Alumni Letter February 2013

Dear Fellow Sillimanian:

Happy Hearts Month!  We all know that the Silliman Campus is one of the most romantic places to celebrate the Hearts Month.  The entire expanse of the Amphitheater framed by acacia trees is among couples’ favorite spots.  But there is a new one; it’s this fallen log sandwiched by two eucalyptus trees near Doltz Hall. It’s cinematic when two lovers are seated on this natural frame near a campus bench.  From memory, a Sillimanian can paint a favorite lovers’ corner in our beloved campus by the sea and the nostalgic feeling will somehow bring the self home.

February is Culture and Arts Month in the Philippines and Silliman hosted two national events and a lot more. Here are the highlights:

CHRISTIAN WITNESS

• For the first time in Silliman Church, ASH WEDNESDAY was celebrated to open the Season of Lent on February 13.  Many students expressed that the ritual became more meaningful as they now understand more the significance of this Christian tradition.
• The Silliman University College of Performing Arts choral groups celebrated the Season of Lent with a special afternoon concert.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

• Hyacinth Rosario F. Callao of the Silliman University Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences  ranked third in the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Licensure Examination administered last February 3 and 4

• The Silliman University 55^th Honors Day, held on February 15, recognized 25 University Honor awardees, 98 College Honor awardees, and 425 Class Honor awardees– the most number of awardees in the history of Silliman.
• Two members of the Silliman College of Law Debate Team bagged major awards during the 2013 Grand Law Debate on February 24.  Freshman Gilbert Agustin J. Ganir was adjudged Best Speaker and junior Micah Stefan Dagaerag clinched the Best Rebuttal Speaker.  The SU team and the team from San Beda College tackled the enactment of the Divorce Bill.
• Mendell Ray T. Sinda was the lone taker from Silliman University College of Medicine in the February 2013 Physician Board Exam. The new doctor belongs to Class 2011 that registered a 100 percent passing rate in the August 2012 licensure exam.
• A Team from the Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities-Accrediting Agency, Inc. (ASCU-AAI) was on campus from February 4 to 8 to evaluate six academic programs: Pre-School, Business Administration, Accountancy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Education and Doctor of Education.

RELEVANCE AND REACH

• The works of the late couple Dr. Edilberto K. and Dr. Edith L. Tiempo, founders of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, were featured in a lecture-forum last February 8.  It was one of the highlights of Taboan, the Philippine Writers Festival for Literature of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).    An estimated 100 seasoned and 50 emerging writers from all over the country converged in Dumaguete for Taboan 2013, which ran from February 7 to 9.
• One Billion Rising Movement, a V-Day advocacy campaign geared towards ending violence and poverty affecting women, had three events at Silliman on Valentine’s Day: the V-Run at the Rizal Boulevard,  the One Billion Rising Dance Mob at the Freedom Park, and the play “The Vagina Monologues,” staged at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium.  
• Sayaw Pinoy 2013 of the National Commission for Cultural and the Arts (NCCA) was held at the Luce Auditorium on February 16. The festival featured cultural dance groups from around the country.
• Filipino-American mezzo-soprano opera singer Clarissa Ocampo, a Juilliard School alumna, had a concert at the Luce Auditorium.
• The Silliman University National Writers Workshop receives the Tanging Parangal Award of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining from the Cultural Center of the Philippines last February 27.

GOVERNANCE

• Medical Technology students Rona Sevilla Namocatcat and Jeff Katipunana Palad have been elected as the new Student Government president and vice president, respectively. Namocatcat ran under the banner of the Students Union for Reforms (SURE) and Palad under the Concerted Action for the Upliftment of Student Endeavors (CAUSE) party.

DEVELOPMENT

• The Dean of the College of Nursing Prof. Florenda Cabatit  and the Liaison Officer for the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) affairs Dr. Christopher Ablan  represented Silliman University in a workshop on the administration of grants from the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held in Thailand. Silliman received last year a US$500,000 grant for its virtual simulation laboratory project.

IN MEMORIAM: Virgie Liza Taglucop (SUHS 1971, Nursing 1976) on February 1, Luciano Larena Alviola (SUHS 1946, AB 1952) on February 3, well-loved obstetrician at the Mission Hospital now SUMC Dr. Purificacion Florendo on February 8, young accountant Santos Casurao (former Engineering student) on February 23, and Doltz Haller Aldrin Adanza (Sociology 2001) on February 24. 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 Malayang 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