SU honors Dr. Silliman’s legacy with vlogging competition
In celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Horace Brinsmade Silliman (HBS) in December 2025, Silliman University (SU) officially launched the HBS Vlogging Competition on August 22 at the SU Library.
The competition, organized by the Alumni and External Affairs Office in partnership with the College of Mass Communication (CMC), highlights the use of digital storytelling in sustaining the legacy of SU’s benefactor whose generosity led to the founding of the institution in 1901.
Opening the launch, Ruben N. Bokingo, director of the Alumni and External Affairs Office, spoke about how vlogging resonates with today’s generation and its potential to reach a wide audience. “Through this competition, we hope our students will know more about who Horace Brinsmade Silliman is. As recipients of his generosity, may we in turn become good stewards of his goodness,” he said.
Silliman University President Dr. Betty Cernol McCann shares a light moment with the audience.
SU President Dr. Betty Cernol McCann also underscored the significance of remembering HBS’ bicentennial through digital media. While admitting that vlogging is unfamiliar to her, she expressed eagerness to see the creative outputs of students and the ways in which they will reinterpret Silliman’s legacy for the digital age.
The launch was attended by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Suarez, chair of the 124th Founders Day Committee, along with other key administrators of the University.
Competition guidelines
The competition is open to all bona fide SU students who are enrolled in both the first and second semesters of Academic Year 2025–2026. All vlog entries must connect with the 124th Founders Day theme, “Embracing Christ’s Peace, Cultivating Care, and Re-visioning Excellence.” Entries must run for two to three minutes in landscape format, accompanied by a shortened version of 10 to 30 seconds in portrait format. Submissions may be done individually or in teams of up to three members.
The competition will begin accepting entries on October 15, with the deadline set on November 15, 2025. Winners will be announced during the Convocation on December 3, 2025. The top prize winner will receive ₱10,000, while five runners-up will each be awarded ₱2,000. Winning entries will also be featured on SU’s official Facebook and YouTube platforms.
Full competition details and guidelines will be available through the official social media pages of SU, the CMC, and the Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators.
(Report by Genno Gabriel Rabaya / SU CMC | Photos by Jasper Dominic Miranda / SU CMC)
