CPU Elementary School pupils raising their flaglets during a flag ceremony held at the University Flag Pole.
The commemoration of Independence Day comes in the second week of June, when classes have just started. It is a time to develop among the children, awareness of the significance of the flag and history of the Philippine independence.
Also known as “Araw ng Kalayaan” and “Araw ng Kasarinlan,” the Independence Day used to be celebrated on the 4th of July—on the same day that the Americans celebrate their Independence Day. Through Republic Act 4166, the day was changed from July 4 to June 12.
In preparation for this momentous occasion, the Central Philippine University conducts various activities such as parades and programs showcasing the beauty and resilience of the Filipino culture. Speakers from different sectors of the community are invited to share their insights and expertise on the significance of our Independence Day.
Even the CPU Kindergarten participates by making the Philippine flag during their art classes. The aim of which is to develop love and respect for our national flag even at an early age.
At CPU, continuing the tradition of Scientia et Fides is coupled with a profound love for country and a deep appreciation of being Filipino.
A flag ceremony to commemorate the Philippine Independence Day will be held at the University Flagpole on June 13, 2019.
The Bahandi Singers is testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness through music. On July 15, 2019, the Bahandi singers held a concert at the Rose Memorial Auditorium to celebrate their 40th Anniversary and to present their concert entitled, “Our Anchor Holds.”
“We move for a greater Central”, this clarion call for a march towards a greater and prestigious Central Philippine University by the University’s First Filipino President, Dr. Rex D. Drilon was again heard on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Central Philippine University Alumni Association of the Greater Toronto Area (CPUAAGTA) presented the Bahandi Singers in a fundraising concert for the benefit of the Association’s scholarship program for deserving students of CPU. The well-attended event gathered the alumni and friends of Central Philippine University in the Greater Toronto Area. It was held at the Burgundy Room of the North York Memorial Community Hall, City of Toronto.
The CPUGTAAA recognizes CPU’s vision towards Exemplary Christian Education for Life (EXCEL) thus it sponsors a Scholarship Program that gives opportunity to financially challenged but deserving students to continue their education at CPU.
The Bahandi Singers performed Filipino and Christian music and featured David T. Clydesdale arranged dramatic musical “Lead Me to the Cross”. The Bahandi Singers (in Canada) is led by Dr. Jose Denzil D. Daquiado, Musical Director and Alvia de Leon Magno, Musical Conductor. For the concert Cheryl Obregon served as the Stage Director and Edwin Arroz, Light and Sound Coordinator.
The Bahandi Singer during their Concert for a Cause at the Burgundy Room of the North York Memorial Community Hall, City of Toronto.
During the program Ms. Norma Van Dusen, President, CPUGTAA gave the Opening Remarks. Mr. Rod Gonzales, CPUGTAA Board of Director shared the purpose of the activity and the mission of the Bahandi Singers.
In an email to the members of the CPUGTAA a day after the concert, Ms. Van Dusen commented that it was, “a great success. We raised the much needed funds for the Scholarship Program for deserving students of CPU. The tickets were sold out and I wanted to say ‘a big thank you to all of you, for the attendees for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us. The sponsors and donors for the generous financial support as well as to those who donated their time – the volunteers, thank you.”’
She continued, “We could not have achieved the success of this event without the collaborative efforts of the planning members and executive officers, most of all the Bahandi Singers who spent countless hours practicing and preparing for this event. Thank you for the hard work, intense effort and the dedication by stepping up to volunteer your time, expertise, experience and best of all for lending your beautiful voices to the glory of CPU. Dr. Christine Lopez Daquiado who scoured the city for the appropriate venue, Rodney and Faith Gicana who worked at the printing and numbering of tickets and the printing of the programs and creating the video clips for sponsors and donors, thank you.” “The narrators, multimedia, videographer, and everybody who were all instrumental in making the event a success – thank you, we are all deeply appreciative of all the efforts. I am so proud of all of you, events like these depend on its members and friends for its success and the level of enthusiasm on the part of this group is amazing.”
To God be the glory for the love and support given by the CPUGTAA to CPU!
Trending in Western Visayas—The Central Philippine University website claimed the no. 1 spot in uniRank’s 2019 Western Visayas Ranking and League Tables. The University also placed 33rd in the top 50 overall country ranking. Only two educational institutions from Region VI entered the top 50—the other school being University of the Philippines-Visayas, which ranked no. 40.
In uniRank’s latest regional ranking, CPU bested the University of the Philippines-Visayas and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, which placed second and third respectively.
According to its website (https://www.4icu.org/about/index.htm#ranking): The aim of the uniRank University RankingTM is to provide an approximate global ranking of world universities and colleges based upon their web presence and popularity in terms of estimated traffic, trust/authority, and quality link popularity. This is especially intended to help international students and academic staff to understand how popular a specific higher education institution is in a foreign country.
uniRank (formerly 4icu.org or 4 International Colleges & Universities) is an international higher education directory, reviewing accredited universities and colleges in the world. uniRank includes 12,358 colleges and universities, ranked by web popularity, in 200 countries.
CPU’s ranking is credited to the internet activity of its students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Since the re-launch of the Centralian Link in 2016, the university website has been receiving a lot of traffic due to site visits, inquiries and shares, mostly from alumni and foreign students who wish to study in CPU. Over the years, traffic in the CPU website as well as in its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, has increased four times.
The Weekly Centralian Link, an online publication of the University, has connected Centralians all over the world, creating an online community of CPU graduates.
Every like, click, and share has increased the platform for the University to be globally known, not only to foreign students but to also to other educational institutions for future academic and cultural partnerships.
Apart from popularity, the greatest aim of these online platforms is to share Centralian stories of faith and excellence and let the Central Spirit shine on new platform, the social media.
Euphoria – Mr. Samuel Yap at the basecamp of Mt. Everest. Photo Credit: Mr. Samuel Yap
The glorious peaks of Mt. Everest kissed the horizon as rays of sunlight painted the freezing sky with the nostalgia of warmth. The scenic tundra was breathtaking, epic, and ethereal to the soul. However, for Samuel Yap, the one who deserves all the marvel and praise is the God of such splendor.
Together with 18 others, Yap reached the basecamp of Mt. Everest on April 28, 2019 after a 10-day journey.
A graduate of the CPU College of Nursing Batch 1985, Yap developed a passion for hiking at an early age; however, it was much later that this love affair blossomed into a commitment to adventure: “I’m from Antique and I used to climb the mountains there 40 years ago back in high school. But I was never as committed to it as I am now. I started taking hiking seriously at the age of 53.”
He shares that it all began in 2015 when a fellow Centralian invited him to a hike he would never forget: “Twenty-five years after graduating from CPU, a friend of mine, who is also a Centralian, invited me to Pico de Loro, [in Nasugbu, Batangas]. At first I thought we were going to the beach but to my surprise, we were going hiking. On our way down, rain fell, and there I tumbled down the mountain covered [in] mud and dirt.”
The fall didn’t discourage Yap—rather it was an epiphany to the then neophyte climber: “It was an awakening on my part. I realized that I love this kind of life—this thrill and this adventure is what I’ve been missing in my life.”
A year after, Yap resigned from his job at a New Jersey hospital to pursue his new passion: “The following year [after the Pico de Loro hike], I filed my resignation letter. Before the 24 hours was over, the management called me asking why I was quitting my job. They asked if I had any intention [of returning]; I said yes. So they gave an offer to be a seasonal employee—for six months I work as a nurse and for the next six months I climb mountains.”
After graduation, at the age of 23, Yap went to America to work as a nurse: “I was really [a workaholic] back then. I realize now that it’s not about the money—it’s about the memories that will last throughout your lifetime. Looking back [I thought to myself], why didn’t I hike in my 20s or in my 30s? But now, I just look forward to more memories and adventures.”
Mr. Samuel Yap together with CPU Office of Communications Director, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on.
During his stint as a nurse, Yap talked about how he always made sure to exemplify the Centralian brand of nursing excellence in his workplace: “Our training here in the university is really different from those in other countries. We have the confidence and experience to deal with difficult situations because of our [hospital immersion] as nursing students. As a Centralian nurse, I was always sure and confident with how I deal with my patients.”
Sharing a flashback of his stay in the university, Yap recalls being the only male graduate of Nursing Batch 1985 under the deanship of the late Natividad C. Caipang: “Our batch started with 350 nursing enrollees. There were only three boys. Four years later, our batch had 56 nursing graduates—I was the only male to graduate.”
At 56 years old, Yap has climbed 7 out of the 10 highest mountains in the country. The peak for him is always the next adventure—the additional testimony of God’s amazing grace in his life: “There is a sense of [fulfilment] when I reach the summit. I get teary-eyed with the view, the realization that with my age I still get to do what I love.”
For him, climbing Mt. Everest was not only a great blessing but an opportunity to encourage others to also climb and conquer whatever challenge or dream they have in their lives no matter what age they are: “Back then I was 285 pounds. I had 85% of my large intestines removed but it did not stop me from doing what I love the most. [It should also be the same for others]. I reconfigured my life and found happiness outdoors, climbing mountains despite my age. Age does not define or limit you.”
When asked about his favorite part of climbing Mt. Everest, Yap shares that it is the sense of fulfillment and amazement at God’s creation: “When we finally reached Mt. Everest, I [couldn’t] help but be amazed at God’s wisdom and creation. You just get this sense of amazement and appreciation of how beautiful His work is. Sometimes you question yourself how far you would go or where else you would go, but reaching the summit gives you the zen to pause and just appreciate life. You see the tip of the mountain and you ask yourself how far you still have to go but when you reach it, there is just this satisfaction at the effort and the hard work that makes the view more [breathtaking].”
On the other hand, Yap encourages his fellow Filipino hikers to also develop a love for our Philippine mountains and to exhibit social and environmental responsibility to help preserve our mountains for the next generation: “We have beautiful mountains here in our country. When it comes to natural resources and [scenic views], we are really blessed. But we need to develop responsibility [for] taking care of our mountains. We should practice proper waste management, and we should also respect our guides and treat them with accordingly.”
With Mt. Everest off his list, Yap hopes to climb more mountains and conquer more peaks not only for the pride of the country and of the university—but for the glory of God whose faithfulness reaches higher than the summit.
The university congratulates Mr. Jeremiah Joy Zaldivar Peniano for successfully passing the April 2019 technical evaluation for the upgrading as Professional Electrical Engineers given by the Board of Electrical Engineering.
Rebecca C. Tubongbanua showcasing McNester products. Photo Credit: McNester
Centralian entrepreneur Rebecca C. Tubongbanua is again a big winner in the Guimaras Manggahan Festival 2019. Tubongbanua has received awards from the Department of Tourism and the local government (LGU) of Guimaras.
Tubongbanua is the founder of the McNester Food Products, which process sweet Guimaras mangoes, calamansi juice, and other food products. It also brought Guimaras island province international recognition especially with their mango products.
Tubongbanua is recognized for her business acumen and expertise in food processing. Student entrepreneurs attend her motivational business lectures at the McNester factory in Buenavista, Guimaras. In these lectures, she also shares the essence of trust and recognizing that one is indebted to the Lord. She shared these principles last Saturday, May 18, 2019, when she was visited by the entrepreneurship class under Dr. Mario Tajanlangit of the CPU Doctor in Management program. Tubongbanua not only focused her discussion on entrepreneurship, but also on the idea of “Christ at the center of her business.” She attributed the following for her success:
The 9 Elements of Being an Entrepreneur
S – Self confidence
U – Untiring
B – Boldness
S – Skill
T – Tolerance
A – Attitude
N – Never gives up
C – Christ must be at the Center
E – Essence of encouragement
Tubongbanua was a Chemistry teacher at Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy in Guimaras before working as a domestic helper in Hongkong. She believed that this was how God provided her the opportunity to earn capital for the small enterprise she was planning to put up.
Tubongbanua was able to startup her business in 2003 with a modest capital of 7,000 pesos. She shared space at her sister’s house in Brgy. San Isidro, Buenavista, Guimaras. For her untiring efforts, she was able to provide employment for her community, as well as economic support to the indigents. Tubongbanua received the Magsasaka Syentista (MS) award from DOST.
She has since then built up the business. Developments included building a laboratory and a mixing and production plant as well as a product display area and a small audio-visual hall where lectures and demonstrations are held for entrepreneurs and guests.
Concepcion Vice Mayor elect and CPUAAI Concepcion Chapter Vice President Millard Villanueva (center) and CPUAAI Concepcion Chapter President Ninfa Zarriz Esteban (right) with host, Mr. Natividad in CPUTV’s Looking Forward.
Fresh from his victory as Vice Mayor-elect in the last mid-term elections, Millard Villanueva, the current Mayor of the Municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo, recalled his student days in CPU at CPU TV’s weekly public affairs program, Looking Forward. He remembered, among other things, how CPU prepared him to become the Centralian who would be Mayor and public servant of Concepcion. The Mayor especially recalled the Christ Emphasis Week: “The Christian fellowship has influenced my life in a manner that it [has] encouraged me to rely on God, practice integrity, and inculcate service in my career.”
Villanueva finished his high school in 1970 and earned his BS Electrical Engineering degree in 1975, both at CPU.
After working in the corporate world for a while, Villanueva ran for office as a municipal councilor of Concepcion. Due to his exemplary performance and contribution to the development and progress of the municipality, the people of Concepcion voted him as Mayor after six years as councilor. For three consecutive terms, Mayor Villanueva was able to increase the municipal revenue, implement infrastructure projects and create livelihood for his constituents. He implemented valuable projects for a sustainable industry, such as fishing, in the coastal town of Concepcion.
Villanueva is currently the Vice President of the CPUAAI Concepcion Chapter. He was a guest in Looking Forward last Wednesday, May 22, 2019, along with Ninfa Zarriz Esteban, President of the CPUAAI Concepcion Chapter, With Esteban and Villanueva leading a newly inducted alumni chapter, Centralians can look forward to an active civic-oriented alumni chapter.
The PACUCOA Accrediting Team with CPU administrative officials, faculty and staff.
The Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Higher Education (PACUCOA) held an orientation on accreditation at the CPU Knowledge for Development Center, Henry Luce III Library on Monday, May 20, 2019. The event was led by Dr. Belen Tanco, Chairperson, of the accrediting team. She was accompanied by seven other members of the accreditation commission. Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Rev. Joniel Howard H. Gico, Vice President for Student Affairs, attended the event along with several department heads of the University.
On behalf of Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, University President, Dr. Rio delivered the opening remarks. He acknowledged that the goal of seeking accreditation is stated in the COE (Center of Excellence) and COD (Center of Development), both of which CPU has achieved.
The PACUCOA Accrediting Team answers queries from CPU faculty and staff.
Dr. Tanco, in her message, emphasized the benefits of accreditation as the furtherance of excellence, the allocation of resources, and the provision of society with reliant information. According to Dr. Tanco, the institution initiates innovative and modern methods of pedagogy: “On the other hand, accreditation leads the institution to identify areas of planning and allocating its resources; provides society with reliable information on the quality education offered, and provides employees reliable information on the quality of education offered to prospective recruits.”
The attendees agreed that accreditation is the formal recognition of an educational program or an institution as possessing a high level of quality or excellence based on the analysis of the merits of its educational operation.
Prof. Anna Mae B. Cantel is the coordinator of the CPU Knowledge Development Center.
The University is now accepting nominations for the search of the Grand Alumni Homecoming Queen 2020.
To know more about the guidelines please click here.
Search for a cause – 100% of the proceeds of the search of the Grand Alumni Homecoming Queen 2020 will be go to university projects namely: the, Nursing Virtual Laboratory Phase 1, the Nursing Virtual Laboratory Phase 2, ECG/EKG Machine for Medical Clinic and an Anatomage Table for the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science.
The Grand Alumni Homecoming 2020 will be held at the CPU Campus on February 5-9, 2020.
A time for rekindling friendships and recalling fond memories, the Grand Alumni Homecoming will be a celebration of God’s faithfulness to the university and of the ties that have united Centralians all over the globe.
Come home to CPU and be part of this momentous occasion!
For questions and inquiries please don’t hesitate to contact us at:
e-mail: homecoming@cpu.edu.ph
contact numbers (CPU Alumni Office): (033) 329 2904 or 329-1971 to 329-1979 loc. 1033
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