SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — A man’s reach should exceed his grasp–or what is a heaven for? From Robert Browning. It describes the right attitude when faced with a mission impossible. A mission that is one heart’s desire desperately breaking out for a full realization.
Silliman is faced with such undesirable position. SU Pres. Ben Malayang III drew the worst-case scenario in a sermon delivered at the SU Church while Sillimanians worldwide were busy planning for the University’s Founders Day on the 28th of August this year. Because of educational reforms taken in the Philippines, there is a real danger faced by institutions like Silliman in the next 5 to 7 years. There will be no enrollment in 1st year college in 2016, 1st and 2nd years in 2017, 2nd and 3rd years in 2018, 3rd and 4th years in 2019. then the whole 4th year in 2020. “In these years, Silliman will not have whole big chunks of college tuition revenues. Over half in 2017 alone. Danger? Indeed!” he sighed.
Well, the 113th Founders Day has come and gone. For the Sydney Sillimanians what significantly remains is the afterglow of the celebration’s theme: Submitting to the Refiner’s Fire. They seem to be catching fire in their desire to upgrade the SU Marina Clinic in Dauin. Sydney Alumni Chapter founding president Max Pontenila suggested a follow up fund-raising show similar to the Splendor in the Night. He is proposing to devise a Souvenir Program wherein every or group of Sillimanians even with a 25 to 50-dollar donation can be given importance in the fund-raising campaign. It is an enabling idea for every Sillimanian to come forward and be counted in creating the ripple effect globally.
This echoes Dr. Paul Lauby’s “Looking for Mr. Money Man.” In his address to North American Silliman Alumni, the late Dr. Lauby pointed to the positive impact of a united SU alumni to Silliman’s financial health as foreign donations were drying up. He wished if only each North American Silliman Alumnus would give even just $100, the sum would ease up the University’s financial predicament dramatically.
The spirit is willing but the flesh remains weak. Dr. Lauby’s dream got a tidbit of fulfillment in SUACONA. Unity is found wanting among the majority. There is a need for a hero. Or heroes. More to the point, there is need to walk by faith, not by sight. The flesh is lukewarm. Flesh needs the baptism of fire to attain the sufficiency of grace in reaching out for heaven, Human grasp alone, time and time again is proved insufficient. God’s will in heaven remains undone and elusive here on earth.
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Author’s email: capromeo@gmail.com
