“Paskwa at Central” – a night filled of fun, food and friendship.
There is a story about a teacher who arrived in his class where the students have started to make much noise. He knew that he would be giving them a difficult exam that day. There were some students who anticipated the exam negatively, setting an atmosphere of reservation and uncertainty in the classroom. The teacher moved in front of the class and with a piece of chalk wrote, “I can’t.” Students howled in reaction to what he wrote. Then he asked, “What will you do to pass my exam?” A long moment of silence passed, but no positive reaction came from the class. Then from a seat at the back, a quiet boy went to the board and erased the apostrophe and the letter T. The whole class stood up to see what was written on the board this time and in a chorus read, “I can.”
As we welcome the new year, let us set aside who we are, where we come from, what belief and principles we have, whether we are rich or poor, of higher or lower educational achievements. For whatever desire or plan we need to achieve in 2018, none of those I mentioned is the greatest factor in gaining success. Many popular, rich, and powerful people in history have, in later years, landed in jail, committed suicide, or have become unpopular.
Success, or the lack of it, may be attributed to faith and commitment. It is a matter of mind-set combined with faith in God and a belief in one’s capacity. But above all, let us accept Jesus in our lives for only he can provide us the strength and perseverance, and will make us able. In the Bible, we are reminded by the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary, “With God, nothing is impossible.”
Let us usher in the new year with a heart of thanksgiving, expectant of a higher and greater Central.
Happy New Year!
The word “year” in Hebrew is shanah. It has three meanings in the original root word:
1. Division of time
2. To repeat, do the same
3. To change, alter
Will this 2018 be just a passing of time? Will the coming year be just a repetition of the past years? Or will 2018 be a year when we will change for the better?
We would often hear the word change. It is so broad that the one who wants to change does not know where to begin. For those who profess to be Christians, the answer is straightforward: We want to be like Jesus. Like Paul, we too should say “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
If we want to pattern our lives to that of Jesus, then we need to see the pattern. Where can we see this pattern? The Bible. If this is so, then the resolution to change and to pattern our lives to that of Jesus involves our commitment to read the Bible and reflect on what is written there. The ethical question WWJD—What Would Jesus Do—can be answered if we read and understand the Bible.
If reading the Bible is not yet in your New Year’s resolution, then please put it there and start reading. When you make a reflection, start asking questions about what God wants to change in your life through the passages that you have read. Pray for it and ask for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, you have made a commitment to change for the better. The Greek word “power” in relation to the Holy Spirit is dunamis which means “able” and “can do.” This tells us that when the Holy Spirit empowers us, we are able to do the things that we thought we were not able to do. Our mentality of “I can’t” is changed to “I can.”
This year should not just be a passing of time or a repetition of the last year but a commitment to change and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Happy New Year everyone from the CPU Office of Communications!
CPU faculty and staff showcase their talent in singing and dancing during the “Paskwa sa Central 2017.”
Charles Dickens’ popular novel “A Christmas Carol” has given a literary account of Christmas through the eyes of the old Scrooge who was later on transformed into a joyful character after having been visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and of the Christmas Yet to Come. This tale brings into our consciousness that we can discover the reasons why we celebrate Christmas through our own account and experience.
Christmas, being one of the most beloved holidays for Filipinos, gathers families near and far. It ushers in the holiday spirit of cheer, goodwill, forgiveness, and generosity as we celebrate the greatest gift given to humanity—the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
From Dickens’ tale, we learn that each Christmas celebration we spend with friends and family adds to the long list of Christmas lessons that can make us wiser throughout the years.
Christmas is indeed a grand celebration but it is no more important than how we celebrate each day of our lives filled with God’s blessing and faithfulness. Thus all year round, we should have Christmas in our hearts. Every year we should out-give ourselves. We should be as generous, as kind, as forgiving, and as faithful the entire year as we are on Christmas. Every Christmas should be a testimony of how we will strive more to be like Christ to both our friends and enemies. The Christmas spirit should stand against despair and hopelessness as we come to celebrate not only the birth of Christ but of His promises that we will live life to the fullest, that He will be our protector and aid, that we will be more than conquerors because through Him who loved us—and that will only happen if we have Jesus in our hearts; if we choose Him over fear, worry and doubt every day of our lives.
Let us celebrate Christmas all year round. Let us be like Scrooge, who, after full realization said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year. I will live in the past, present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director, CPU Office of Communications received a plaque of appreciation from the HER committee.
During his talk at the Hopevale Education Reformation Conference in honor of the 74th Anniversary of the Hopevale martyrdom and the 500thAnniversary of the Protestant Reformation at Filamer Christian University, Roxas City, Capiz on December 19, 2017, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director of the CPU Office of Communications, shared four lessons Baptists can learn from the Reformation, and the Renaissance.
It was on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther sent a letter that included the 95 Theses to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther also nailed these Theses disputing the practice of indulgences. According to Rev. Jalando-on, Baptists are sons and daughters of the Reformation and the Renaissance.
The first lesson was ecclesia reformata semper reformanda (“the reformed church must always be reformed”) or always reforming. “We must not stop reforming. We must acknowledge that we are all a work in progress, and that we must allow God to work in and through us.”
The second lesson was, “challenge tradition, challenge everything. What are the things in our denomination (Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches) that we need to challenge? We need to challenge the tradition of the principle of local autonomy which has caused dissention among us.”
The third point was cogito ergo sum (“your mind is the limit”). “Rene Descartes coined the saying, ‘I think, therefore I am.’ This means that we must not blindly accept what is before us. We must continue to dig deeper and learn more.”
And the last point was, “explore beyond borders. This started the exploration of the world. This means that we must go out of our comfort zones. Because of this, the missionary movement was once again reborn. This is the reason why Christianity came to the Philippines.”
Rev. Job Santaigo leads the prayer during the 74th Anniversary of the Hopevale martyrs.
On December 20, 1943, 74 years ago, 11 American Baptist missionaries and a little boy were executed by the Japanese soldiers. Twenty months before their martyrdom, these 11 missionaries chose not to surrender but evacuated to Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz where they found a hide-out in the mountains which they called “Hopevale.” They even built an open-air chapel, the “Cathedral in the Glen.” This Cathedral in the Glen became an enduring symbol in that many replicas were made in the United States and in the Philippines to immortalize their martyrdom.
Remembering the lives of the martyrs by inspiring the next generation through their legacy. Rev. Jerson B. Narciso, CPBC General Secretary, Dr. Melvin Mangana, Director, Capiz Immanuel Hopsital, Rev. Job Santiago, Chair, Capiz Emannuel Hospital and Dr. George Cortel, President, Filamer Christian University offer a wreath of flowers during the 74th Anniversary of the Hopevale martyrs.
In celebration of the 74th anniversary of their martyrdom, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and its member institutions (Central Philippine University, Filamer Christian University, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital) held a memorial service on December 20, 2017 at the Hopevale Garden near the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital.
A hymn written by Rev. Dr. Francis Howard Rose, one of the martyrs, prophesied his martyrdom for the faith. Rose is remembered as a talented composer of most of the Central Songs, the designer of the CPU seal, and the one who coined the term “Central Spirit.”
Martyr’s Hymn by Francis Howard Rose
(To the tune of “Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak”)
All human progress up to God
Has stained the stairs of time with blood;
For every gain for Christendom
Is bought by someone’s martyrdom.
For us he poured the crimson cup,
And bade us take and drink it up.
Himself he poured to set us free.
Help us, O Christ, to drink with thee.
Ten thousand saints come thronging home,
From lion’s den and catacomb.
The fire and sword and beasts defied;
For Christ, their King, they gladly died.
With eye of faith we see today
That cross-led column wind its way
Up life’s repeated Calvary.
We rise, O Christ, to follow Thee!
We remember the Hopevale martyrs:
Jennie Clare AdamsCharma Marie Moore CovellJames Howard CovellDorothy Antoinette DowellSigne Amelia EricksonFrederick Willer Meyer
Ruth Violet Schacht MeyerFrancis Howard RoseGertrude Hazleton Coombs RoseErle Frederick RoundsLouise Beulah Cummings RoundsErle Douglas Rounds
Dr. Domingo J. Diel, member of the CPU Board of Trustees encourages the participants to emulate the life of the martyrs.
Celebrating the 74th Anniversary of the Hopevale martyrs and the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Domingo J. Diel, Jr., Member, CPU Board of Trustees, and Centralians Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director of the CPU Office of Communications; Dr. Liza B. Lamis, newly elected new Executive Secretary of the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin; and Rev. Dr. Melvin Mangana, Director of the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, shared their knowledge and expertise during the “HER: Hopevale. Education. Reformation,” A Church People’s Conference at Filamer Christian University, Roxas City, Capiz on December 18-20, 2017.
The talk was organized for several reasons. The first was to reflect on the 500 years that has passed since Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation; another was to speak on matters of faith and culture in the modern times, and to remember the martyrdom of Hopevale missionaries. The event was also to gather CBMA affiliated ministers, to cater to their need of continuing theological education on the specific topic of Protestant Reformation and CPBC heritage and history, to organize a CPBC dialogue regarding pastoral skills that are most needed in the existing theological seminaries, and to inspire the apt reformer in each participant and challenge them to address areas in their life and relationships that need reformation. The talk was also a prelude the 75th year anniversary of the martyrdom at Hopevale next year.
In his opening address, Dr. Diel highlighted the importance of remembering the lives of men and women whose faith has inspired the present believers. He also encouraged the participants to emulate the lives of those who have both died and lived for Christ.
Participants of the Hopevale Education Reformation share insights during a group session. Remembering the life of the Martyrs, exemplifying their faith through practice.
Rev. Jalando-on’s talk focused on the challenge of Reformation. He encouraged every Baptist to pursue his or her faith with passion and perseverance and not merely adhere to what is popular or accustomed. He also shared lessons and reflections on the Reformation and Renaissance of the Baptist denomination throughout history.
Dr. Lamis talked about the importance of Reformation in education. She shared that education is an essential tool to reformation and vice versa—one should work hand in hand with the other to pursue faith grounded in knowledge, wisdom, and in obedience to Christ.
On the other hand, Dr. Mangana encouraged the participants to be firm believers and to have a heart for others by serving Christ not only through the church but also through the everyday purpose God has given to each and every one. He also emphasized that as a Christian, one should not forsake the basics, that is, “going back to the Bible.”
The conference was organized by the Pastoral Placement, Theological Education, and Ministerial Concerns (PPTEMC) department of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC). The Director of PPTEMC is Pastor Jec Dan S. Borlado, and the General Secretary of the CPBC is Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso. Both of them are also Centralians. CPBC is planning a bigger celebration next year for the 75th Anniversary of the Hopevale Martyrdom and it will be held at Central Philippine University.
CPU is a 24-hectare campus situated in the heart of Panay Island.
The campus of Central Philippine University is known for its cool environment and old buildings constructed in the early 1900’s. Some of them were chosen as local heritage or legacy buildings by the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council. The buildings are surrounded by manicured lawns, lush green bushes, and flowering plants. The beautiful landscape spans 24-hectares, a property bought by the American Baptist missionaries through a grant given by John D. Rockefeller, an American Baptist philanthropist.
It is interesting to walk through the campus avenues and road networks. Along the Anahaw road is a well-laid Centennial Walkway paved with glazed outdoor tiles made through the generous support of the CPU Alumni. This was inaugurated last 2005 during the centennial year of CPU. The walkway stretches through the length of the Anahaw Road, bordered by iron grill fences. The Engineering Alumni Association had started extending the pavement along the road across the Roblee and Franklin Halls. Four gazebos stand like sentry outposts in the four corners of the Football Field; one is located across Weston Hall, the other stands opposite Roblee Hall, while the other two gazebos are located at each end of the Centennial Nuñez Garden across the University Church and the Kindergarten School.
Several structures other than the gazebos are enjoyed by visiting alumni and friends, students, and CPU employees and families. The Prayer Garden near the Henry Luce III Library is a solemn place of prayer and solace. The place is also conducive for study like any other corner in the campus. It is refreshing to sit on one of the benches and commune with God and nature. Around are green bushes, flowers and trees. These attributes were part of the consideration for Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance 2013-329 declaring CPU as a tourism site. CPU is also ranked No. 8 among 47 attractions in Iloilo on Social Media’s Trip Advisor.
The Anahaw Drive beside the Centralian Walkway is a popular route during University Parades. The University Church is a testimony of CPU’s devotion and faith in Jesus Christ.
One of the most nostalgic places in the university is the curved covered walkway that connects the Third Gate to the university’s Main Gate, the Halfmoon Drive. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors, can always be found along the benches, chatting, eating, thinking, taking in the football game or Frisbee, simply enjoying the day away. The Smile Hill with the portrait of Jesus inside a globe connects one half of the curved shed to the other and stands straight across the University flagpole reminding people that Jesus is Central in the university.
However, at this time of year, during the Christmas season, the Halfmoon Drive is converted into a hub, where people mill around morning until evening. All throughout the stretch of the Halfmoon Shed, students, faculty, staff, and visitors enjoy barbecue, shawarma, ice cream, halo-halo and many other delicacies because of the festival of lights in the university.
Until the closing of the Festival of Lights season on December 15 at Central Philippine University, everyone is invited to drop by, see the lights, witness the nightly shows, experience the carnival rides and taste the many delicious treats offered to everyone.
Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto has been passionate about promoting Agripreneurship.
In a Board of Investments (BOI) Forum held at the Grand Xing Hotel on November 28, 2017, Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto, CPU Board of Trustees member and Ephrathah Agri-Tourism Resort owner, was hailed by officials of the Department of Trade and Industries Regional Office as an “expert consultant” for Agri-business.
Cañuto’s ideas on Agri-Tourism are timely and relevant to the forum regarding Inclusive Business. The Centralian businessman is known in industrial circles as the engineer who helped struggling farmers sell their farm produce which gave them higher income.
The BOI forum was held to heighten Inclusive Business awareness and to start synergies with government agencies and other sectors on Investment Priority Plans (IPP). Inclusive business offers a valuable solution to alleviate poverty by including small community enterprises in the value chain of big businesses.
DTI Assistant Secretary Felicitas Agoncillo, who heads the Investments Promotions Services, thanked the academe for its involvement in helping businesses and policy makers improve the Inclusive Business Ecosystem.
Central Philippine University was represented by Mr. Joel H. Somosierra, Technical Assistant, CPU Office of the President and Mr. Cyrus A. Natividad, Media Relations and Publishing Officer, CPU Office of Communications.
Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto together with Mr. Joel H. Somosierra, Chair, 7th Organic Agri-Fair and Mr. Cyrus A. Natividad, Media Relations Officer, CPU Office of Communications.
It was a Friday afternoon when the CPU Agrifair 2017 team left Barangay Sariri in Badiangan, Iloilo. Earlier, the team walked through a beautiful landscape of Ephrathah Farms. It is a sprawling 7 hectare farm that surrounds an inland resort, rolling hills, and magnificent natural scenery.
Eddie Cañuto considers God as the owner of this land and himself as only the steward.
Cañuto is a Centralian Engineer who became very successful in farming. His farm includes a greenhouse for vegetables, an area for aquaculture, a mini-zoo, and a papaya plantation. He also has a plantation for sweet “pitahaya,” otherwise known as dragon fruit.
Earlier, Cañuto invited the team at the resort’s pavilion. He offered native coffee and shared interesting stories about Ephrathah Farms. Asked why he named the farm Ephrathah, Cañuto said that it is the old name of Bethlehem, and it means “fruitful.”
Ephrathah Farms was realized through patience and hard work. It took Cañuto 35 years to realize his “agri-tourism farm,” making it a popular tourist destination, not only in Western Visayas, but also in the country. Ephrathah is visited by thousands of tourists every year, not only for the luxurious resort within the farm, but for the abundant organic fruits and vegetable grown and managed by Engr. Cañuto.
Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto transformed his passion for farming into agritourism.
‘Ed’ was a work student assistant at the CPU library and engineering laboratories from 1966-1969, and in 1969-1970, respectively. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Central Philippine University in 1971. He ranked 7th place in the Philippine Board Examination for Civil Engineers in 1972. He then took up Master in Construction Management at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila. He finished his Master’s degree in 1980.
After his retirement from professional work, Ed returned to their farm in Badiangan with his wife. Inspired by the biblical promise of God in Micah 5:2, he worked hard and developed Ephrathah Farms. He expanded the business by building an inland resort within the productive farm.
Not only was he rewarded by God for his dedication, he was doubly compensated for his selfless efforts to help the local farmers. Ed recalled that his friends in the barangay admitted that without him, they would not be able to earn much from their farms. With his success in farming, Ed shares his knowledge and management skills to the people needing technical and financial assistance for their own farms.
In his keynote speech during the opening program of CPU-DA Agrifair 2017 in CPU on November 21, 2017, Ed emphasized that “there is money in agriculture.” He encouraged everyone to invest in agriculture, saying that there is a big local consumer demand for organic fruits and vegetables, particularly in Iloilo where local producers supply only 15% of the demand for vegetables. Ephrathah Farms is one of these producers, supplying big volumes of fruits and vegetables to SM Supermarkets.
Ed has also served in various capacities, such as a consultant for some corporations and as president, vice president, and general manager for different businesses in Metro Manila. He was a member of Central Philippine University, Corporation from 2010-2012, and a member of the CPU Board of Trustees from 2016 up to the present. He is also a lecturer on many different topics in different symposia in the Philippines and abroad.
Behind this success, however, is his unfailing devotion to and enduring faith in God. He has a wide range of involvement in the Christian ministry as church administrator, national president, international trustee and member of Gideons International—an association of Christian business and professional men in 200 countries.
Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto is married to Rosalinda Velado Cañuto, also a Centralian, with three children who are now professionals: Ed Roderick, Ainah Rose, and Jonathan Ed. The three children have specific responsibilities in the farm and resort. Two of their three grandchildren are studying at the CPU Elementary School. The whole family now resides at the Ephrathah Farm.
Dr. Jaime Cabarles, Dean of CPU-CARES has been passionate about native chicken production.
Iloilo City – A P55 million program is expected to further boost commercial production of native chickens in the Visayas.
The Central Philippine University-College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CPU-CARES) in Iloilo City and Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon implement the technology transfer program.
Dr. Jaime Cabarles, Dean of CPU-CARES, said this will address the increase in demand of native chickens among health-conscious consumers.
“Native chickens are free from synthetic chemicals, but supply in the Visayas is low,” Cabarles told the Manila Bulletin at the sidelines of the 7th DA-CPU Organic Agriculture Research Fair and Exhibit, which ends today.
The program, Cabarles said, will be replicated in selected areas in Cebu, Bohol, Aklan and Negros Occidental as part of DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRRDP).
Cabarles was one of the 2013 Republica awardees of the Commission on Higher Education for his initiatives on native chicken raising.
Meantime, Joel Somosierra, agri-fair chairperson, noted that the growing interests of organically-grown food are one of the anchors of agri-tourism.
Somosierra added they are urging more farmers to open up their farms to the public to increase their income.
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