Dear Fellow Sillimanians and Friends:

The month of July started off as Silliman University Christian Life Emphasis Month (UCLEM). In the past years it was a whole week of activities. This time it has been spread out to run through the whole month. The change to a monthly from a one-week celebration is consistent with the University’s five-day week scheme where related learning activities outside classes for students are held on a Monday.

Church

This year’s UCLEM theme: Jesus Christ the Chief Corner Stone, is taken from Isaiah 28:16 “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.”  And from Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into the holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

 These passages remind us, Christians, that, “the house we live in is strong and well-founded.” So, whatever may happen to us here on earth, as long as we have Christ as our cornerstone and as long as we stay in the household of God, we are secure.  What a cause for joy, gratitude and continued obedience then for all of us who are now members of the household of God. We are now citizens in the Kingdom, and identified with others who enjoyed the same relationship with God. So we should renew our gratefulness to God and our daily devotions to Him. (UCLEM Facilitators Guide July 2013)

As we celebrate UCLEM, we are all drawn to Christ as our cornerstone. We feature here a pen and ink art piece of Silliman University Church by Danni Sollesta, as a distinct reminder of a “cornerstone” in campus. The GALILEAN FELLOWSHIP is part of the celebration of UCLEM, where students, faculty and staff and the different units of the university  get to reflect on their faith in the different Bible study or fellowship activities held in the homes and cottages of assigned members of the community. This is a tradition that was started by the American missionaries in campus.

UCLEM is a major University event conducted every semester and spearheaded by the University Spiritual Life Council (USLC), in partnership with the Silliman University Church. It reinforces the faith component of the tri-logical ministry of education of Silliman: teaching, healing and preaching.

Relevance & Reach

BOOK LAUNCH

 Rev. Dr. Federico I. Agnir, 2005 Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee in Pastoral Ministry will be launching his book entitled, When God Calls: A Faith-Journey Autobiography, August 20, 2013, 9:30 a.m. at the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library.

The back cover of the book mentions the author’s earlier efforts to free himself from his ministerial calling, which was imposed on him since childbirth, leading him to break free from his family and ethnic traditions. His journey eventually took him away from his rural roots in the Philippines to a rural town in the United States where he lived for 30 years as a college professor and pastor. There he experienced a dramatic religious conversion that gives fresh meaning and impetus to his calling. Having spent equal times immersed in two different cultures, he realizes that he is a world citizen, and he celebrates by rediscovering his roots.

Dr. Ben S. Malayang III has these words to say about the book: “Stories of lives are always fascinating, especially if told by those who lived them. Dr. Agnir’s is a story of surmounting challenges that many of us can identify with, but perhaps which only a few of us had the same array of difficulties as he had.  He tells about breaking barriers of religion, race and color, to help communities and congregations so that they can themselves overcome the same barriers. But, too, he tells of breaking the barrier of Filipino identity to be able to successfully live elsewhere, and yet, in the end, find himself really a Filipino.”

Development

The Office of Alumni and External Affairs is in the process of updating its alumni records. We have come up with a new Alumni Personal Information Sheet which we will be uploading to the Silliman Website for fast and easy access. We hope to gather more information from you, such as occupation and the industry/sector you belong.

We wish to highlight also the Placement Office which is under the umbrella of the Alumni Affairs. We invite Silliman University students and alumni to register with Silliman JobLINK online. This website provides employment opportunities. Once you have submitted your request for membership, the Career Placement Officer (CDPO) will verify your identification. Once validated, you can now fill your resume online by using the website’s Resume Builder Wizard. You can send your resume electronically to the different companies registered in the website. If the jobseeker’s resume is accepted, the company will contact the jobseeker for possible interview or hiring. This website is exclusive to Silliman University students and alumni. Companies, institutions and other employers who wish to hire Silliman graduates can contact our Placement Officer, Arlene Lou J. Cuevas, at [email protected].

Relevance

We are calling on all Outstanding Silliman Awardees (OSA) to a fellowship get together on August 25, 2013 Sunday, at 5pm at the Silliman University Church lawn.  Vespers Service will follow at 6pm at the church and a ceremony of Sacred Trust will take place, where you will be honored with an OSA medallion. 

In response to inquiries from OSAs who cannot come on August 25, 2013 for the Vespers Service, we wish to convey to them that the University would very much want to present the medallion to them personally.  If they are unable to be on the campus soon, or in the near future, we shall endeavor to have a university official or designate give them the medallion where they are based at the first opportunity that arises.  We can also give the medallion through a very close and duly designated kin of theirs. They can reach us at [email protected] for further inquiry.

Academic

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recently announced that 610 out of 1,282 passed the Real Estate Appraiser Licensure Examination administered by the Board of Real Estate Service in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo last July 2013. Sillimanian Linver Davad Baliola, garnered the top 10 slot. Other Sillimanians who passed the licensure examination are the following: Alein Serion Balsamo (BBA 1993), Genovevo Juan Dumat-ol Uy (BSCE 1980), Elito Flor Espinola – (BSA 1981, 1st Batch Cocofed Scholar), Francis Sienes Mora (BSCE 1984) and Rex Joy Vailoces Felongco  (BSCE 1984).

The Silliman Alumni and Community Fellowship Night (TIPON DUMAGUETE)

on August 28, 2013 6PM at the east quadrangle fronting the University House, will feature a top rated show band, Travelin’ Lite.  This band will surely entertain the alumni from all ages as a repertoire of the 60s, 70s and 80s will be played. This will also be a night of fun, prizes and dancing. Entrance tickets will be available at the gate and the SAAI office.

IN MEMORIAM: Pedro Antonio C. Noble (High School 1974) on July 5, 2013; Virgilio L. Tan (BS Chem 1965) on July 5, 2013; Riorita Espina Ceniza (Elementary 1946, High School 1949, BCED 1953) on July 9, 2013; Alexander Patrick J. Sedigo  (BSPT 2000) on July 11, 2013; Atty. Kathleen G. Heceta (AA 1958, LLB 1962) on July 15, 2013; Arlene R. Dionaldo (BBA Mgt 1977) on July 15, 2013; Loida Caridad Cometa Tentativa (BSE HE 1967) on July 17,2013; Vicente Simplicio M. Villegas (BS Bio 1979) on July 23, 2013; Clara Lim Sylianco (A 1947, BS 1948, BS Chem 1949) on July 24, 2013; Telesfora Romero Liangco (BBA 1967) on July 28, 2013; Mercedes Estampador Gomez (AA 1948, LLB 1952) on July 30, 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