by Keziah G. Huelar
Judith Biti Kaomae and Zari Pilapil share a smile with a Centralian.
Isle de Solomon is a sovereign country found in the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. Named after King Solomon, this island is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna that is globally recognized. Lush jungles, outstanding tropical vegetation and climate, it is a paradise of clear waters and green scenery – a feast for the eyes.
Because of the ecological wealth of the island, Edmond Walasi from Honoria (the capital of the country) developed a passion of studying and learning the agriculture of his country. According to him, his interest began when he read the Book of Genesis in the Bible. “When God created the heavens and the earth, He created plants and animals. In reading the Book of Genesis, I developed an interest to learn about God’s creation, to take care of it and to use what I learn to help others.”
Solomon Islands enrollee, Martin Laore, posing at the CPU football field.
After graduating with a degree in Agriculture at the University of the South Pacific, Edmond taught at Selwyn College National Secondary School and shared his passion in agriculture. Being a teacher made him realize that there is so much more to learn about agriculture, thus he pursued greater heights for his education.
His love for agriculture brought him 4,920 kilometers away from his home city and into the portals of Central Philippine University to study Masters of Science in Agriculture. When asked where and how he heard about CPU, Edmond shares that Mr. Mauro Somodio, the Vice President of the CPU Federation of Overseas Alumni Association Australasia Chapter, through Facebook sent him information and pictures of the university. “Mr. Mauro Somodio is a great advertiser of CPU. He sent us pictures, videos and information about CPU that made us like the university. I was also encouraged to study in CPU because they offered Masters in Agriculture.”
Edmond Walasi will be taking up Masters of Science in Agriculture in CPU.
Together with seven other people from the Solomon Islands, Edmond will be taking up academic courses in the university; six of them will be taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and one will be studying Bachelor of Arts in Nursing. Edmond shares that they are very excited to attend their classes and know more about the Centralian experience. “The CPU campus is very beautiful. The people are friendly, I am excited to have my classes and learn more about agriculture and Filipino culture.”
For Edmond, education is a crucial tool in developing communities and in improving lives. “My grandparents told me that we need to eat food for our brain – our education is our life and I came here to learn more about agriculture and when I go back to Solomon Islands I will use what I learn to start a farming business and help others.”
Edmond shares that there are cultural similarities and differences between Filipino and Solomon Island culture but he believes both can learn from each other. He emphasizes that despite diversity of culture, it is our faith that unites us. “I believe in the universal culture of Jesus Christ, our faith is what makes us the same with one another. If we follow the universal culture of Jesus, we will learn how to respect, how to be kind and how to help one another.”
For the next four years, Edmond and his friends will be staying at Central Philippine University. Here, they will be learning new things, developing their passions and realizing their dreams. Here, they will experience Centralian friendships and stories to share. Here they are at home.
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