ROTC honors BOT chair, president, and Outstanding Alumni in ceremonial parade

The Silliman University (SU) Reserve Officers’ Training Corps staged a ceremonial parade and review on August 26, 2025, at the Filomeno Cimafranca Ballfield to honor SU Board of Trustees Chair Ricardo A. Balbido Jr., University President Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, and this year’s eight Outstanding Sillimanian awardees.

In her welcome remarks, McCann said the event was a fitting tribute to the lives and legacies of the 2025 awardees: Dr. Rolando Borrinaga (Cultural Research), Dr. Janamitra Devan (International Development Economics), Dr. Joel Gamo (Medical Education), Carla Camilla Gomez (Community Journalism), Dr. Rose Mila Cipres-Jaucian (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine), Dr. Anabelle Cunanan-Locsin (Nursing Professional Development), Dr. Eva Rose Washburn-Repollo (Education, Culture, and the Arts), and Atty. Riza Faith Ybañez (Global Business Ethics).

“The Ceremonial Parade and Review, and most especially the trooping of the line by our awardees, capture the honor we bestow upon them,” McCann said. “As they move along the ranks, they not only receive the salute of recognition from our community, but they also return the salute with lives that have marched with service to God and humanity.”

Guest speaker Balbido lauded the awardees’ individual achievements in their fields and their collective embodiment of what Silliman education stands for: “shaping lives not only for personal growth but for service to others. May their journeys uplift and inspire our students to strive toward their fullest potential and to commit themselves to the well-being of society.”

He also reflected on the Founders Day theme, calling it both timely and timeless. “In a world marked by uncertainty, conflict, and change, we are reminded that true peace can only be found in God. Cultivating care calls us back to the heart of the Silliman Spirit, urging us to look after one another and work together for the common good. To re-vision excellence challenges us to renew our commitment to relevance and innovation in education, ensuring that the Silliman brand of excellence continues to prepare our students for the complexities of tomorrow,” he said.

The ceremonial parade and review, a staple of SU’s Founders Day celebration, stands as both a salute to leadership and a celebration of the university’s enduring mission.”