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Information does not necessarily lead to knowledge. Knowledge does not necessarily lead to development. But to advance development, Knowledge Management is important, said Dr. Elena Pernia, dean of the U.P. College of Mass Communication, in a lecture at the Silliman University College of Mass Communication last August 21.

Pernia defined knowledge management as the dissemination of important information to impart knowledge to a wide range of people.
“We want people to develop. How? We use communication to gain leverage. In order to do so, we must have the knowledge on what and how to communicate. When there is poor dissemination or availability of information, then there is poor knowledge management which would lead to poor development or no development at all,” Pernia said.

She said communicators must first know their audience and their needs well in order to know what information is important to them.
“Feedback is necessary and important. We, communicators, must do by any means we can to encourage feedback from our audience, so that all ideas (or information) have a chance to be tested.”

She added that Knowledge Management fuses together various communication strategies to make people’s lives meaningful and productive, and to advance development.—Blaise Marice Diane Diga | back

Silliman University named last August 25 the road connecting Silliman University Church to Langheim road after the late Dr. Albert Louis Faurot, American fraternal worker and professor of music and fine arts for decades at Silliman University.

The unveiling of the sign of the Dr. Albert Louis Faurot Lane was made in the presence of Prof. Leonor M. Briones, chair of the Board of Trustees, SU President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, and Prof. Joseph Basa, dean of the College of Performing Arts.

At the ceremony, Malayang said he was happy that the important contribution of Dr. Faurot to the cultural and intellectual life of Silliman University was recognized. He also said Dr. Faurot inspired a lot of people and brought the name of Silliman University to many parts of the world.

Prof. Basa, who had received a scholarship from Faurot, said, “He was very kind especially to those who were in need. I think he saw that I needed help because I was about to stop (schooling) because of financial problems. He offered to shoulder my board and lodging until I finished college. There were many of us who benefited from his philanthropic heart.”

Edilberto Dames Jr., former member of the Men’s Glee Club (which Faurot organized and conducted) and now an advertising executive in Makati City, gave words of remembrance.

“He walked this road countless times going to and from Silliman Church every Sunday” until he died on March 15, 1990. “Many of us have been blessed to have walked this road with him. Maestro Faurot was a man of faith. He lived his Christianity without fanfare.

“I believe in my heart that what we’re doing now is something that brings honor to God—the source of Maestro Faurot’s gift of music and life. Dr. Faurot had positively influenced hundreds of young lives who were infected by his uncompromising passion for excellence,” Dames said.

According to information from the Cultural Affairs Committee, “Dr. Faurot was known throughout Asia and the United States as a lecture-recitalists and educator. He spent over 40 years teaching music and art history to students in China, Japan and the Philippines.

“Faurot started working in Silliman University in 1952. End House, the house he built in 1954, became the venue for various activities in culture and arts. He was the university’s “Renaissance Man,” a supporter of artistic initiatives.

“In 1963, he founded the SU Men’s Glee Club in answer to the need of providing musical numbers to various convocations and programs of the university. The Glee Club grew in stature and musical experience with performances almost over the Philippines.”

Various groups performed during the dedication of the lane: the Kahayag Dance Troupe gave the invocation through a dance prayer, SU Men’s Glee Club sang “The Lord is My Light” and SU Campus Choristers sang “Now Unto Him.”—Nova Ness Fabrienne B. Carin | back

Silliman launches online learning system

Silliman University launched last August 25 the Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL), a system that will enable Sillimanians to listen to experts from anywhere in the world via cyber conferencing using the internet.

With a webcam, a computer with good internet connection, an LCD projector and a willing expert, SOUL promotes learning that breaches great distances. Experts, professors and even alumni will no longer be hindered by distance to contribute to the learning of Sillimanians, said Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, Silliman University President.

“The faculty resource of the university (and other) learning resources for students would be expanded,” he said. “Now there are limitless possibilities as to things to talk about and people to talk to.”

Spearheaded by the College of Computer Studies (CCS), SOUL will serve individuals who can’t take advantage of traditional classrooms, Prof. Dave Marcial, dean of the college, said. It will also provide consultancy services to small businesses, government units and small organizations on such topics as knowledge product outsouring. – Deil Jossaine C. Galenzoga | back

Jose Rizal’s misfortune is being the national hero of the Philippines, said Ambeth Ocampo with a smile during his lecture at Silliman University last August 19.

Ocampo, noted Rizal specialist, chairman of the National Historical Institute and columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, spoke about the unknown side of the Philippine national hero to history professors and students at the Audio Visual Theater.

He said Rizal is often studied as a patriot and martyr, writer, poet and artist, but seldom as a man under the overcoat.

“All we know of the books Rizal had written are his famous Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, but most of Rizal’s scientific writings are found in Escribos Varios which means several writings or miscellaneous writings,” Ocampo said and went on to share with the audience the contents of Rizal’s notebooks.

For example, Ocampo discussed Rizal’s openness to alternative medicine as a contrast to his reputation of being a learned doctor educated abroad. In 1892, Rizal wrote “The Cure of the Bewitched,” which is the first psychological essay by a Filipino.

Rizal the cartoonist was known through this essay as he made comical drawings that showed the attitude of Filipinos toward alternative medicine and the supernatural.

Then Ocampo showed Rizal’s limitations as a doctor, and some of what today would look like ridiculously crude procedures he performed on the subjects of his surgery.

One of these subjects was his own mother. “One of the reasons why Rizal studied medicine was because of his mother who was turning blind. He tried to treat his mother, but she became totally blind in the end,” Ocampo said.

He added: “I devoted my career to studying Rizal and it led me to outgrow the oversimplified and sometimes wrong image given us in school. It makes us rethink everything we have been told about Rizal, that he was also human just like us.”

Ocampo is a muti-awarded historian, columnist, academic and author. He is also chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. —Emarrah Contessa A. Sarreal | back

Edith Carson Hall dancers grooved to the beat of Chris Brown’s remix and snatched away the champion’s trophy at the 2008 Inter-dorm Dance Competition last August 24.

Carson’s Rozelline Batocael, Margareth Chiong, April Dayahan, Raiza Justol, Rixelle Pet-Paola Justol, Kristine Faith Haim, Shirley Maturan, Elmar Christine Oñasa, Mary Ann Oropel and April Dawn Taylaran bested seven other dorm groups.

Woodward Hall and Larena Hall followed closely, winning second and third, respectively.

The other contestants were Azucena Cottage, Sampaguita Cottage, Channon Hall, Doltz Hall and New Men’s Dorm.

Wearing all-red sports attire and accessories, the Carson dancers showed 100% confidence and unity, thus winning the hearts of judges Claudio Ramos, Naddie May Orillana and Aiken Quipot, all veteran dancers with the Silliman University Kahayag Dance Troupe who have performed around the Philippines and abroad.— Mary Angeleen V. Cortes | back

Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos told Sillimanians not to take their freedom for granted but always to be ready to defend their liberties against any oppressor who comes around.

Ramos, who holds an honorary doctorate degree from Silliman University, was the inaugural guest lecturer of the Eminent Persons Lecture Series at Silliman last August 26, at the Luce Auditorium.

“Filipinos should stand tall—taller than other peoples—because we stand on the shoulders of giants who were our heroes,” Ramos said, just before the Philippines’ observance of National Heroes Day at the end of August.

Ramos, one of the heroes of the EDSA I People Power Revolution, said, “For us present-day Filipinos, our first duty to our beloved Philippines is not to take our freedom as a nation for granted, but to defend our liberties against any tyrant who comes around.”

He continued: “Our second duty is to plan and act as one national team in order to fight poverty, advance our economy, reinforce our democratic institutions and ensure our enduring peace and sustainable development, including and especially in Mindanao.

“If a majority of our people are unhappy or disgruntled or disadvantaged and continue to entertain thoughts of rebellion, insurgency or violent regime change, it is simply because they are not seeing from those whom we elected…any real reforms or new initiatives towards the betterment of country and people.

Ramos said the Philippines’ should give peace a chance because in nation-building, enduring peace is the foundation for socio-economic progress and political stability.

“All of us are passengers on board the same ship called the Republic of the Philippines, our one and only ship. We must not allow it to deteriorate, but all should pull an oar or plug a hole. Otherwise, we sink together.

“If we want to push our country forward, we have no time to waste. There are things to be done and we must do them now.”— Deil Jossaine C. Galenzoga | back

Silliman University is celebrating Christian Education and Nurture (CEN) Emphasis month with the theme: “Nurturing the Household of God for Witness from the Neighborhood to the World.”

Rev. Jeremias Lagahit, assistant pastor of the Silliman University Church, said, “This is to encourage the students to celebrate with us and remind them that Silliman is a product of missionary work and so it is our responsibility to teach the gospel of Jesus to people and respond to it.”

The celebration includes worship services, bible study fellowships, sports and outreach programs, and film showing.– April Rose Abines | back

Mass communication students learned new lessons in advertising from an alumnus of their college during a “Balik-Talent” lecture given by Ed Dames (BMC 1980) last August 21.

Dames is now president of his own advertising company, Creative Enterprise Management Group (CEMG), with offices in the financial district of Makati City.

He talked about the convergence of traditional and non-traditional advertising using both the old and the new media.
New media, he said, may be called integrated marketing, using digital media and other channels like “free media, lifestyle marketing, music marketing and sports marketing." – Blaise Marice Diane Diga | back