Silliman University Alumni

and Friends @ San Diego
 

Tipon 2013 and Founder's Day

Third-Quarter Issue - July to September, 2013 - The Portal

Tipon 2013 ("One God, One World, One Silliman") and 112th Founders Day ("Joyfully Lift Up the Lamb")

Towards the end of August, this year, hundreds of Sillimanians and friends from all over the world (those attending and/or spiritually present) celebrated two great events in Dumagute City: Tipon 2013 (August 21-25), sponsored by Silliman University Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA); and the 112th Anniversary of Silliman's Founding (August 28-30). This was the first time these events occurred together on the campus of Silliman University. The City, in royal fashion, had a "red carpet" welcome for the hundreds of visitors. SUOCONA's Chairman, Gideon "Kuya Box" Alegado and his wife Rachel were on hand at the Dumaguete airport, together with the Silliman Band, to give this homecoming a joyous atmosphere. Several Silliman buses were at hand to take the visitors to the campus and the various hotels where they were to stay.

The Governor of Negros Oriental, the Honorable Roel R. Degamo, himself a graduate of the College of Engineering at Silliman, hosted a sumptuous supper on the evening of Friday, the 23d, in the ballroom at Bethel Guest House on Rizal Boulevard "by the sea." The other three universities in the city - Foundation, Saint Paul, and Negros Oriental State- participated, on Tuesday afternoon, the 27th, in the spectacular parade around the city and into the ROTC Parade grounds, northwest of the main campus. Visiting alumni, many of whom had not returned to the campus decades after they finished school, rejoiced in the reunions of their classes, from graduate school to high school (these last were called "batches"). They all got together for food, fellowship, dancing and fun in the all-campus party at the Quadrangle in the evening of Wednesday, the 28th. The Demolays (the younger associates of the Masonic Order) at Sillliman also celebrated their golden jubilee (fifty years) of presence on the campus.

Hotel accommodations and transportation in and around the campus were all adequately provided for by city folk. Food supply was no problem. A unique feature of the celebration was the Pamahaw Sillimaniana (Founders Day Breakfast Fellowship) served on the lawn of the President's Residence on the Quadrangle. It was an opportunity for visiting alumni to meet other visiting and resident alumni, other members of the Silliman community and guests. The Pamahaw ran until August 27. Snacks and meals were served throughout the day, in many places on and off the Campus. Breaking bread together, good conversations, laughter, and jubilation lent a most festive air to these events

But three of these stand out:

The outdoor welcome party, sponsored by SUACONA, in the excitingly beautiful Tierra Alta Resort at Palinpinon, Valencia, in the hills west of the campus, on the evening of the 22d, complete with band music (supplied by the Silliman University Jazz band), dancing, entertainment, and delicious food, and even fireworks, was truly a wonderful introduction to the great things that awaited us.

The SUACONA 12th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Ball, held on Saturday evening, the 24th, at the Negros Oriental Convention Center was truly worthy of Silliman's greatness as a Christian Institution of Higher Learning. Present were many City officials, prominent members of the community, and, most of all, the giddying presence of alumni and friends, reunited after long years of absence from the campus gave this occasion both an atmosphere of nostalgia, and a great longing for future (and more frequent) meetings. It was a truly an unforgettable affair. Great music for dancing from Tanjay City Transparency Band.

The birthday celebration of Luth Mendiola Tenorio held in the ballroom of Bethel Guest House, on the evening of the 29th.. complete with a female vocalist, and an electric piano. There was dancing and great food. It was indeed a delightful evening!

Worship and devotions were given their rightful place in these celebrations The first was on Tuesday, the 22d, in the Udarbe Chapel next to Silliman Church. San Diego's own Dr. Joe Jacinto gave the message, "What's in a Number?" At the next morning's meditation, in Silliman Hall, Dr. Richard Elphick, husband of alumna Ester Timbancya, gave the message based on the theme of Tipon 2013, "One God, One World, One Silliman" Although not himself a graduate of Silliman, he has never missed any of the Tipon meetings since they started in 2001. There was also special music, a violin solo rendered by Dr. Joe Jacinto, "Romance" by R. Schumann. He donated this instrument for use in the Music School, in the hope that violin instruction at Silliman can be re-started. Zoe Lopez' passing, years back, left no personnel to fill in this loss.

There were three other remarkable devotional services:

1) In the In Memoriam service held in Silliman Church on the morning of the 24th, the names of Silimanians who had passed on since the last Tipon were read. The Rev. Dr. Frederico Agnir delivered the message.

2) At the Founders Day (the 28th) Sunday Service at Silliman Church, the message was delivered by Dr. Frank Somera. The day had begun early (4:00 a.m.) with a "Diana", Silliman's traditional "wake-up" by the Silliman University Band around the campus and beyond.

3) This was followed by the sunrise service in the Amphitheater. The speaker that morning was Adlai J. Amor, one of Sillliman's many Outstanding Alumni awardees. The alumni in attendance from San Diego were the ushers. The refurbishing of the Amphitheater was one of their projects for Silliman

In these services, "making a joyful noise unto the Lord" came with the excellent choral music, provided by the Tipon Silliman Chorale under the able direction of Mrs. Ruby Ordinario Agnir; the Silliman Church Choir, and other musical groups. Many attendees heard for the first time the magnificent Allen Organ in Silliman Church, a gift from numberless grateful alumni and friends of Silliman University.

"Balik Talent" Lectures have been part of Founders Day activities for years. These are delivered by visiting alumni , and covered a variety of topics: this year, on Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Environmental Issues, Geriatrics, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Professional Ethics, Science and Technologies. The Lectures on the "Nursing Profession For the 21th Century", sponsored by the SUCN class of 1978, held at the Luce Auditorium, were well-attended and received. One of the lecturers, Maria Cristina Roble Esperat, was a Silliman Outstanding Alumna for 2012. She had returned to the campus to officially receive it.

"Silliman Performs" showcased the many talents on the campus: from vocal, dance, drama, and instrumentalists. Of special mention is the Orkestra Sin Arco, a musical group, most of whom used plectrum instruments (those that are plucked), like guitars, mandolins, bandurrias, etc., under the direction of Maestro Michael Dadap.

These arts all came together in an outstanding presentation at Luce Auditorium in the afternoon of Sunday, the 25th, called the Handulantaw. This word is coined from two Cebuano words: handum/handuman, ("keepsake/reminisce") and lantaw ''("looking ahead"), expressing the idea of that continuing vision which is at the heart of a Silliman education. Credit for all these performances goes to the College of Performing and Visual Arts, and Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, Dean.

The "Crowning Moment" of Founders Day 2013 was the Outstanding Sillimanian Awards Convocation in the Luce Auditorium on the morning of the 28thy. The awardees are:

Judge Jeoffre W. Acebido - for judicial service;
Dr. Evangelyn Ceriales-Alojido - for biosystems engineering
Dr. Dely Po-Go - for entrepreneurship in Nursing
Mr. Aurelio Palit-Ang Ramos, Jr. - for Social Entrepreneurship
Dr. Maria Christina Roble Esperat - received her 2012 OSA award

SUACONA officers met in the Student Center (formerly Oriental Hall) on the morning of Saturday, the 24th, to discuss several matters:
1) updates on the United Board for Christian Education in Asia (UBCHEA), Silliman University's "contact" with the outside world of Christian Higher Education;
2) ratification of SUACONA's Constitution and By-Laws;
3) "bidding" for the venue of the next Tipon 2015 (San Antonio, Texas "won" it); and
4) election of a new set of officers for the next two years:

Chairman: The Rev. Dr. Frank D. Somera
Vice Chairman: Engr Betsy M. Engle
Secretary: Mrs. Betsy A. Jackson
Treasurer: Julia D. Jacinto
Auditor: Mrs. Faith M. Duran
Public Information Officer: Dr. Evangeline Bravo Manjares

**I hope this makes up for the delay in my transmission. I'm sure Dinah and Fely can add to this account; I Understand they had sent pictures ahead. And thanks for your patience. From Dr. Joe