SUAANYNJ celebrates 50th anniversary
Alumni Update December 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025
The Silliman University Alumni Association of New York-New Jersey (SUAANYNJ) Chapter, celebrated their 50th Anniversary, last December 14, 2024, at the Terrace on the Park, Queens, New York.
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile graced the event and formally inducted the chapter’s Executive Council.
Also present during the alumni gathering was Jose Mari “Jojo” T. Antonio, current Silliman University Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA) president and Silliman University (SU) Trustee Dr. Evangeline Bravo-Manjares.
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile administers the oath to the officers of SUAANYNJ chapter.
The chapter Executive Officers are Juliesette Divinagracia Halulan, president; Dr. Joseph Calderon, president elect; Epplielynn Ebarle-Villegas, vice president New York; Dr. Modesta Angela Gamo-Dumalag, vice president New Jersey; Dr. Nicole Acapulco Remollo, secretary; Blossom Saga-Gonzalez, treasurer; Emma Cruzado-Gornez, auditor; Precy Ann Remollo-Cuyos, PRO; Melgreene Mamhot , asst. secretary; Ma. Victoria Padriga-Solon, asst. treasurer; Lani Paw, asst. auditor; and Florence Baesa, asst. PRO.
The chapter Board of Directors are Moses L. Alcala, Doreen Scott, Noeta Silva, Edelisa Bravo-Gaviola, Elizabeth Lasmarias Santos, Cecile Dayongco-Madamba, Miguel Braganza, Nenita Caballes-Lodh, Fe Dompor and Suzalin Llena. Meanwhile, the chapter’s Advisory Board Members are Vivian Tabaranza, Brix Pajunar Palin, Dr. Nella Fe Pineda-Marcon, Janette Abella, Engr. Rene Tuballa, Dr. Laura Garcia, Dr. Felella Kiamco-Millan, Josephine Palopo-Cagara, Josephine Juele-Jalandoni, Dr. Dely Po-Go, Joel Pal, Ester Taclob-Sueto, Dr. Evangeline-Bravo-Manjares and Dr. Lowell Taclob.
The theme for the chapter’s 50th Anniversary, Celebrating Legacy, Building Unity and Empowering the Future, resonates well with the achievements SUAANYNY has contributed to its members, to the community and to Silliman University. SUAANYNJ Chapter is the first alumni chapter established in North America.
We share with you the founding history of SUAANYNJ, adapted from Claire Melendez’s “Celebrating the Legacy of the Silliman Spirit,” 1989, shared by Moses L. Alcala, during the chapter’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
On July 21, 1974, an ad hoc committee composed of five Silliman University alumni met at the Philippine
Garden Restaurant in New York City to spearhead the traditional celebration of SU Founders Day. The group members had their appointed assignments, and they were Dick Velasco, Chairman; Restitute Fabillar, Invitation; Claire Melendez, Food and Decoration; Marty Visitacion, Entertainment; and Jasmin Avancena, M.D., Finance. A draft of the proposed constitution and by-laws of the association was reviewed and edited during this meeting.
On Saturday August 31, 1974, some 50 Silliman University alumni and guests attended the cocktail and smorgasbord dinner held at the Philippine Garden Restaurant. Dr. Paul T. Lauby, executive director of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA), was the keynote speaker. Copies of the proposed constitution and by-laws of the newly organized association were distributed during such event and the document was voted upon and adopted by the assembly.
Thus, the Silliman University Alumni Association of New York-New Jersey (SUAA–NYNJ) was formally organized. The first officers were elected and sworn into office on November 17, 1974 by Dr. Lauby, during a get-together at his residence in Montclair, New Jersey.
On December 28,1981, a certificate of incorporation of the Silliman University Alumni Association, Inc. was filed at the Department of State, Albany, New York.
On January 4, 1984, the organization was certified exempt from federal income tax under the provisions of the IRS Code Section 501.(c)(7). The following were the first elected officers of the association:
President: Dick Veloso
1st Vice President: Artemio Arrieta
2nd Vice President: Claire Melendez
Secretary: Janet Demeterio
Treasurer: Ligaya Magbanua
Business Manager: Marty Visitacion
PRO: Bernie Amor
Auditor: Restituto Fabillar
Nostalgia for the alma mater and the Silliman Spirit has driven alumni activities since 1974. The SUAA–NYNJ chapter has grown into an active and influential organization, with many members having personally distinguished themselves in their local communities in the New York- New Jersey area and contributed, via volunteer services or financial assistance, to the alma mater in Dumaguete. In its heyday in the 1990s, the association’s membership registered up to 300 alumni and associate members and included visiting alumni from the nearby states of Pennsylvania and Connecticut and as far as Maryland and Washington, DC.
On June 28, 1998, Ester Taclob–Suelto, (1995 – 1998 chapter president) participated in a special meeting held at the Presbyterian Center in Stony Point, New York. This was attended by then Dr. Agustin Pulido who was the university president at that time and the 14-chapter presidents of various SU alumni associations in the North America (U.S. and Canada). The meeting was held to explore avenues on how to best support the Christian ideals, goals, and mission of our alma mater and how to unite all North American alumni chapters, broaden their relationships, and promote collaboration. The Stony Point meeting was a success, and the resulting historic Stony Point Agreement was signed by Dr. Pulido and the 14 SU alumni presidents. This paved the way for the establishment of the SUACONA (Silliman University Alumni Council of North America).
The SUAA–NYNJ chapter assists SUACONA in organizing the biennial Tipon USA convention which is held every two years at different cities in North America. The second Tipon event (following the successful Tipon-1 in Chicago, IL), also known as Tipon-2, was hosted by the NY-NJ chapter in July of 2003. It was a huge gathering that brought together many alumni, administrators and Board of Trustees of the University, and friends of alumni, to the Marriott Hotel in Teaneck, NJ. It became the organizational template for subsequent Tipon USA events.
The association is proud of its professional and service excellence. It has produced a large number of Outstanding Sillimanian awardees: Ligaya Magbanua-Simpkins (Chemistry, 1996), Fele Magdamo (Nursing Administration, 2001), Sylvester Almiron, Jr. (Community Service, 2006), Kenneth Bauzon (Political Science, 2009), Evangeline Bravo-Manjares (Community Service, 2010), Dely Po-Go (Entrepreneurship in Nursing, 2013), Miguel Braganza (Performing Arts, 2015), Moses Alcala (Applied Environmental Geology, 2019), Nella Fe Pineda-Marcon (Disaster Relief and Climate Justice Advocacy, 2021), and Laura Garcia (Nursing Education and Community Leadership, 2022).
To provide financial support to the students and faculty of the University, three scholarship funds were launched during the terms of the following past chapter presidents:
1.) The Dr. Rene Maquiling Scholarship Fund: Dr. Lowell Taclob (President, 1989 – 1992)
2.) The SUAA–NYNJ Scholarship Fund: Dr. Evangeline Bravo-Manjares (President, 1992 – 1995)
3.) The Professorial Endowment Fund: Ester Taclob-Suelto (President, 1995 – 1998)
4.) SU Student-Alumni Scholarship Matching Program: Felella Kiamco-Millman (2013 – 2015)
The association has faithfully maintained such scholarship funds (annually remitting $3,000 to $5,000) and periodically raises additional funds for special projects based on the needs or ongoing projects of the University and other programs of UBCHEA and SUACONA. Some of the major donations to the University included funding for construction of the Portal West (building), the elevator project, renovation of the historic Alumni Hall and Guy Hall, renovation of the University’s main library, renovation of the Sampaguita Cottage, renovation of the campus Student Center (Oriental Hall), a Silliman Church charity project, and establishment of an environmental fund for scholarships and research grants related to environmental sustainability (a SUACONA project). Other major donations to the University included financial support in the wake of disasters in the Philippines (such as the 2013 typhoon Haiyan, 2020 Catanduanes typhoon, 2021 super typhoon Odette, and cash for the purchase of personal protective equipment via the SU Medical Center during the Covid-19 pandemic).
The SUAA–NYNJ chapter annually meets during a big picnic for alumni, family, and friends in a public park in either NY or NJ to celebrate the University’s Founders Day in August. Such event also is a time of renewed commitment via the election of a new set of officers every two years. During other times of the year, the association regularly joins the Philippine Independence Day parade in New York City, hosted by the Philippine Consulate, in the month of June. The association’s annual Christmas party each year is another big social gathering that is attended by many alumni and guests in semi-formal or formal attire. In an election year, the Christmas party includes the formal induction of officers. This year (2024) the Chapter proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary.
In the past few years, the association has regularly joined the festivities and exhibitions associated with the Fiesta in America—a two-day event featuring an expo on Filipino culture and traditions. It is annually held in the American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Other Filipino cultural events such as special concerts, seasonal festivals, fund-raising events, and other Consulate events are regularly attended by the association. Occasionally, some members of the Chapter organize smaller events or seasonal festivities which may involve costume-parties, garden picnics, singing-dancing, field trips, sponsorship of performances by visiting celebrities, and other activities that usually involve fund-raising. The Covid-19 pandemic (2020–2022) did not stop the chapter from having meetings and other activities. Zoom video conferencing became the solution to “social distancing” requirements for health and safety; it remains a popular solution for convenience in holding meetings. Post-Covid chapter activities have gradually returned to face-to-face meetings and gatherings as the members have found it essential in fostering the Silliman Spirit.
In 2023, the association was characterized by low morale and less than a handful of members were willing to be officers. It was therefore proposed by the election committee and decided by those who remained active that the association be rendered inactive for a hiatus of around six months starting in September of 2023.
In February of 2024, the ad hoc election committee met to end the hiatus and accept the nomination of a new set of officers.
In March of 2024, a new set of officers was voted upon via Zoom and email correspondence. This encouraging development led to a dinner- meeting on April 30, 2024 at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott in Queens, NY. The new president, Juliesette Hatulan, took initiative in reviving the association with assistance from loyal veteran members of the association. The new officers were officially inducted into office during such gathering. In celebration of the association’s 50th anniversary, highlighted by the Christmas party on December 14, 2024, the SUAA-NYNJ chapter has been revitalized, fueled by the enduring Silliman Spirit.
(L-R) Juliesette Divinagracia Hatulan, SUAANYNJ chapter president, with Jose Mari “Jojo” T. Antonio, current SUACONA president.
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile receives from SUAANYNJ Chapter President Juliesette D. Hatulan a Certificate of Appreciation for being the guest speaker during SUAANYNJ chapter’s 50th anniversary. Brix Pajunar Palin and RB Tamayo serve as program hosts.
(L-R) SU Trustee Dr. Evangeline Bravo-Manjares with Juliesette Divinagracia-Hatulan.
(L-R) Juliesette Divinagracia-Hatulan, Janette B. Abella, and Dr. Joseph Calderon.
(L-R) Mylene Seron Alcala, Moses L. Alcala, Dr. Alec Lipata, Hannah Solon, Juliesette Divinagracia Hatulan, Ma. Victoria Padriga-Solon, Rowell Solon, Ida Aplaca-Lipata, and Arthur Lipata.
SUAANYNJ Chapter celebrates their 50th Anniversary at the Terrace on the Park, Queens, New York.
