Silliman meets Silliman

Sometimes, the journey towards the future starts by revisiting the past. It is dawn as I bask in the silence and reverence of  the Silliman University Church in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. As the sun rises, light streaks through the same colored windows as they have for over a century now. It makes me nostalgic to realize that way back in 1901, there was one compassionate and persistent benefactor by the name of Horace B. Silliman who believed that Dumaguete deserved to have a great institution of learning. Although there was some reluctance from other parts of the country, it was here in the “City of Gentle People” that this philanthropist’s contribution of $10,000 proved to be the heroic seed that produced many great minds in different fields of excellence.

From its humble beginnings of 15 male students armed with only basic amenities, enrollment in the protestant-run institution grew. By 1938, Silliman Institute was granted university status and continues to edify higher learning both for Filipinos and foreign students to this day.

A trip back here, this time with winsome couple Reesa and Justin Silliman, was a very meaningful sojourn. Justin married my childhood friend Reesa Tesoro-Guerrero in the United States two years ago and we had planned a visit to Silliman University so Justin could trace his roots, his heritage that he was very eager to learn about.

It isn’t every day that one ventures to a land blessed with so much favor — seas teeming with a magical marine life, lush mountains and verdant forests, waterfalls, dolphins and whale sharks that gracefully navigate the crystal-clear waters. In this blessed setting, nature is cared for immensely and a vibrant economy exists where business process outsourcing centers gravitate. As if that wasn’t enough, the pursuit of academic excellence is highly prioritized here. If America considers Boston as its university town, having the greatest concentration of schools in one area, Dumaguete is referred to as one of the top university towns in the Philippines.

Our gregarious group, Jamaican Consul Miguel Guerrero, his loving wife Alice Tesoro Guerrero, the Silliman couple, our dear friend Pamboy Pastor and I recently visited Dumaguete. Worthy of note: Tito Mike and Tita Alice Guerrero celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few nights before our trip. The memorable journey was a celebration with much significance, adventure and challenge.

In the well-appointed Cebu Pacific terminal, we found out that our flight was cancelled due to stormy weather in Dumaguete. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because besides our safety being ensured, I was able to attend my weekly Bible study and my sister Jaqui agreed it is always a blessing to be refreshed by God’s word.

At the Dumaguete airport, my dear friend Annabelle Lee-Adriano met us and presented our itinerary for the weekend over a hearty lunch at Kri Restaurant, owned by couple Ritchie and Iris Armogenia and located near Silliman University. We savored a delicious lunch of artichoke and spinach dip, bruschetta gamberitas, truffle bleu cheese burger, chicken chips, salmon tempura with spring rolls and delicious carrot cake and pumpkin pie. Annabelle shared that the highlights of our visit would include a stay at Antulang Beach Resort, which her family owns, a day trip to the marine-rich Apo Island, a visit to Silliman University where we would meet the university president Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, a gala concert at the Luce Auditorium of world-famous opera singer of Filipina descent Clarissa Ocampo, sightseeing at Rizal Boulevard where Dr. Jose Rizal spent quality time before his exile to Dapitan, and sampling the city’s specialties, silvanas and sansrival. An additional treat would be the opportunity to swim with the gentle giants, the whale sharks in nearby Oslob, Cebu.

Coconut plantations and expansive rice fields met our gaze as we made our way to Antulang Beach Resort where the tropical breeze lulls you to slumber. A cruise down Tambobo Bay with the luxurious yachts berthed in the natural harbor and a most scintillating sunset between the dramatic mountain range that straddles the watery landscape were sights to behold.
 Antulang, perched on clifftop promontories overlooking the sea, is paradise revisited. Here, one will luxuriate in its villas with private pools, swimming pools all over the property, comfortable beds, delectable cuisine and well-appointed bathrooms.

Annabelle is a voracious reader and has created a wonderful library named after the well-respected National Artist for Literature Edith Tiempo. With over 5,000 books, Antulang is literally the most overbooked resort in Asia — with every title at their guests’ disposal.  Annabelle shared that, very soon, the newest addition to her collection will be a coffee table book titled Handulantaw: Celebrating 50 Years of Culture and the Arts in Silliman University. The book will feature exemplary alumni like National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, Edilberto and Edith Tiempo and Junix Inocian.

We cruised to Apo Island, a 72-hectare volcanic rock sanctuary, on Antulang’s private trimaran, named Annabelle Lee. The habitat around the island is a protected marine reserve. Scuba diving and snorkeling showcase eclectic vistas of carpets of corals and mesmerizing reef fish.

From Antulang, we took an early morning trip to Oslob to swim with the remarkable leviathans — the whale sharks. It took 20 minutes by ferry to go from the port of Amlan, Negros Oriental to Oslob. These harmless creatures overwhelmed Justin as he snorkeled right next to their colossal bodies. As their massive meter-wide mouths took gulps of teeming plankton, one realizes even more how endearing these rare and gentle giants truly are.

A warm welcome for the Silliman couple and entourage ensued at Silliman University that afternoon. Moses Atega and Annabelle Lee-Adriano were among the alumni who met us at the Robert B. & Metta J. Silliman library. Here, we scrutinized the various photos and memorabilia of the founder of Silliman University. Justin shared his ancestry registry that traces the genealogy to the fourth generation. He is directly related to Robert Silliman and his wife Metta. They were also benefactors of the institution of learning that turned out to be one of the best in the country for several decades and, until now, it has not lost its renown. Their impact on the university was so great that the library was named after them. It was a touching moment to witness how one finds his heritage in a land thousands of miles away from his home. In this poignant connection, there is a sense of overwhelming joy, peace, fulfillment and a real sense of belonging.
    

The Dumaguete City sojourn was an encounter with heritage, the glorious past and the familial background of our newfound friend, Justin Silliman. Justin was so impressed with the way Silliman University was laid out. He was reminded of the ivy league schools in the States like Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale. In fact, the alma mater song of Silliman, written by Dr. Paul Doltz, is an adaptation or modification of The Orange and the Black song of Princeton University, Dr. Doltz’s alma mater. The Silliman hymn defines the Silliman university experience, the students’ triumphs and trials in life and the highly valued principles that the graduate inculcates here.

 The weekend was capped with the concert of opera singer Clarissa Ocampo at the university’s Luce Theater. I was brought to tears just listening and watching her sing Italian opera classics, Habanera from Carmen, Barbra Streisand’s As If We Never Said Goodbye, and Your Daddy’s Son from Ragtime. I remembered how my mom, Milagros Salgado Dayrit, who was a concert pianist and opera singer, would perform these songs for our family and friends.

The Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium is a cultural gem where students, alumnae and residents of the city can watch cultural plays, concerts and performances by top artists in the country and the world. Season passes are available at very affordable rates.

Justin vowed to return to Silliman to make his annual ode to his ancestry. Indeed, many times, the journey towards the future starts with revisiting the past.

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Cebu Pacific Airways flies to Dumaguete daily, for bookings call 702-0888. For more information about Antulang Beach Resort e-mail info@antulang.com or call (63-35) 422-2600 / 225-8899.

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E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.