The 2022 Heritage Builders

The first student government of Silliman University was first established in 1947 with WILLIAM R. HAMME as the pioneering adviser with Virgilio N. Atega of the College of Law as the first elected president. In celebration of the Diamond Year of the Silliman University Student Government, we honor on this 121^st Founders’ Day of Silliman those who have served in various student services as the 2022 Heritage Builders.

It was in 1956 when Hubert Fitton, a 1929 Business Administration graduate of Harvard University, and his wife Pauline, with children Nancy, Bobby and Herbert arrived in Dumaguete. The Fitton kids were with the Grandma Pratt. Hubert served as Chairman of the Division of Public and Business Administration (now College of Business Administration) and adviser of the Silliman Business Students organization. Pauline served as Dean of Women and co-adviser of the Silliman Business Students organization, the College CYF, and the Overseas Students. They went back to the United States in 1963. Among Hubert’s favorite students was Leonor Magtolis Briones, who served as Philippine Secretary of Education. She recalled: “As a student of Business Administration, I cannot forget our dean, Dr. Herbert Fitton, who was a Harvard graduate and gave me my first lesson in statistics: ‘They say figures do not lie, but liars figure! With Dr. Fitton as coach of our Quiz Bowl team, we handily beat the College of Arts and Sciences for the championship trophy….”

Hubert and Pauline are among the 2022 Heritage Builders honorees. The others to be installed with their names to be placed on the Heritage Builders Wall are:

Best known as the coach of the champion debating team of Silliman, Pedro E.Y. Rio served as Head of the Division of Public Relations and Director of Student Personnel. He was also the adviser of The Portal. He was also Dean of the College of Education. He served from 1941 to 1957.

The generous alumnus who gave us the Del Carmen Honors Hall and established a scholarship for brilliant college students, Rolando V. del Carmen, who was secretary and assistant dean of Arts and Sciences in 1957, actually served as Director of Student Personnel and Dean of Men in 1960. He was a professor at the College of Law and served until 1966.

Felicisimo L. Solidum, vice president of Class 1933, after graduation, decided to serve his Alma Mater as High School faculty and was also teaching Economics. He also served as Dorm Manager of Doltz and Larena Halls. He served until 1962.

Bishop Mercurio M. Seriña, a 1957 alumnus of the Divinity School, had his humble beginnings in Silliman, where he served as Manager of Woodward Hall and Larena Hall—eventually becoming the Dean of Men from 1967 to 1970. As a Protestant Bishop, he represented the United Church Christ in the Philippines at Silliman University and was elected the Chairmen of the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1981.

Aida T. Arribas graduated from the Silliman University College of Education in 1950. The campus beauty was the adviser of the ROTC Corps of Sponsors.  She served as Secretary of the Division of Student Personnel from 1955 to 1959. She was the Dean of Women from 1959 to 1960.

Eufemia C. Tobias was a 1960 Business Accounting graduate of Silliman. The president of Oriental Hall Republic decided to work as staff at the Student Personnel Office, and she became Dean of Women from 1960-1966.

Mercedes E. Gomez graduated from the Silliman University College of Law in 1951. The longest serving Dean of Students had been Director of the Student Personnel Services since 1966 and retired as Dean of Students in 1991. She served as Presidential Assistant for Fund Campaign from June 1, 1993 to March 31, 1994.

The well-loved dormitory manager of Molave Cottage, Eliseo R. Zia, served as Guidance Counselor from 1978 to 1986. As an Industrial Arts instructor at Silliman University High School,  he founded the Da Vinci Society, the organization for high school talents in Visual Arts. He served as Dormitory Adviser for Narra (1972 to 1975) and Molave Cottage (1976 to 1986). The 1970 Psychology alumnus served the High School Department from 1971 to 2003.

The generations of students they have served are forever grateful to these campus parents. Their mentorship had led the younger Sillimanians to believe in themselves. And as they celebrate their success, they remember the working legacies that have touched them and helped them as they have soured high in their chosen careers.

(Story by Moses Atega)