Silliman’s first female president

Silliman University installed its first woman president, Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann,  in a solemn turnover ceremony on June 1 at the Silliman University Church. She will be invested on Aug. 25, during the 117th founding anniversary of the university.

The SU board of trustees unanimously elected Dr. McCann on Dec. 14, 2016 as the university’s 13th president, following a comprehensive search process. She succeeds Dr. Ben Malayang III, a renowned environmental policy expert who led the university for 12 years.

Dr. McCann, a registered psychologist and certified specialist in social psychology, was vice president for programs of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia for six years, a New York-based not-for-profit organization, until her optional retirement in 2013.

Her stint with the UBCHEA in Hong Kong began in 2002 as associate director of its Asian Christian Higher Education Institute. She later became program director of the UBCHEA for South Asia. Her last engagement as vice president involved programs and grant administration in 13 Asian countries, where the UBCHEA works with over a hundred colleges and universities.

Prior to her engagement at the UBCHEA, Dr. McCann served Silliman for 21 years in different capacities in the areas of instruction, research, community engagement, and administrative work. She rose through the ranks to full professor in 1994. She was the psychology department chairperson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, then vice president for academic affairs for two terms. From 1992 to 1994, she headed Silliman as acting president. 

She taught psychology and political science in 1970 at the Divine Word College in Legazpi City. In 1972, she served as chairperson of the psychology department and later, as founding director of the Social Science Research Center at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City.

Dr. McCann holds a doctorate degree in psychology (social psychology) from the Ateneo de Manila University and an MA in education (major in guidance counseling) from La Consolacion College. She completed a double-major undergraduate degree in psychology and political science, magna cum laude, from the Divine Word University in Tacloban City.

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This year’s Outstanding Silliman Awardees are Dr. Celan Alo, Dr. Leorey Salaigan, and Mariano Lao.

“Making the IMPOSSIBLE… POSSIBLE,”an inscription etched in one of Dr. Alo’s award plaques sums up his achievements in the field of medical and epidemiologic  research. Dr. Alo finished high school and  his bachelor of science at Silliman. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the  Cebu Institute of Medicine in 1978. He holds a master of public health degree obtained  from the University of Illinois in 1996. He has been a career government servant in the field of public health both in the Philippines and the United States. He started working as a public health physician in his hometown of Nasipit, Agusan after graduation from medical school and passing the medical licensure. In the United States, he was the medical epidemiologist for the Illinois Department of Public Health in Springfield, Illinois from 1986-1997, the Texas Department of Health in Austin, Texas from 1997 thru 2004, and the US Air Force from 2004 until his retirement in 2016.

Dr. Alo’s supporters nominated him for the OSA because his “knowledge and experience on the protection of human subjects in research are quite extensive.” He completed a training program on the protection of human participants with yearly recertification. He was very meticulous  in the preparation of research protocols especially in the selection of participants for a study sponsored by the National Commission called the Belmont Report. The Texas Department of Health did recognize his thorough knowledge and experience when he was appointed member of the Institutional Review Boards.”

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Dr. Leorey Saligan, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, finished the BS medical technology course at Silliman in 1988, his BS in nursing at Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro, his masters in family nursing at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, where he also obtained his PhD in family nursing.

In  the US, he started as staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Odessa Medical Center in Texas in 1995, then moved up to his present position as chief, Symptoms Biology Unit, IRP, NINR, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. Since 2009, he has won at least 13 awards, the latest of which is the Exceptional Proficiency Promotion  to Captain, OSG, USPHS, DHHS, Washington DC. He is author and/or co-author of more than 100 articles, reviews, commentaries, and chapters published in medical journals and books.

Dinah Penaflorida, MPH, MSN, RN writes that Leo is “the only Asian and the only male scientist in the intramural program (IRP) of the National Institute of Nursing Research. In fact, he is the only Filipino tenured or tenure-track investigator in the NIH IRP. He was also recognized as an Outstanding Nurse by the Philippine Heritage Institute International. With this honor, he is a well sought-out scholar globally. His generosity in sharing his expertise with his mentees and to other schools of nursing globally is well attested. The fellows who graduated from his laboratory have become successful professionals in their chosen fields, e.g., medicine, dentistry, psychology, and nursing.”

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Mariano Lao finished at Silliman’s high school class of 1957. He has no bachelor or master’s degrees. But he is president of Packaging Standard Philippines, Stanpak Import-Export Inc., and Sunshine Sports Product Inc. and of Villa Marinelli.

Among his awards are the Golden Shell Award presented by the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Order of Horace Brinsmade Silliman Award. Dr. James Laya, chair and president of Philtrust Bank, writes of Lao,  a high school graduate,  rising “from adversity and embarking on a career that progressed from being a homeless laborer to outstanding salesman, and eventually a multi-awarded, pioneering and highly successful entrepreneur  and business leader. He was among the first handicraft exporters to Europe, in the process contributing to employment, revival of the handicraft industry provincial development, international relationships, and to Philippine foreign exchange reserves. Even as his focus was on business and exports, (he) developed an  interest in culture and the arts, building a notable art collection that he shares with the public through museum loans and gifts to institutions including  Silliman University.”

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In celebration of Silliman University’s 117th Founder’s Day, an exciting program featuring non-traditional games like Sumo Ramball, Monster Volleyball and Ninja Obstacle Course will be held at the East Quadrangle in Dumaguete City.

Organized by DTC Promos, the country’s leading events and activations agency and presented by Lenovo in cooperation with the Manila Bulletin, the half-day event is expected to gather some 500 alumni mixed with Filipino and foreign students from various campus organizations to take on specially designed challenges that will test their speed, agility, endurance, creativity and teamwork.

This event was started in 2001 as the Alumni Games organized by Silliman alumnus and veteran adman Ed Dames as his gift to his alma mater. “We wanted to make our Founder’s Day more inclusive. The Game is a multi-sensory program that the participants will surely remember.”

Hosted by Abi Paco, the SU Family Games is supported by Skycable Dumaguete, Metropost, Four C Gym, Maria Luisa Suites, Cana, Hayahay, San Miguel Brewery, Above Beauty Hub, RUSI Motorcycles (one unit will be raffled off during the event) and JPL Cargo Freight Services.

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