Allow me to borrow a quote which tells us how much our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Angel Alcala, meant to all of us.
“Your life was a blessing; your memory a treasure; You are loved beyond words, and missed beyond measure.”
Much has been said about the legacies left by Dr. Alcala. Yes, he was very fulfilled in all aspects of his life, but knowing the minds of scientists, there is no such thing as “the end”.
There still so much to be done. There is no end to exploring the unknown. Thus, I will not dwell anymore on all the achievements of Dr. Alcala, but instead focus on something which I was able to discern from most of our personal face-to-face conversations.
To most, my relationship with Dr. Alcala has been long enough for me to be able to discern some of his professional longings, the so-called “if only I still have time”. This is something I will have to share with you to give substance to one of his longings.
We were together as both members and directors of the Silliman University Foundation Inc. (SUFI), long before I was exposed to Trusteeship service for Silliman. My involvement in both SUFI and the Board of Trustees exposed me to the so-called Silliman elders, the likes of Mr. Julio Sy, Dr. Roman Yap; of course, Dr. Angel Alcala, Gen. Mamerto Bocanegra, former Finance Sec. Juanita Amatong, former National Treasurer and former Education Sec. Liling Briones, former Silliman President Gus Pulido, and many other distinguished active members of various Silliman bodies and organizations.
Observing the elders discussing the needs of Silliman, I felt small in relation to the passionate Silliman spirit displayed by these indefatigable seniors. Some focused on building the endowment funds, while the others, most especially Dr. Alcala, focused on where these limited funds should be prioritized — research, scholarship, and faculty development.
You see, when these ideas are thrown into the table in any discussion, they may look like simple ideas which need simple decision-making on the prioritization of funds. But to me, ideas coming from the Silliman elders always deserve discernment, or the need to read between the lines. Otherwise, we miss the very essence and substance of the idea.
Even at the Silliman Board of Trustees, Dr. Alcala kept on harping on this, despite the existence of faculty development programs and scholarship supports. It was only through our personal chats that I have been able to clearly see where Dr. Alcala is coming from, the essence. I had been debating these thoughts for some time now, whether I should share this with the academic community, but to give respect and justice to this “longing”, I venture to use this moment.
Dr. Alcala was very concerned about the diminishing appetite of the academic community for Research.
For so many years, Dr. Alcala had observed this not only in Silliman University but in the whole academic industry in the country.
Several institutions could hardly even cope with the requirement of the Commission on Higher Education for faculty to have PhDs, as minimum entry requirement for professorial positions — posted apparently to arrest this diminishing interest on Research, and to give a stronger credibility to the title of Professor.
That is why there is rampant piracy of PhD holders in the academe throughout the country. Even here at Silliman, we could only count with our fingers those with PhD degrees.
In the words of Dr. Alcala, any academic institution not known for creating and enhancing knowledge through research would have no way to gain global recognition and accreditation.
Like a father talking to a son, Dr. Alcala would say to me — looking at Research as the ultimate academic challenge — to know more or something about the unknown, to look for, enhance, and impart new knowledge as a way of life of a teacher.
A faculty without research work in his sleeve is insufficient. We often hear these statements, and we know it’s not a myth, as Dr. Alcala was the living example of several research-based honor and recognition, eventually the much-coveted stature as the country’s National Scientist.
If Dr. Alcala had more time here on earth, he would probably make sure that the appetite of the academic community for Research would not only be re-ignited but made robust. “If only I have more time.”
Rest in peace, Dr. Alcala. You have done so much; you have given so much of your time; you have shared so much of your life to make our world a better place to live in. Rest, my dear friend, and let this longing be our challenge.
Let’s not make this as just another longing, but for all of us at Silliman to re-ignite this passion for Research, and be the salt of the academic community and the earth.
Ricardo Balbido Jr.
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Silliman University
