leaflets and posters were provided for the activity. The Panhellenic Society has partnered with the Silliman Alumni Association, Inc. (SAAI) Iligan Chapter headed by its President Dr. Hilario Abel Gomez, a current Alumni Director for Mindanao, for this student recruitment campaign. 

Career and Placement Officer Ms. Arlene Lou J. Cuevas of the Office of Alumni and External Affairs would like to inform our young graduates who are in search of employment to check out the Silliman University website www.su.edu.ph. Please click on the Career and Placement Office page and scroll down to see the list of job opportunities. Employment for Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Social Workers, English and Mass Communication graduates is on the top list of opportunities. 

Online Enrollment for Continuing Students

Good news! The Online enrollment for continuing students for the second semester is now in place. After a series of hands-on demonstration to students from different academic units, it has been finally fine-tuned. In the coming months, more features will be added to accommodate a more efficient enrollment process for incoming first year students and transferees, for the coming School Year 2014-2015. Students can download the Online Enrollment module through the university’s website www.su.edu.ph and click on Student Online Services page. 

For inquiries related to online enrollment system, you can e-mail the Management Information System office at [email protected]

Dumaguete Alumni Chapter Christmas Fellowship

The Silliman Alumni Association, Inc. (SAAI) Dumaguete Chapter President, Mr. Rodolfo D. Juan is inviting Dumaguete alumni to a Christmas Potluck Fellowship on December 8, 2013, 3pm at the Silliman Hall. Dumaguete Outstanding Sillimanian Award recipients will be honored during this activity. For more details please contact the SAAI office at (35) 4201901 local 291 or the Alumni Affairs office at local 290.

IN MEMORIAM: Christopher R. Eumague (BSED 1995) on September 4, 2013; Rosita Robillos-Romero (ETC HE 1939, BSE 1949, MA 1971) on September 6, 2013; Angeles Katalbas-Piccio (BSE 1948) on September 6, 2013;  Swelyn C. Ferraren (BSN 1995) on September 12, 2013; Stephen P. Duran (Elementary 1973) on September 13, 2013; and Pedro Emmanuel A. Esperat, Jr. (Chem 1977 former student) on September 15, 2013.  If you know of any Sillimanian who is not on our memorial list, please inform us.

Thank you for always being there for dear old Silliman.    

President Ben S. Malayang III has requested this office to update you regularly about the happenings on campus. We are also interested in knowing what you and your alumni chapters are doing.

Please keep in touch and update your file with our office if you have not done so. We would truly appreciate it. You may reach the President’s Office through this email address: [email protected]. You may also contact the Alumni Affairs Office through this address: [email protected].

Sincerely, 

The Officers and Staff of the Alumni and External Affairs

cc: Dr. Ben S. Malayang III