SUAFers back from


Founders Day visit SUAF was well represented in


Dumaguete City during the 111th fes- tivities of Founders Day. As accompanying pictures show


(pages 2. 4 and 5), these included president Laarni Gularek and vice- president Ligaya Simpkins, Dinah Penaflorida, Susan and Bill Sold- wisch, Tenette and Oswald Esperat, Frances Yoakem, Precy and Allen Garrido, Gino and Chona Maribao and Prescy and Efren Madrid. The 111th FD edition this year fea-


tured the general theme of “Empower Me, Spirit of the Living God”. As in previous FD, a slew of activities on campus almost always swamps the visiting alumni into a discriminating mode of what to participate in and how much. A case of too many things to do in so little time. Next year, with Tipon 2013 on campus for the first time, that selection will approach critical mass. But for this year at least, been


there, done that. Laarni and Ligaya represented


SUAF in their official capacities dur- ing SUACONA gatherings and activi- ties surrounding the Outstanding Silli- manian Awards (OSA) for which member Tenette Esperat was one of the awardees. Laarni found time to relay earthquake aid to native town Guihulngan (as did the Maribaos and the Garridos for Tayasan and Ayun- gon, respectively) while Gaya made some headway with her continuing research on Silliman’s fraternal work- ers, the subject of her series American Missionaries. A special multimedia display section on missionaries in the university library was inaugurated Aug. 23. Both also made contact with Jason Tubog, the senior business student who is recipient of the aca- demic scholarship sponsored by SUAF. Dinah coordinated the 2012 Balik


Talent conference “Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Action”, held Aug. 23-24 and 27 at the Luce Auditorium and Roble Hall on campus, which featured sessions on advanced prac- tice nursing, climactic changes and disaster manage-


(See FD, page 2) ment, and promotion of best interven-


Silliman University Alumni & Friends @ SD


SD Portal September 2012


Xra t Wicklers transitioned war years


to fraternal service at Silliman By Ligaya Magbanua Simpkins


Howard and Dorothy Wickler 1951—1971


The introduction of the Wickler family to the


Philippines was not the route you would usually expect a missionary or his family to take. Howard O. Wickler was in the US Navy


(Amphibious Operations) during WWII and was a participant in the famous Leyte landing of October 1944. American forces found their way into Manila by February 1945 but his unit stayed in Tacloban until the surren- der of Japan. He met mis- sionaries who


American Missionaries 9th in a Series


had been held prisoners by the Japanese as they were released. It was during that period when Mr. Wickler gathered other servicemen to worship with the local congregations in Tacloban and met Rev. ___ Pia and Dr. Angel Espina , both of who would serve in the Silliman Board of Trustees ten years later. While on a visit with Dr. Espina at the Maasin Institute later that year, he learned about Silliman University, where Benoni, Dr. Espina’s son, was enrolled as a student. Howard returned to Minnesota in December 1945


and married Dorothy on Feb. 1, 1946. Impressed by the Christian faith he witnessed which sustained the Filipinos through the war years, he wrote the Mis- sion Board of the former E.U.B. Church and ex- pressed his interest in teaching in the Philippines. Since no teachers were needed then in the Philip- pines, they were commissioned to work at the Red Bird Mission Appalachian School where they served for three years. After taking a year’s leave of absence to pursue his graduate degree, the Wicklers returned to the mission school to serve an additional three years. A request for an industrial education teacher


came from Silliman University soon after. The Wicklers requested consideration for this position and their request was accepted by the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. In May 1955, the Wicklers arrived in Dumaguete with their three children Karen, Bruce and Diane. Professor Wickler had obtained his B.S. degree


at Mankato State University (1949) and an M.A. from University of Minne- (see WICKLERS page 3)


Dorothy and Howard Wickler


Display honors past missionary services Silliman University launched


the “fraternal workers historical visual display project” at the Robert and Metta Silliman Library Aug. 23 as part of the 111th Founders Day activities. The project


sought to “correct an omission” and recognize the services of mis- sionaries and fraternal workers in behalf of Silliman, SU president Ben Malayang III declared. Intended to be a work in pro-


gress, more research will expand coverage of the section. The pro- ject was inspired by a suggestion by SUAFer Ligaya Simpkins whose series in this newsletter first drew attention to the works of fraternal workers.


Laarni and Gaya with SU alumni affairs OIC Moses Atega.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5