Silliman University honored the late Col. Roman T. Yap, chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees, in a groundbreaking ceremony for a building that will bear his name.
The two-storey structure will be named the Col. Roman T. Yap Hall. It is a gift from the Yap family, and a recognition by the University of Col. Yap’s love of country and generosity to Silliman, particularly the Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
Atty. Eugene Yap and Ruby Yap-Cruz, children of Col. Yap, will represent their mother, Maria Consolacion T. Yap, and the rest of their family during the groundbreaking.
To be erected at the Filomeno Cimafranca Ballfield, where the ROTC conducts its training, the building will house an ROTC museum with Col. Yap’s memorabilia, an armory, lecture rooms, and an administrative office.
Col. Yap was awarded Outstanding Sillimanian in the field of Business and Exemplary Service in 2006. His dedication to military service started in his early years, during the Japanese occupation. While he was entitled to exemption from military training because he was Chinese, he trained as a reservist and started as a squad leader. In 1994, he was promoted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the rank of Colonel, and was named two years after as the Best AFP Reservist Officer of the Year, and the Best Philippine Army Reservist of the Year.
Col. Yap had been providing assistance to the University since the 1960s. He was among those instrumental in securing support for the establishment of the Uytengsu Foundation Computer Center, the Angelo King Building, and the Silliman University-Angelo King Center for Research & Environmental Management.