Don Julio O. Sy Sr. and Silliman awardees

“I have been waiting more than 60 years to say this: ‘Papa, Mama: I finally have a degree from Silliman University. It’s not just any degree... it’s a doctorate degree.’”

Those were words spoken from the heart of Dr. Julio O. Sy Sr., who was conferred a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, by Silliman University at fitting ceremonies at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce auditorium last week.

The conferment was a highlight in the 114th founding anniversary celebration of the university which also featured the awarding of three outstanding Silliman alumni who have made contributions in their fields here and abroad.

“I never graduated from college,” he said. “On my second year, my brother Susano and I had to stop schooling due to a financial crisis. My father’s business got burned so we had to drop out of school to help out financially for our family of nine.”

Dr. Sy recalled how tough life was: “As an 11-year-old during the Japanese occupation, we were so poor we could not afford to buy rice. Eating my favorite rice puto meant the world to me. I would wait along the sidewalks for cargo trucks loaded with rice to pass by. Back then rice was packed in jute bags and often grains would fall out from their gaping holes. I would sweep the dirt from the streets and patiently separate the grains to give to Mama for her to cook my rice puto.”

All of these experiences, according to Dr. Sy, 82, propelled him to persevere in life. Gifted with the skill in entrepreneurship and business, he was able to slowly lift the family’s business from financial instability and help people and contribute to the bigger community.

As his mother was a vital element in the family’s business success, so is Don Julio’s wife, Anicia, a dynamic and gracious lady who is the purse keeper.

“Who would have imagined my life would lead me to be in business dealing with food commodities I hungered for as a child: rice, corn, sugar and vegetable oils? No matter what circumstances you are born with, you should never stop dreaming. As I reflect, I am thankful I have achieved something in life. Entrepreneurship has been my calling. I have been blessed to use this talent to contribute to society and nation building,” he said.

He is described as the man with “the Midas touch.” Whatever he chooses to engage in becomes a success. He is into sugar milling (primarily Busco Sugar Milling Co. Inc., the second, if not the biggest, sugar milling company in the country), oil milling, shipping, real estate, banking, trading, and hotelry, among others.

Among his many awards are the Outstanding Sillimanian in Business, Outstanding National Citizen Award of the Philippines, Philippine National Red Cross Award, and National YMCA Award.

Dr. Sy cited three key virtues in his journey to success.

First is integrity. “Integrity is probably the biggest hallmark I have as a person. Success comes and goes; but integrity is forever. It means doing the right thing at all times no matter the circumstances. It means keeping your word and fulfilling your promises,” he said.

Second, hard work. “To succeed in life, there are no shortcuts. We must be willing to accept challenges and make extraordinary sacrifices to do great work.” 

The third, love and respect for people. “Treat everyone with equal respect no matter what their status in life is. As people have helped me when I had little, I have always tried to help as many as I could without any conditions.”

*      *      *

This year’s Outstanding Sillimanian Awards go to an engineer who is instrumental in upholding the high degree of integrity of the critical Mindanao power grid despite the power generation crisis, an internationally acclaimed performing artist with a nationalistic heart, and a legal luminary who is a staunch advocate for gender equality and women’s rights.

Engr. Emmanuel D. Abellanosa is the awardee in the field of Power and Energy Resources Engineering and Management; Miguel C. Braganza II in the Performing Arts, and lawyer Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon in Law.

They were honored with their respective medallions and plaques during a special convocation on Aug. 28, the university’s foundation day.

Engr. Emmanuel D. Abellanosa, obtained his BS in electrical engineering from Silliman in 1974.

He first worked as a junior electrical engineer-designer at Atlantic Gulf and Pacific, Inc., then considered the leading construction company in the Philippines. Three years later, he joined the National Power Corp., rising through the ranks to become the special assistant to the president. He was later assigned as area head and division manager of the North Central Mindanao Area in Cagayan de Oro City. When the NPC and the National Transmission Corp.  (Transco) were created as distinct institutions, he decided to stay with Transco and continued to manage its operations in North Central Mindanao. For his remarkable performance he was promoted to assistant vice president, a position he held until 2009. Currently, he serves as head of the Mindanao operations and maintenance of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

*      *      *

The 2015 OSA in the field of performing arts is Miguel C. Braganza II. He finished his BA in speech and theater arts at Silliman in 1978. He later pursued special training at the Julie Borromeo’s Dance Arts Foundation, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City, and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mike has figured prominently in both local and international productions. He was an original cast member of “Miss Saigon” on Broadway and joined its tour in Canada, North America, Germany, the United Kingdom and Portugal.

He has also shown his capability as a director and choreographer. He helped stage well-received productions such as “Filipinos in America,” “Danzfabrique,” “A Touch of Green,” and “Aurus Mindanao.” Even with his critical acclaim abroad, he remains grounded and steadily gives back to his community. His innate nationalism drove him to help organize Tanghalang Filipino in order to cultivate and share our Filipino culture and arts with the world. He founded Ballet Asia to help jumpstart the careers of young dance theater hopefuls in New York City.

Mike is currently with the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

*      *      *

Atty. Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, is the OSA in the field of law, particularly for her advocacy on gender equality and women’s rights.

The feisty, articulate lawyer is a commissioner at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

For six years, she served as city mayor of Cadiz. During her term, she instituted reforms that elevated her city from third to first class classification. Then she worked as chief of staff to two senators, further refining her experience in legislation and public service. A strong advocate of women’s rights and empowerment, she helped draft the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. She also served as commissioner at the Commission on Audit and a professor at the UP College of Law.

Daughter of Silliman graduates, Rowena finished her high school at Silliman in 1974. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in economics and later in law from the University of the Philippines in 1979 and 1984, respectively. She holds a graduate degree in public administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]