At Silliman University, it is the College of Nursing that has been giving a good number of glories in December, and even in other times of the year.
Once again, this Christmas gift of excellence has come with much jubilation from Sillimanians all over the world: aside from the 100 percent passing in the 2021 Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing, the Professional Regulation Commission also announced that three Sillimanians made it to Top 10: Kiarra Belle Poblador, 1st placer; Esther Faith Padilla, 4th placer; and Nicole Allyson Fry, 8th place. 
Kiarra Poblador expressed a sense of gratitude: “In all seriousness, I am truly grateful to all my mentors at SUCN who equipped us with the best resources to further our SKA (skills, knowledge, attitude). Thank you, SUCN, for curating state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to support our Nursing education. “
The 4th and 8th placers were international students at Silliman. Esther Padilla from the United Arab Emirates graduated cum laude; Nicole Fry is from Arizona, USA. They both thanked their parents — also Sillimanians — for their gift of loyalty to their Alma Mater, and for making the initial move to enroll them at SUCN as the chosen “career gateway”.
SUCN has now more than a dozen first placers in the national board exams: Lilia Dominado in 1951, Florence Amistoso in 1952, Aida Young in 1953, and the amazing three first placers in 1957: Leticia Yasay, Elizabeth Tandayag and Sylvia Sun. 
They were followed by Fedelita Lim in 1959, a well-loved teacher Luningning Canido in 1961, Victoria Lao in 1964, Erna Larena in 1989, Estherlita Arbolado in 1992, and Julien Lim in 1999.
I just noticed that every time I post a congratulatory message for SUCN on social media, the next inquiry in the thread is usually: Who is the current dean of the college?
Leadership is indeed a huge factor in maintaining one’s stature as the Philippines’ Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
And SUCN is fortunate to have had a series of deeply- committed leaders, from the founder Mary Agnes Marquis-Smith who was among the 19 American missionaries who arrived after World War II and established the College in 1947, to the legendary Dean Maria Concepcion M. Roble. 
Then, the rewarding school years under Dr. Dalisay Mirasol Magtolis-Dumalag through the leadership of Dr. Maria Teresita Sy Sinda. And many more in between, and after these nurse care queens.
Now to the dynamic leadership of Dr. Theresa Aragones-Guino-o, herself a winner of the prestigious Leininger Research Award for Culture Care for her paper on Empowered Emancipation: A Perspective for Health Care presented at the 36th International Conference on Human Caring.
Dean Guino-o became the first Filipino to receive such award.
The SUCN Dean and faculty are one family who have made excellence their tradition, their day-to-day commitment.
The SUCN alumni have also been unceasing in becoming ‘gifts of excellence’ themselves: the late Luz Sobong-Porter was the first Filipino to earn a PhD in Nursing; Dr. Jean S. Yan of the World Health Organization; and more from a long line of Outstanding Sillimanians: Dr. Luth Mendiola Tenorio who was dean of the College of Nursing at Seattle University; the multi-awarded nurse scholar and educator Dr. Rozzano Locsin; the 2020 Founders’ Day awardee Jusie Lydia Siega-Sur; and Nella Fe Pineda-Marcon in 2021.
Beyond Christmas, SUCN is one beautiful never-ending story. Their gifts of excellence are actually added Christmas trimmings, for it is their gift of service that has come to us endlessly. Our salute to all Sillimanian frontliners all over the world!
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Author’s email: [email protected]
