TIPON SILLIMAN 2009
Tipon Silliman 2009
Leaving our Imprint for tomorrow
Raising the Bar of Excellence
After two years of waiting, the 5th bi-annual assembly of the Alumni Chapters of Silliman University in North America (SUACONA) was held on July 8 to July 12, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.
Representing the San Diego Chapter at the assembly as delegates were:
Allen Garrido
Fely Tan-NarvaezAlso attending the SUACONA grand alumni reunion were:
Precila Fabugais-Garrido
Vivien Pinili- Garrovillo
Josedoro Garrovillo
Grace Villanueva-Tan
Dinah B. PenafloridaThe SUAF has a commitment to support the goals of the SUACONA and has sent the following delegates to represent our organization at the Tipon assemblies as well as the organizational meeting in New York.
Allen Garrido and Fely Tan-Narvaez 2009 in Orlando, Florida Miriam Tan-Cole 2007 in Ontario, Canada Fely Tan-Narvaez 2005 in Los Angeles, California Sofia Pelias-Jadloc 2003 in New York, New York Fely Tan-Narvaez and Grace Villanueva-Tan 2001 in Chicago, Illinois Susan Monte de Ramos-Soldwisch 2000 in Stony Point, New York On the first day (Wednesday) was scheduled the following activities:
Executive Committee meetings
Tipon Silliman Committee meetings
Tipon Silliman Chorale practice
Class get-togethers
Disney World outings
Visiting time for family and friends in OrlandoNote: The first day is usually just meetings and organizational activities of committees.
The following activities were schedule on the second day, ( Thursday).
Chorale warm-up directed by Ruby Agnir. This group practiced everyday.
Morning devotion
Tipon Registration all day long
Welcome NightAttendees received packet of information including paid activities/tickets for the dinner/dance on Welcome Night and Gala Night.
This day was characterized by the meeting of most attendees and delegates as well as friends and classmates that were last seen decades ago.
The day included a children's cultural workshop with Michael Dadap
The Board of Director's Meeting was held with SU President Ben Malayang 111 and his entourage. He gave a very good and encouraging report on the progress at Silliman including the addition of new buildings and the Tree of Life fund raising project of SUACONA. Also a financial slide show was presented. Finances at the university is pretty healthy but they can still use some funds in case of emergency, also the president reported that the enrollment had been increasing every year. His wish is to keep the present faculty and staff since it's difficult to replace them.
Present during this meeting were Diplomat Tony Villamor from Saudi Arabia, Judge Boy Gonzalez, Dr. Enrico Sobong, the two delegates from SAAI, Inday Maxino and Jong dela Cruz and many, many more.
This evening was designated as Welcome Night!. The event was so well attended that those who wished to attend but failed to make the advanced reservations were not able to attend. Attendees spent the evening enjoying lots of dancing, good food as well as the fun that comes with meeting old friends and making new ones.
Notable examples include Grace Villanueva-Tan met her four brothers and had a special "Villanueva" Mini Tipon where they met up with close friends who live in the Orlando area.
The Garridos including children Amanda and Chalmer did a lot more than just attend the Silliman Tipon, Their agenda included sightseeing around Florida, Key West, NASA, Jacksonville and a lot more. It was a fun vacation for them and the children, acquiring so many treasured memories.
The theme of the third day ( Friday) was Educational enhancement led by Dr. Luz Sobong-Porter and Dr. Nino Locsin. The goal was to provide nurses the opportunity to earn educational credits toward the renewal of their RN license.
Topics included were:
Women's Self-esteem, depression, and substance abuse Dr. Porter Technologies in Nursing Dr. Locsin Patient Protection Initiative Dinah B. Penaflorida The fourth day (Saturday) designated Gala Night.
However, the day was open for attendees to pursue personal agendas. There were organized field trips, tours, outings, as well as time to visit and catch up with friends, and classmates.
Then the Gala Night happened. Guests in their formal attire were ushered in to a room that was elegantly decorated with fresh flowers and colorful furnishing, the live band playing enjoyable music, all together very conducive to picture taking aplenty.
All were entertained by talented singers and dancers. The nephew of Grace Villanueva sang and played his guitar and the host Alumni delighted everyone with a choreographed dance.
The dancing floor was packed such that dancers had to migrate unto the carpeted floor to show off their moves. Music was mostly modern and lively and included a lot of hip-hop and line dancing. Vivien and Jojo were disappointed in that they had no opportunity to show off their Tango moves. For some reason Tango must have been intimidating to most and hence was not included in the selected dance repertoire.
Everybody enjoyed the night so much that the feeling of tiredness felt by ones body was ignored for the well deserved fun that was experienced.
The fifth day, ( Sunday) of Tipon held special significance for Fely Tan-Narvaez. The Sunday worship service included the lighting of the candles to honor Sillimanites who had passed away during the interim periods between Tipon events.
Fely emotionally lit a special candle for her father and former SU cashier Paciano M. Tan. Zeny Duran-Bennet lit the candle for our own Pamela Catague. The candle for our former President Zosimo Jadloc was also lit.
The lighting of each candle was preceded solemn ringing of a bell to signify the meeting of a loved one with Our Creator in heaven.
A farewell picnic was held at a park for those who elected to say their goodbyes on the last day of Tipon. While a number of Alumni’s departure schedules did not allow attendance at the picnic, still lots of Alumni attended and were rewarded with a fantastic spread prepared by the members of the South Florida chapter.
In addition to SUAF sponsoring official delegates, it is the hope that more Silliman Alumni in SD will plan to experience the great and wonderful gathering, to seek and reconnect with old classmates, friends and schoolmates as well as making new friends where alumni have "roamed" so far away from our Alma Mater.
The next opportunity for Silliman Alumni to gather for sentimental reasons will be the Tipon scheduled for the summer of 2011 in the state of ALASKA .
A pictorial description of Tipon 2009 can be viewed at the Photo Gallery at SUACONA.com