It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!
Why is it that the thought of happy carefree days always brings us back to our student life in Silliman? Why is it that the strongest alumni groups are the high school batches?
President Ben Malayang opined that it is probably because it was the “coming of age” of most teenagers, confronted with the challenges of growing up and tough school work, and coping with the rest of the classmates was the most natural thing to do.
After four years of going through it all, with joyful tears and tearful joys, the bond lasts for a lifetime.
The same thing can be said of all the college alumni groups especially at the College of Nursing.
For those who were in Silliman in the 1970s, there was a big difference in atmosphere before and after Martial Law.
Dumaguete is such a rural bucolic place, not many understood why it was the bastion of activism and active opposition to the Marcos dictatorship.
There were Marcos loyalists, but they were very few, and outshouted by the young believers, advocating change for a better quality of life.
When there was an impending oil price increase, the students were ready with placards, marching, demonstrating, and making their view known at the amphitheater.
For lack of other things to do, the music played in between reflected the struggle, songs of liberation and awareness of social issues, like the songs composed locally, coupled with that of James Taylor, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Apo, and many artists who spoke against fascism and environment degradation.
Against this backdrop were the unforgettable images of campus sweethearts strolling hand in hand, under the acacias, at the boulevard, munching peanuts, and sharing a snack at the cafeteria.
Fraternities and sororities, campus organizations made life colorful and exciting, for almost everyone was involved in community outreach activities.
Many young leaders then grew up and became national figures, and even at a young age, they already showed sparks of their genius and leadership like the University President Ben Malayang III. At that time, no one expected him to become University President, probably, even he himself never dreamed he would one day come back and lead the University. After all, he had better pastures to explore both here and abroad.
But the tug of life back in the campus was probably just too hard to resist.
For those who grew up in campus and the dormitories, this was a training exercise for life in the real world. You meet all kinds of people, like they say, the good, the bad, and the ugly. One would probably laugh to himself, remembering the roommate who borrowed almost everything except a toothbrush; the one who is a piggy, the strict matron who did not like noise, the one who sang out of tune, etc. But it was all worth it, everyone just had to grin and bear it.
For one who comes from the rural area, Silliman was like a melting pot of the world, Thais, Japanese, Iranians, Africans, Americans, who came and mixed with the locals that they were mistaken for locals.
And so there were mix romances, like Jay marrying Javed who now comes back to have their own daughter have her wedding in the presence of relatives and friends.
Why this place of all places? Because it was here where for them everything started, and many years after, they are back to the place where they are most happy.
The same thing can be said of many other campus romance. Students who found their lifetime partners in campus, and are back to live those moments all over again. Yes, as one approaches the senior years, the campus situates the heart where it is most happy. This is where HAPPY happens.
When Martial Law was declared, the age of innocence was replaced by the atmosphere of fear. As there were night raids in the dorms, with military picking up professors and students for the simple fact of possessing textbooks about Marxism and politics.
Almost everyone knew of someone who had to flee, or who had been arrested for sporting long hair, or for no visible reason whatsoever.
Who can forget the barbwire which started to be placed around the campus, now looking like Stalag 19. There were no classes and the campus was the last one to be opened nationwide.
This is why FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, once it is lost, it is when you will surely miss it. One cannot put in words the feeling of learned helplessness as one copes by “dancing with the wolves,” so to speak.
How can you argue with the Man with the Gun? This is when one truly appreciates the novel Animal Farm, and why pigs are pigs.
This is the reason why we say: NEVER AGAIN! Let us not forget, and make a commitment to foster the principles of democracy by being active and responsible citizens.
Today with the Tipon 2013, an international event, the alumni sipirit is alive and well, for there are many who are attending from abroad, and this is co-chaired by Engr. Elizabeth Merto Engle, HS’58. Beth is a member of High School Class of 1958 and as a class, is too modest to acknowledge that they are model alumni.
They have just finished the circumferential road in the high school area. To finance the project were generous donations of their classmates who have grateful hearts, and fond memories, now doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, businessmen, etc. led by Alex Sy as president.
The implementor is Danny Dionaldo who made it all happen, with the full support of Engr. Alquist Arzaga, Dr. Maria Salud Kho, Atty. Francisco Yap, and all their classmates who never fail to share their time and resources.
This road project is a monument to their collective loyalty to the University. Like the Silliman song:
“Loyal may we be to Silliman, here’s cheer voice three time three!”
Welcome home, alumni and friends.
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Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
