CHICAGO — As the days dwindle down to a hectic few before the first international Tipon or reunion of Silliman alumni at the Silliman University campus next month, joyful anticipation runs wild in the veins of those who are attending this historical event. Including this writer.
Scheduled to usher the 112th Founders’ Day, the Tipon starts from Aug. 21 to 25, followed by the Founders’ Day celebration through the 30th.
The Tipon was the talk at the Silliman Alumni International Chicago Chapter picnic last Saturday, held at the TY Warner Park in Westmont, Illinois.
Blessed with a beautiful summer breeze in the midst of this long, hot summer, the picnic is an annual stand-out Sillimanian family get-together.
Complete with lechon, fresh baked salmon from Alaska, dinuguan, humba, and palagsing, among others. The long three tables loaded with a wide variety of foods could have literally fed an army! As a mini-fundraiser and fun, Luz Corsino-Frost, as usual, coordinated the raffles. Prizes were all donated by some alumni.
Before the sumptuous picnic-luncheon, Tonette Guatelara-Geary, outgoing SAI president, underscored the importance of the forthcoming first international Tipon at the Silliman campus.
Tonette announced: “As of now, 25 alumni from Chicago are attending, and some of them have left for the Philippines. One important agenda at the Tipon is the inauguration of the Modified Golf Cart, donated by SAI-Chicago 2012-2013, to complement the Campus Cruiser Initiative Program of the University; and the Campus Cruiser tartanilla inspired donated by (former SAI-Chicago president) Elsie Sy-Niebar, in memory of her late husband, Dennis John Niebar. The inauguration will be held on Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. Elsie is reminding all Chicago delegates to attend the inauguration.”
Tonette also reminded the alumni about the ongoing Allen Organ Fund Campaign Project, sponsored by the alumni umbrella organization, the SU Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA). The fundraiser ends in April 2014.
She challenged SAI that whatever amount SAI makes from the sales of raffle during the picnic and the proceeds from the coming Christmas party, she will match the amount for SAI-Chicago’s donation to the Allen Organ Project.
Oh, yeah. Any SAI member or Friend of Silliman is very welcome to donate any amount to this project. Donations made to the United Board of Christian Higher Education in Asia are tax-deductible. Donations must be sent to the SUACONA treasurer or to the chapter treasurer.
The top agenda of the July 20th picnic was the election of the Chapter officers for 2014-2015, a two-year term. Election of officers in some organizations is one “tough agenda.”
A month or two before the election, current officers start “campaigning”. Get this! Campaigning NOT for votes but for candidates! Especially for the position of President! It is never easy. (Tell me about it. Been there. Done that. One year short for four terms!) You’ve got to really love “Silliman beside the sea” to accept the duty of the President who works hard.
Tonette used all her charm to campaign for candidates! They all won unanimously and unopposed. Easy does it.
Elected SAI-Chicago officers for 2014-2015 were: Conrado Villanueva, president; Jimmuel Plaza; vice president; Darlene Guatelara, secretary; Kara Teves Woolard, treasurer (2nd term); Daisy Siao Schmookler, auditor (2nd term); Luz Corsino Frost, public relations officer; members of the Board of Directors: Daniel Depasupil, Edgar Amora , Ben Cabanban, Ellen Mae Sienes Garbrecht, Milagros Emperado; Elizabeth Santos, and Antonia “Tonnette” Guatelara Geary, immediate past president/ex officio.
“Induction of officers will be held in December during the Christmas party”, Tonette, the outgoing president announced.
During my terms as president, we always held formal fundraising dinner balls to raise funds earmarked for a huge project. What challenged me to accept the presidency from 2006 to 2009, was the TOL or Tree of Life project at Silliman U. During my two terms, we held two dinner ball fundraisers and reached out to a few generous alumni. SAI-Chicago was able to raise somewhere around $35,000 as shown by the two “rocks” ($5000 each) and “leaves” ($1000 each) displayed at one of the newer buildings at the SU campus. I felt good when I saw the “plaques” of our hard work on display. I was blessed with hard-working officers.
Conrad Villanueva, the newly-elected president of Silliman Alumni Int’l-Chicago Chapter, finished two degrees from Silliman: BS General Science in 1974, and Business Management in 1978. He migrated to the USA in 1978; in 1990, he finished Respiratory Therapy at the Malcolm X College. Conrad is currently working as respiratory care practitioner for the last 23 years at a Chicago hospital. He is married to Estrella “Baybee” Villanueva; they have one young professional son, Conrad Jr., also a piano virtuoso.
Asked what his plans are as SAI-Chicago president, Conrad quickly responded: “To increase membership by inviting fragmented Silliman alumni groups to the fold of SAI; create an environment of fun and frolic with proactive participation by SAI members and friends; and to be transparent in terms of finances, new ideas, opinions; be open to critiques from fellow officers and members; network and promote goodwill among different organizations in the Chicago area, with SUACONA and SU back home. And most importantly, to let-live the ‘Silliman spirit’ among members in keeping with the Christian teachings via, veritas, vita.”
Great vision, Conrad. Walk slowly and carry a big stick. Long live the Silliman Spirit.
Personally, I can’t wait to be at SU Campus for the Tipon… to meet a few of my long-lost classmates and friends at a small dinner get-together on my agenda, following the blessing of my late husband’s campus cruiser-tartanilla. As a horse-lover himself, I will not be surprised to feel his presence riding on the horse’s back of the tartanilla!
I’m also looking forward to meet with the students at the SU College of Mass Communication, which was called the School of Journalism during my time. Dr. Cecile Genove, dean of the College, invited me to have a conversation with the students. That would be fun!
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Author’s email: [email protected]
