109th Founders Day Highlights Culture of Giving, Gratitude
The festivities that took place during the celebration of the 109th Founders Day witnessed the reliving of memories and sharing of blessings among members of both Silliman and the larger community.
This year registered the highest number of alumni coming home from various parts of the country and abroad, since the Centennial celebration. Alumni and guests joined students, faculty and staff in roaming around the campus in shirts that proudly displayed their batch affiliations and “shout-outs” on their love for their Alma Mater.
It was common to see alumni wearing contagious smiles, exchanging hugs and kisses, and introducing their respective families to each other. The Cafeteria was always filled with reunioning alumni groups who shared recollections of campus days over food items that are distinctly Silliman: cheese bread, fruit mix, and humba (braised pork), to name a few.
The Parada Silliamniana on August 27 featured on the streets of Dumaguete a long stretch of floats, bands and marching groups parading towards the Filomeno Cimafranca Field where 13 colleges did their own colorful renditions of the song “Silliman Whooper.” A Unity Service concluded the parade with all the participants lighting a candle as a way to thank God for the blessings that Silliman continues to receive.
Themed “Silliman at 109: Raised on Eagles’ Wings,” the Founders Day reiterated the University’s thrust of developing a culture of giving and gratitude. The highlights of the celebration included recognition of individuals and institutions who have contributed towards improving the University’s programs and services.
A souvenir program was designed as a simple form of “thank you” to those who have shared their blessings with the University since last year’s Founders Day. Click here to view.
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I’m an ‘eagle’ – Boxing Champ ‘Manny’ Pacquiao
World-renowned boxing champion and Sarangani Province Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao likened himself to an eagle, describing how he won his battles in life with the same qualities as those of the large bird.
“There is an eagle inside of us waiting to be discovered, waiting to be developed,” Mr. Pacquiao told an audience in a special convocation on August 26 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium.
Mr. Pacquiao’s talk was part of the official activities of the 109th Founders Day, organized by the Dr. Jovito Salonga Center for Law and Development, College of Law and College of Education.
“I discovered the eagle in me in the midst of poverty. We were so poor that we can hardly go to school,” he continued.
Mr. Pacquiao narrated how his mother, Nanay Dionesia, had to “stretch every centavo to keep the family alive." He also had to work at an early age to help put food on the table.
But his economic condition did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. “I did not give up. …I did not allow problems to hinder me from stretching my abilities,” Mr. Pacquaio said.
“When I started seeing the size of my problems as a reflection of the promise of my future, I became a stronger and better person. I remained focused regardless of the obstacles,” he added. This is similar to what an eagle does: “He will not move his focus from the target until he grabs it.”
A world-class boxer, Mr. Pacquiao also wants himself to be remembered as a “passionate service-leader.”
“How about you? Is your vision clear?” he asked the audience. “That is one thing that you have to be certain of.”
Mr. Pacquiao explained how in achieving goals, an eagle surpasses the challenges that come its way.
“The eagle is said to be the only bird that faces the storm. When the sky gets dark and cloudy, the eagle gets excited. …While the eagle glides above the storm, the chicken the ducks and the other birds hide under the trees,” he said. “Champions are not afraid of storms. Winners are not afraid of problems. Leaders are not afraid of challenges.”
Mr. Pacquiao, referring to his own battles in life, shared: “The eagles do not only survive in the boxing ring, they win world titles. The eagles do not only deliver speeches, they deliver services.”
He admitted that he has his own share of trials in life, but he advised the crowd never to stop. “When you go through a disappointment (or) a loss, do not stop. …Keep your focus!”
Despite his success, he emphasized the importance of being a lifelong-learner. “I cannot rely on what I know years ago. …It is not enough that I know how to read and write. …I have to constantly update myself.”
He said, in developing character and competence, as eagles, everyone has to “learn" new things, “relearn” those that have not been mastered yet, and “unlearn” those that affect effectiveness.
The use of Mr. Pacquiao of the eagle in his speech reflected the theme of the Founders Day: “Silliman at 109: Raised on Eagles’ Wings.”
“There are times when we get tired. There are times when we get exhausted. But we remember, those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint,” he reminded the audience.
He concluded his talk with a challenge: “As eagles, let us work together. Let us be one in fulfilling the master plan of God for our country as we serve with passion and integrity.”
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Former Finance Secretary Speaks to Business Students
Former Department of Finance Secretary Gary B. Teves engaged members of the faculty and students of the College of Business Administration in a lecture on good governance held August 25 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium.
An economist whose experience and expertise cover both the public and private sectors, Mr. Teves emphasized the value of transparency and accountability in achieving good governance.
“Good governance is a system of checks and balances to ensure that management promote the long-term interest of the shareholders,” he said.
With the shareholders being the true owners of the corporation, he said, one of the principles of good governance involves “directing and controlling management activities with good business sense, objectivity and integrity.”
Transparency and accountability are essential in sustaining any organization, and management should provide timely and balanced reports to ensure that investors have access to clear and factual information, he said.
Mr. Teves reinforced his point on transparency by quoting Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Fe Barin: “The more transparent the internal workings of the company and cash flows, the harder it is for management to misappropriate company assets or mismanage the company.”
Accountability, he said, runs alongside transparency in that it demands of management an “obligation or willingness to accept responsibility.”
“They must be answerable for failure to meet performance objectives. They must also submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate for their respective positions,” he explained.
Mr. Teves compared scenarios that depicted effects of bad governance with those of effects of good governance, in both private and government sectors.
He used Enron as his example of a product of lack of transparency and accountability in the private sector. Because of pressure to please top management and the brewing conflict of interest, Enron incurred severe losses in operation and caused the erosion of trust and confidence in the company and auditing firm, he said.
A similar problem in the country was the Legacy Group. He discussed its fall and the damage it caused to the rural banks that were connected with it, attributing such to the failure to inform the shareholders periodically of what was happening the diversion of funds to other businesses without prior consultation with its shareholders.
The Quedan Corporation was his example for the government sector. Mr. Teves said the board’s failure to stop management from engaging in activities (direct lending) that are not allowed in their charter has led to huge losses. “Creditors could not be paid on schedule. Government likely to bail out Quedan Corporation.”
In contrast, organizations that run on sound management practices achieve sustained profitability, improved shareholders value, and greater corporate social responsibility, he said.
Mr. Teves named Ayala Corporation, Sam Miguel Corporation, Metrobank and SM Group of Companies as among those in the private sector that have strict adherence to sound principles of good governance. Common to them is a set-up that includes a set of independent directors, active and competent board audit and compensation and risk management committees, and a program that develops across the organization a strong sense of integrity and professionalism.
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines were two of his examples for government-owned organizations that are reaping the benefits of good governance. Given the competition with private financial institutions, Mr. Teves said both continuously improve their customer service and apply the same strict principles of good governance as those being practiced in the private sector.
Mr. Teves is among the Asian region’s respected economists. He was President and CEO of LBP before he was appointed Finance Secretary by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and was named “Best Finance Minister” in Asia by the London-based international finance magazine, The Banker. He served as Congressman of the Third District of Negros Oriental for three consecutive terms (1987-1998).
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Medical School Registers 100% at First Take
All seven members of the pioneering batch of 2009 of the Medical School passed the Physicians Licensure Examination administered last month.
They are: Cabristante, Julie Vida T.; Espancho, Kristine A.; Partosa, Georgitha; Ramas-Uypitching, Tanya S.; Salindo, Philmed T.; Saycon, Shee Marie; and Vidal, Pearl C. Cabristante, Partosa, Salindo and Saycon were scholars of the provincial government of Negros Oriental.
The results released days before the groundbreaking of the site for the new Medical School building on August 26 revealed Silliman’s 100 percent passing rate against the national passing rate of 69.40 percent.
To make it more significant, the groundbreaking doubled as a thanksgiving ceremony where the seven new doctors were formally recognized along with their parents. Dr. Eusebio Kho, an Outstanding Sillimanian in the field of medicine in 1989 and a recipient of the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad Award in 2008 was the speaker. Click here to access Dr. Kho’s curriculum vitae.
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