By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

May Angeline Coggins was the Chairperson of the Faculty Council of Central Philippine College during the years 1946-1947. The Faculty Council was created as an emergency measure, in the absence of a College President, to manage and operate Central Philippine College as an administrative-executive body. This Faculty Council later ceased to function when Prof. J. Morris Forbes arrived to serve as the President of Central Philippine College.

Miss Coggins, as she was fondly called, was also the Dean of the BMTS or Baptist Missionary Training School—a Bible school for Women. This was later merged with the College of Theology. Miss Coggins later on became the Dean of the College of Theology in 1951. She was described as someone who heroically helped pick up the broken pieces of a war-destroyed college and did the job with courage and determination. She was respected by the faculty for her fairness and tact, loved by the students for her deep personal influence.

On July 4, 1946, Miss Coggins represented the United States of America during a memorable ceremony in Iloilo. On that day (the Independence Day of the Philippines at that time), she lowered the American Flag from its position at the top of the pole and watched with joy as the flag of the free and independent Republic took its place.

She was theologically trained with two master’s degrees—Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School and Master of Theology from Gordon College, School of Theology.

In 1947, Central Philippine College had been in operation for two years after World War II. The destroyed campus had by then been rebuilt with the Normal College (the old term for the College of Education), the College of Engineering, and the College of Commerce already running. Ms. Coggins gave a vivid illustration of what life at Central after the ravages of war by likening it to climbing to the mountaintop.

In her message to the graduates of 1947 entitled “Fulfill our dreams and His purposes,” she wrote, “To one who looks at Central Philippine College from the angle of its place in the life of our new Republic, a school year can be compared to the climbing of a high mountain. The ascent has its trials and its joys. There are times when the “going is hard,” when each new step requires more strength than one seems to have and the tendency is to wonder whether the goal is worth the effort. There are resting places from which the vistas are inspiring and the air is exhilarating. But only when one reaches the top is one in a position to judge the true worth of the climb.”

Miss Coggins put forward a challenge that we must not stop climbing even when reach the mountain top. Instead, we must look for other mountains to climb: “But from the mountain top, one does not only look back upon the path up which one has trod. One looks ahead, across the valleys to higher, more glorious peaks and vistas. We, whose hearts and lives are closely bound to Central, look ahead to greater accomplishments, finer buildings and equipment, a stronger and more adequate leadership, and a larger place in God’s purposes for our Philippines. No one person can bring to fruition these dreams. The Alumni, the present student body, the professors and teachers, the Trustees and our friends are needed. As we all join hands and together reach up to grip the strong hand of our God, we shall fulfil our dreams and His purposes.”

In another message, Miss Coggins compared CPC to a sharp instrument of the Surgeon, Jesus Christ: “If a surgeon is to operate successfully and remove the malignant part and restore health and vigor, an instrument is an essential. And a keen, sharp instrument does the work much better than a poor, dull one. Yet neither instrument is of any value for good apart from its yieldness to the hand of the surgeon. CPC was established upon that conviction. A youth trained to think clearly, independently, and honestly, and yielded to the Master is of infinitely more value than the youth who is not trained or spiritually equipped. However, training without glad commitment to Him who have to youth his life, his mind, his ability to think and love and choose is like a Stradivarius violin without the master violinist—nay, it is like a sharpened weapon in the hands of a criminal.”

Miss Coggins was confident of the future of Central Philippine College. Looking at Central Philippine University now since 1905, her words have been proven true: “The hopes for the future of Central Philippine College are as the promises of God. The school began as a dream, a God-inspired dream, in the hearts of American friends who believed that their gifts invested in the name of Christ, for the Christian education of Filipino youth would bring rich returns to the Philippine nation and to God.”

Later in 1965, Central Philippine University conferred to Miss Coggins, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. On April 26, 1975, on her 77^th birthday, the Bacolod City Council passed a resolution making her “Adopted Daughter” of Bacolod City, Philippines. She worked as matron, providing spiritual and physical care to countless boys and girls from 1924-1940 in the Boys & Girls Dormitories, Provincial High School, Bacolod City. She was called the affectionate name “Manang May” by the many people that she ministered upon.

May the missionary spirit of Miss Coggins remind us of what it means to do mission: “It is my conviction that God has a special place of service for the Philippines in His plan for His world. I am most happy to have a small part in helping fulfill his purpose in and through our Islands here.”

(References: Centralite 1946, 1947; Central Echo April 1946)

By Keziah G. Huelar

Commemorating the 48^th death anniversary of Dr. Rex D. Drilon, Central Philippine University’s first Filipino President, the University held a memorial service in his honor at the Evangelical Memorial Garden, Balantang, Jaro on February 21, 2019.

For the words of welcome, CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles encouraged the Centralian community to remember Dr. Drilon and his legacy of excellence: “This is a great day of celebrating the life of our first Filipino president whose shoes are too large for us to fit in. We hope that we have learned a lot from his life and from his accomplishments and from the direction that has led CPU to where it is today.”

It was then followed by a brief reflection given by Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor, University.

In his reflection, Rev. Sian highlighted the life of the prophet Joshua whose legacy of faith and obedience to the Lord helped the Israelites reach the Promised Land. According to Rev. Sian, the legacy of excellence and devotion to God is a legacy we must pass down from one generation to another, each having a sturdy grip around the Word and promises of the Lord: “In the game of relay, you have to pass the baton to the next runner. The last runner should arrive [at] the finish line with the baton in his hand. The moment the baton is absent, they will lose the game even if they finish first.”

Rev. Sian adds that as one Centralian community, the University should commemorate and remember the legacy of Dr. Drilon, passing down his life, love and works as an inspiration to others to also tread the path of excellence for the glory of God.

Following the reflection, administrative officers, members of the alumni and deans from the different colleges and departments placed flowers on the tomb of Dr. Drilon.

After which, Ms. Crista S. Huyong, Director of the CPU Cultural Affairs Office presented the Dr. Rex D. Drilon Coffee Table Book entitled “The Vision of a Great Central.” The said book contains the journey of Dr. Drilon from his study in CPU until his death.

A musical offering was then given by Joshua Jonathan C. Quimpo, the great grand-nephew of Dr. Drilon. It was followed by the closing prayer and benediction by Rev. Roger T. Quimpo, Pastor for Outreach, University Church.

By Keziah G. Huelar

Remembering the life, love, and works of Mr. Lincoln Rex Quimpo Drilon, CPU held a memorial service in his honor at the University Dining Hall on February 21, 2019. Lincoln is the son of the Central Philippine University’s first Filipino President, Dr. Rex D. Drilon,

The opening prayer was led by Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor, University Church. It was then followed by a reflection by Rev. Roger T. Quimpo, cousin of Lincoln and the Pastor for Outreach, University Church.

In his message, Rev. Quimpo talked about God’s gift of life, happiness and salvation. Reflecting on the life of Job in the Bible, he shared about the sorrow of man and God’s everlasting grace. The death of a loved one may feel equivalent to the loss of life and source of happiness but according to Rev. Quimpo, the end of physical life is the start of a beautiful eternity with God: “When physical life is taken, heaven’s life begins. We know that there are no grief, no weeping, and no heartaches in heaven. Real happiness is not of earth but of heaven.”

Rev. Quimpo adds that it is Christ’s gift of salvation that ensures everlasting life and happiness: “As we remember the gift of salvation, hope shines in us through the valley of death. Yes, indeed God has taken life but God has not forgotten us because in Christ Jesus, we have salvation—sure, steadfast, eternal and blessed.”

After the reflection, a video presentation on the life of Lincoln was shown. It was then followed by a musical offering led by his high school classmates, CPU HS Batch 1959.

Sharing fond memories of Lincoln, Ms. Romea P. Gobuyan, Lincoln’s classmate fondly recalled “Linc” as one eloquent in the English language and as a man of music: “The class valedictorian, Linc was very active in declamation and oration. Through the years, we were like brothers and sisters. He was a friend, a classmate, a brother I never had.”

Mr. Zandro Caipang, also Lincoln’s classmate from kindergarten to high school, remembers him as a man devoted to excellence with a heart for his fellow Centralians: “My own memories go far back to our kindergarten days in CPU. In primary school, Linc and [his brother], Ed Nathan, were sort of my protectors. I was the shy and timid type and I still am, but no one picked on me because the Drilon brothers were there. Lincoln had an excellent mastery of the English language, the written and spoken word. Then came high school, we bonded with other classmates calling ourselves “Dominos.” Lincoln carried a double six domino chip. He was our top man, a born leader. We were not a rough and rowdy bunch but we were just young teenagers enjoying high school life.”

A special number was then given by Ms. Marissa Montelibano, a friend of the late Lincoln Drilon and Ms. Crista S. Huyong, Director, CPU Cultural Affairs Office.

The closing prayer was then led by Ms. Gobuyan.

Lincoln would visit CPU every time the university commemorated the life of his father, Dr. Drilon. He was passionate about preserving the legacy of his father so that future Centralians might also pursue the noble cause Dr. Drilon did.

During his last address to the CPU community, Lincoln expressed his father’s great love for the University: “In his life, with all the roles he had to play, perhaps the most fulfilling were the ones that involved CPU. His years of service to Central were his happiest years. He loved CPU. Today’s commemoration of his death and the renaming of the administration building in his honor is a capping honor given to a man who loved this institution.”

By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Have you ever asked yourself, why our Alma Mater is named Central Philippine University? Where did it come from?

The American Baptist missionaries named our school Jaro Industrial School for it was a Christian institution that focused on the manual industrial training of young men and women. Rev. William O. Valentine, the first principal of JIS wrote, “The original purpose of the school was to provide opportunity for poor Filipino boys to receive a good Christian industrial education by working their way through school. Actual work experience and earnest study of the Bible were the core of the curriculum” (William O. Valentine, Moral and Religious Values of Industrial Education, 1916).

The pivotal year when JIS was changed to Central Philippine School was in 1923 when Dr. Harland Francis Chandler Stuart was the president. Dr. Stuart succeeded Rev. Dr. Alton Ezra Bigelow who was the president during 1918-1922.

In 1924, when the college courses were approved by the government, the named was changed to Central Philippine College. Later on, in April 1, 1953, the government approved the new status of the school and it was renamed to Central Philippine University in a Board of Trustees meeting on August 1, 1953. Why the change of name when they could have just called it Jaro College or Jaro University?

As of this time, there is no historical record that could explain the change of name. The oldest Centralite in the archive was published in 1930, and the earliest minutes recorded were those of the Board of Trustees from the year 1935. But gleaning from extant sources, here are some possible reasons why they used “Central Philippine.”

First, geographically speaking, the school campus is situated in the central part of the Philippines. The CPU Flagpole is 458 kilometers from Kilometer Zero (km 0) at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Metro Manila. The Flagpole is also more or less of the same distance to Davao in Mindanao. Going back to their time in the 1920s, there was no song yet that mentioned “Aparri to Jolo” as the farthest points of the Philippines. Their points of reference before were Manila and Davao. Using this assumption, the American Baptist missionaries were right. From their perspective, Central Philippine School, Central Philippine College, or Central Philippine University is at the center of the Philippines.

Second, the school seal designed by Rev. Dr. Francis Rose in 1923 when it became Central Philippine College, and which was subsequently approved by the Board of Trustees in 1924, has “rays” that spread throughout the country. These “rays” that represent light emanate from the area in Panay where Central Philippine University is located. Dr. Rose made a bold declaration that from the center point of the country, Centralians must continue to bear witness that Jesus is at the center of our lives.

Third, the school song entitled “Central Spirit,” composed by Rev. Dr. Francis Rose, points to the perspective of the American Baptist missionaries that the school campus is at the center of the Philippines. One line of the song states, “Sweeps our Isles from sea to sea.” This line can be assumed to be talking about reaching the islands from the center towards the northern part and towards the southern part of the Philippines.

Hopefully, we can find more sources to corroborate the above assumptions, or better still, if we can find records that explicitly tell us the reason behind the change of name. If you can add more information or if you can point to some historical records, please do not hesitate to email us at communications@cpu.edu.ph.

Editor’s Note

An article published on February 15, 2019 misstated the names of Mrs. Angel Robles and Mrs. Lydia Robles.

Mrs. Angel Robles was one of the organizers of the reunion mentioned in the article. Mrs. Lydia Robles, on the other hand, is a member of the batch interviewed for the article.

Our heartfelt apologies for this oversight.

By Keziah G. Huelar

With the New Year fast approaching, it’s important to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness this 2018. But, equally important to remembering is learning to “forget”—to overlook an offense, to move forward without the burden of the past, and most importantly, to surrender to Christ whatever the future holds.

In Genesis 18, the Bible talks about how God is heavily displeased with Sodom and Gomorrah. In the next chapter, before destroying the city, God sends two angels to warn Lot (Abraham’s nephew) and instruct them to leave the city immediately. Together with his wife and two daughters, Lot flees the city. One crucial instruction the angels give them is to “not look back.” However, while escaping, his wife turns towards the burning city and as a consequence, she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Perhaps, while fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife thought of the riches they left behind, the life they’d established, and the plans they had for their family. Her doubts made her think that staying behind was better than trusting God.

She chose to look back rather than to look forward to the plans God had for her and her family.

Quite true to all of us, there are moments in our lives when our past holds us back. Pride, heartache, a missed opportunity, a mistake, an insecurity, or a hidden sin can hinder us from becoming who God wants us to be.

Like Lot’s wife, we often go about our own way, looking back, thinking of the could-have-been’s and the should-have-not’s, not knowing that what lies ahead of us is the perfect plan of God.

This 2019, let us choose to trust God, to receive His forgiveness, and most importantly, to not look back on the things that hinder us from pursuing His purpose in our lives.

Whenever pride creeps in, know that in James 4:6, God “opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” If a missed opportunity haunts us, declare Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to those who love God and work according to His purpose.”

Whenever a past heartache comes knocking, remember that in Psalm 34:18, The Lord promises that He “is near the broken hearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” If a past mistake or sin condemns you, Isaiah 43:1b tells us, “Do not fear for [God has redeemed us]”; Hebrews 8:12 further encourages that if we ask for forgiveness from God, “[He] will forgive our wickedness and will never again remember [our] sins.”

When our insecurities belittle us, declare Jeremiah 29:11: God knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us—plans to give us a hope and a future. Moreover, Philippians 1:6 says, being confident in this, God, who began a good work in you, will carry it to completion until Jesus Christ returns.

Just as God puts new wine on new wineskin, may we also have a new mindset of hope and optimism in the New Year.

By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

On December 18, 2018, more than 200 people went on a pilgrimage to Hopevale, Tapaz, Capiz as part of the events for the 75^th Hopevale Memorial. The rain made the journey difficult as the trail from Katipunan Evangelical Church to Hopevale Baptist Church became slippery and muddy. When the pilgrims reached Hopevale Baptist Church, Bgry. Aglinab, Tapaz, Capiz, they held a memorial worship service.

The idea, after the service, was to proceed to the Cross where the Hopevale Martyrs were buried and to the Cathedral in the Glen, an open church that Dr. Francis Howard Rose designed. Everyone waited for the sun to come out so that they could take the journey, but it was not meant to be. Although disappointed, the pilgrims also thought that it must have been God’s way of showing them a glimpse of what the 11 American Baptist missionaries experienced during their 20 months of stay in Hopevale before they were executed by the Japanese soldiers on December 20, 1943.

Looking back on World War II, missionary nurse, Jennie Clare Adams, read to the group on June 16, 1943, a poem that she wrote on January 12, 1943. The reading took place on a Wednesday. It must have been their prayer meeting time since Wednesday prayer meetings is an American tradition left by the American Baptist missionaries to Philippine Baptists. The poem that she read has a greater meaning and impact to those who have visited Hopevale.

May this poem affirm our freedom in Jesus Christ, and that no one or nothing can imprison us.

The Hills Shall not Imprison Me

I shall not let these hills imprison me,

Where I for refuge have been forced to flee,

Like walls they shut me in on every side

While offering a sheltered place to hid

Grim war who reaches out with bloody hands,

Some bitter price of every soul demands.

His cruel clutches tightened on our shores,

We felt his fingers touch our very doors,

Our work was soon in smoldering ruin laid,

Our home into an alien fort was made

In wooded hills we chose to hide away

And not in concentration camp to stay.

I shall not let these hills imprison me,

Where I in exile weary months must be.

Their towering peaks conceal from hostile view

But screen the sunrise and the sunset too.

The forest deep seems damp with dew and rain,

My thoughts turn homeward to a sunny plan

The sun emerging from the fields of grain

And sinking into meadow land again.

For I am prairie born where wheat fields grow

Where prairies grasses wave, when breees blow

With eyes that yearn to gaze on distant scene

Must I be cloistered in a small ravine?

I shall not let these hills imprison me,

I shall remember that I still am free,

No hills can from my soul a vision hide,

Nor hope be shackled long whate’er betide

Nor faith be shaken by a troubled day,

If prairie lessons ever with me stay.

O prairie land, whose massive breadth and length

Inspires the soul to greatness and to strength,

Whose sturdy trees withstand the stormy gale

And summer droughts cause not their leaf to fail.

Deep searching roots find streams of water pure,

And anchor on a hidden rock secure.

Faith is instilled by every pasture green

The far horizons teach a hope serene

The scenes of commonplace great lessons tell,

O prairie land, may I apply them well.

I shall not let these hills imprison me

The birds are not shut in, nor shall I be.

I shall look up, and up to azure sky

Beyond the wooded rims of hilltops high,

Beyond the walls that seem to shut me in,

Beyond disturbing sights and dismal dim.

I must be looking up if I would see

What love and goodness God has given to me.

I must look up beyond life’s walls and bars

If I would see the brightness of the stars.

Mine eyes I must lift upward and afraid

Remembering in whom my strength is laid

Each day I must more grateful learn to be

Remembering with joy that I am free

The freedom God alone can give today,

None other gives, and none can take away.

I shall not let these hills imprison me

For soon will sound the cry of victory

Then wanton war and drear exile shall cease

While we behold the glorious dawn of peace.

I shall lift up my heart in grateful prayer

To One who keeps us safely in his care

Then I shall pause to say a kind farewell

To lofty hills and quite forest dell

The hills where I have been so safe and free

Then quite hills that kindly sheltered me

Then I shall climb to yonder hilltop green

And feast mine eyes upon the distant scene

In exultation view the trail before

Then wend the joyous homeward way once more

I shall be grateful then that I am free,

And say, “Those hills did not imprison.”