AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2017 4 OPINION


E D I T O R I A L Living a dream


“Dumaguete has changed!” That was a common comment among alumni, visitors and guests who came from around the world to attend the 116th Founders Week of Silliman University. Many of them had beautiful things to say


about Dumaguete. It’s easy for the laid back pace of life and the easy and gentle demeanor of the people to disarm you. “You’re lucky you live here!” is an oft-heard visitor comment to locals.


visitors saw during their visit and we don’t quite comment on them, hoping that these problems will take care of themselves sooner or later. One is the garbage problem. Garbage collection has been slow and irregular of late. Blame this on the lack of garbage trucks to make the rounds. We do hope that the two totally brand new garbage trucks that were inaugurated by the City last week will be put to good use very soon. We still have problems with our open dumpsite. The Department of Environment wants it closed and much as we want it closed to avoid the stench of garbage in barangay Candau-ay and its environs, we are still stuck with finding an alternative. There’s the problem of traffic law enforcement, as well. Vehicles park on no- parking zones or motorcycles and cars park on each other’s designated parking spaces. On this note, we hope there would be more traffic law enforcers that would take care of the many driving irritants off the road. We may not immediately recognize this


There were not-so-beautiful things that


as a problem but noise pollution is starting to become very common. We have noisy motorcycles, chain saws, and yes, even the unregulated “Sing-along” places which operate without soundproofing. There is already a law to prevent this but there’s no one around to enforce it. But by, and large, we find ways of adapting


METROPOST


ATTY. WHELMA SITON-YAP ECON 101 W


to reconnect, reminisce, and rejoice.


to the situation. That’s probably why instead of complaining about the lack of parking spaces, we see a lot of illegally parked vehicles because motorists simply park anywhere they want to. And that’s also probably where there are a lot of “home-made” no-parking signs that are sprouting on our streets. Some put rocks or chairs on choice parking spaces, just to make a point. So, we survive manage by making do and making the best of what we can. In many ways, living in Dumaguete, or


Negros Oriental, for that matter, can be like living a dream. Others go places just to climb mountains. Others travel to go scuba diving. Others go somewhere to play golf. Others go somewhere to go to the beach. We, on the other hand, don’t have to go anywhere to do that, because we have them all right here! As the new slogan of the provincial tourism office puts it, “this is how you want to live!”


would agree that we have come a long way, from the wonder years of High School, self discovery in College, and how we have been able to cope with the wide, wild world after


leaving the halls of Silliman. Everyone has a movie in


our minds, the experience we shared, the highs and lows in the classrooms, and campus life in the dorms. Most of us remember the


Looking back, most of us 116th


Sillimanians and friends! It’s the Founders Day, a time


elcome


whelmayap@yahoo.com home,


society and the institutions created to respond to those needs.


reconsider the social contract between the university and the nation, and the national policy and action that will probably be required to shape this relationship once again. It is important to highlight


the fact that the person at the helm of the Department


of Education is our very own Sec. Leonor “Nang Liling” Magtolis-Briones, a blue-blooded Outstanding Silimanian. Under her leadership


excitement of entering a new world of academic challenges, and the angst of growing up amidst the commanding yet serene presence of the acacia trees.


political, social, economic, and technological forces is driving change in the needs of


the Today, an array of powerful It is time once again to


people born between the years 1980 to 2000, one of the biggest age groupings in our society. Made up of mostly 17-year-old teenagers and the 30-something youth, these are the people who may be as young as Grade 11 or now part of the workforce. Comprising the selfie generation, they are described as being social media-dependent.


and influence, the Education Department is expected to positively respond to the challenges ahead. Most significant of which is the function of education to provide learning experiences, knowledge, skills and habits to students who form part of the future of the nation, called the Millenials.


ROMEO G. CAPILITAN


SYDNEY CONNECTION


capromeo@gmail.com A member of the Philippine Press Institute


ALEX REY V. PAL Publisher & Editor-in-Chief (On-leave) IRMA FAITH B. PAL Managing Editor


JOEL V. PAL Online News/North America Editor RICHLI D. AVES Cartoonist


Awardee, Best Editorial Page 2007 Community Press Awards


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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- Twelfth of August 2017 is a day forever embedded in the hearts of the Sydney Sillimanians. It was the day when they celebrated the 116th Founders Day of Silliman University, well ahead of 28th the official day of the celebration. They came together at the residence of Sydney Sillimanian Chapter President Engr. Enrico “Toto” Garcia. Toto’s First Lady, Lily, played host to the memorable affair of a love relationship among fellow Sillimanians and with their Alma Mater. It was a beautiful day.


Amid the merrymaking, the chapter welcomed Fe Tubongbanua-Bird, Ray Quismundo, and Sheila Pfleider as new members. Lots of fun followed highlighted by three line


dances, punctuated by a hot one, the chilli chacha. Chapter Vice President Emma Pontenila led the line dancing. The best was served last -- eating with seldom-tasted Pinoy delicacies like biko from Joy Torrevillas, peanut brittle from Marissa Bala,


humba from Fern Ponti, fruit salad from Dinah Milne, bulad from Jing Speirs, kinilaw from Arnie Capilitan, and pancit from Gina Delfin. They took time, too,


Clinic in Dauin, Negros Oriental. A special act was the


passing of the hat to raise money for the displaced refugees from Marawi City. It netted Australian $500. Alice Dumlao, as secretary, remitted the amount through Rev. Dr. Rodolfo


Silliman ascending


“Rudy” Juan, bishop of the Davao Episcopal Area (United Methodist Church) on 14th of August.


for fund-raising. They conducted raffles and auctions to raise funds for the feeding program at the Talay Mental Hospital in Dumaguete City, and to buy IV’s for the SU Marina


may create a ripple effect all over the world. There is an awakening of Sillimanians near and far from their Alma Mater. The organized gatherings are: Tipon Silliman, Euroflock, Hugyaw Visayas, Sadya Mindanaw, and Galak


Such caring and sharing


There are other connotations of a millennial. According to The Week, millennials are spendthrifts, known to squander on luxury items that leave their bank accounts shaken; a reason why they are most-often broke. They are also described as narcissists (thus called the Me-Me-Me Generation), naysayers, always challenging conventions, too engrossed in Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They even brazenly post personal diaries on social


Millenials consist of those


media.


However, there are also good attitudes that millennials possess: They are politically- aware; they are socially- engaged.


Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) and the GenX’ers (born 1965 to 1980), millennials most often make it a point to have their say on government and social issues, are more involved with politics, making them vulnerable to propaganda which can be masquerading as truth. Does Silliman have the tools,


fortitude, and perseverance to steer its via, veritas, vita in these digital times?


Silliman University in the time of the millenials


Ben S. Malayang III, his administration, faculty and staff affirm their commitment to Silliman’s core values. Welcome back, generations


of alumni and friends, who have come to flock in campus and share their common experience this week, reaffirming the guiding light which they hold dear.


Welcome home, Betsy Merto-Engle, from SUHS 1958. Happy birthday, Danny Dionaldo, from SUHS 1958. To all Sillimanians and friends, Happy Founders Day!


Luzon, knowing each other mainly via the social media. The world gets to know them by their love for each other. Leaving and living beyond the Gates of Opportunity, Sillimanians look back to SU as the guiding star. Back in time and


now, at the SU campus in Dumaguete City, the student has learned to worship the Master of the universe in the atmosphere of a Galilean Fellowship. He understands that under the Covenant of Grace, the Ten Commandments are reduced to the two greatest commandments: to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. That is the power of love, as God is love. Sillimanians are roaming


all over the world. If they stand as one body of Christ to celebrate the faithfulness of God, there is hope and assurance of them becoming instruments in healing the world.


As salt and light of the world, I see Silliman University ascending. SU is US.


The answer is in the affirmative as SU President


Compared to the Baby


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