Alumni Updates June 12 – 18, 2017
A memorial service was held celebrating the life of MARTHA MAGDAMO-GHENT on June 16, 2017, 7pm at the Udarbe Memory Chapel.
Martha graduated from Silliman University High School in 1939. She then married George Marshall Ghent on August 9, 1945 in Dumaguete City and later moved on to the United States. After World War II when Silliman was re-opened, she was the director of the Children’s Choir that sang at the Scheide Chapel.
Martha also played a major role in organizing SU’s alumni associations in the U.S. The SU Elementary School Library is named after her for her generous support to the department.
Mrs. Ghent passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of June 6, 2017 in Los Angeles.
She is survived by her 4 children Cynthia Ruth G. Dael, Sandra Louise G. Benetic, Christine Mae G. Hansen, George Stephen M. Ghent and her siblings, Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee (OSA) Priscilla Magdamo-Abraham and Rolando Venturanza Magdamo.
Gen. Alexander B. Yano (Ret.), a friend of Silliman, recently donated his military uniform to Silliman University Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) Museum located at the Col. Roman T. Yap Hall.
Gen. Yano’s donation includes a book about his life entitled ONAY: A Personal Journey which is intended to inspire young “promdi“, especially those from humble beginnings, to strive and work hard to reach their goals. Gen. Yano became the 49th Commanding General of the Philippine Army and later, 38th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – the first “Mindanaonon” to become a 4-Star General and AFP Chief of Staff in AFP history.
Upon his retirement from active military service May 1, 2009, he was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam 2009-2010. Gen. Yano belongs to Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976.
The ROTC museum currently features uniforms of Sillimanians who are high-ranking officials in the AFP and government service, including a presidential barong of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos. Other items on display includes medals, weapons, documents, and other military artifacts that symbolize and affirm the patriotism of the Filipino people.
The museum is open for public viewing Mondays to Fridays, 8am-12nn and 2pm-5pm. For more information, please call 035 – 4201901 local 531
