Silliman University Board of Trustees Chairperson Prof. Leonor Magtolis-Briones, this year’s 96th Commencement Exercises Speaker, arrives on campus from The Netherlands with another honor for the country.

Professor Briones was chosen to be among eight women ambassadors from around the world to be part of the W8, a group tasked to lead the fight for the Health and Education For All campaign of Oxfam. Oxfam is a confederation of 13 organizations working in over 100 countries around the globe. W8 is said to be the developing nations’ counterpart of the G8 (Group of 8), a forum for governments of eight nations, including the United Kingdom and the United States. She joins other influential woman advocates and leaders from Bangladesh, India, Georgia, Malawi, Mali, Nicaragua and Thailand.

The Professor, who is formerly National Treasurer of the Philippines, is a notable figure in public finance. She graduated from Silliman with a major in accounting (magna cum laude) in 1958, at age 18. She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Organization major in Public Enterprises and a Certificate in Policy for Public Enterprise from Leeds University in England and the Harvard Institute for International Development in the United States, respectively.

Active in both the academe and civil society, Professor Briones teaches at the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines. She is concurrently Convenor of Social Watch Philippines and the Alternative Budget Initiative that move for the localization of the Millennium Development Goals campaign

Meanwhile, the Baccalaureate speaker is Rev. Noel Villalba, Silliman University Pastor and Chaplain.

Rev. Villalba holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a graduate degree in divinity from Silliman. Prior to his appointment at the Silliman University Church, he was Senior Pastor and Christian Education and Nurture Pastor at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Davao. Among his previous involvements include being researcher for the IBON Facts and Figures and Coordinator for the Asian Committee for Peoples Organizations of the Christian Conference of Asia, Urban and Rural Mission based in Hong Kong.

The School of Basic Education holds their commencement exercises with the following speakers:

Early Childhood Department (March 19, Amphitheater)
    o Dedication Service: Ms Gladys Fe. R. Malayang, Executive Director, Health Development Initiatives Institute
    o Closing Exercises: Atty. Tabitha A. Tinagan, Dean, College of Business Administration, Silliman University

Elementary Department (March 20, Amphitheater)
    o Dedication Service: Rev. Jeremias M. Lagahit, Associate Pastor for Christian Education and Nurture, Silliman University Church
    o Closing Exercises: Ms Zoe Verna Mendoza-Sibala, Regional Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis Carrier International                                    Corporation, Asia Pacific Korea and South Pacific Region

High School Department (March 21, Amphitheater)
    o Dedication Service: Rev. Hidita C. Villas, Faith Formator, School of Basic Education, Silliman University
    o Closing Exercises: Atty. Albert T. Concha Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation, Inc.

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Symbolic Farewell Caps Seniors' College Life

Giggles. Tears. Embraces.

Just a few scenes that manifest the outpour of mixed emotions on Seniors Day. This is when members of the Graduating Class come together for what to them marks the end of their campus life and a start of yet another journey. They join hands, sing together, break college affiliations as they share memories nurtured in the classrooms, under the acacia trees, and on the green stretch of the 62-hectare campus.

Close to 800 members of the 2009 Graduating Class participate in a three-part pre-commencement activity on March 20. The first part happens at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium where each college batch features their experiences with their professors and classmates in an audio-visual presentation.

In response to the Inspirational Message of Silliman President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, the Graduating Class, represented by Silliman University Student Government Stacy Danika S. Alcantara, shares a common challenge to themselves. For this 2009 Graduating Class, the challenge is to jointly put up a scholarship fund in the Class’s honor, to allow others to enjoy a similar Silliman diploma. The first part ends with the singing of their theme song, Fingerprint.

The event segues into a walk toward the Gates of Opportunity in front of the Silliman Hall where fellowship continues. One of four symbolic gates, the Gates of Opportunity, is the oldest on campus and symbolizes the welcome Silliman extends to its students. A time capsule will be buried near the Gates of Opportunity, and the Class starts the candle-lighting ceremony.

With candles in their hands, the Graduating Class walks through the Gates of Service, singing the Silliman Song as a symbolic farewell to the campus they have come to call home and to the classmates they have come to consider a family.

Their night ends over cocktails inside the historic Silliman Hall where, as a tribute, the Silliman Jazz Band and the Quizo Quintet treat them to a culminating third part with music and dances.

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Career Officer Notes Increased Corporate Partners Offering Jobs

The number of corporate partners of Silliman University through its Career and Placement Office has increased. There are now 26 partner companies with the JOBlink, an online job search and matching system exclusive to Silliman students and alumni, from 17 last school year.

Career and Placement Officer Dr. Evangeline Aguilan attributed the increase to the impressive performance of fresh Silliman graduates. Most companies, she said, send positive feedback on the work attitude of Silliman graduates. This usually translates to request for inclusion in the job fair.

Included in this school year in its network of corporate partners are e-PLDT Ventus, Rebisco and Pfizer. These companies add to the growing list of Silliman’s quality corporate partners in the areas of banking, manufacturing, and communications, which comprise the non-BPO (business process outsourcing) category. There are more corporate partners under the non-BPO category.

A job fair was conducted March 18 to 19 on campus with 18 participating companies. The turnout of applicants was higher compared to last year.

Dr. Aguilan, who is also Public Employment Services Officer of the Department of Labor and Employment for Silliman University, noted the growing demand for jobs. Every March, she said the Philippines graduates around half a million students. Of this number, only 10 percent are employed; and even within this percentage, not all are able to get work fit for their qualifications.