Rev. Joseph Morris Forbes encouraged Centralians to establish a legacy of excellence and faith.
Social media nowadays has a feature which shows your “memories” or enable you to “rediscover your day.” This is because we love to dwell on the fond memories that we have. Along this vein, Central Philippine College President, Rev. Joseph Morris Forbes, wrote to Centralians in 1949, “As one of your teachers and counsellors, I hope and trust that you are happy in your memories… But I hope that they are not too satisfying. Those who do not have some inter-mixture of disappointment in their memories will never press on to a higher achievement. As true Centralians, you consider life as an ascending pathway; thus, tomorrow must be better than today.
Rev. Forbes became Acting President of Central Philippine College on September 19, 1947. He handled the tremendous job of rehabilitation, reorganization and administration. He also taught philosophy, the subject nearest to his heart; English; sociology; education; and Bible. As a pastor, he emphasized the Christian education that Central offers. He said, “There is a great place for the kind of Christian education that is being offered here at Central. More and more, the Philippine government will need good Christian leaders of faith and integrity.”
As we face a world today in which success is sometimes defined by the amount of material resources that we have, we have to be reminded of the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 6:10 that says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
In the same manner, Central Philippine College President, Rev. Joseph Morris Forbes, wrote to the class of 1950, “May every sacrifice that your parents and you have made bear some very real fruitage in providing you a means of success, and as Centralians, you know success to be measured in terms of spiritual values, rather than in material emoluments.”
However, Rev. Forbes was not just a philosopher. He was also “a doer, an indefatigable worker, a man of action.” The 1955 CPU Golden Book of Remembrance says this about him: “He would often be seen not only directing, but also working with the road workers. He was just as friendly with them as with the faculty and students. When walking the campus, he can be seen setting a stone in its right place or pulling out some unsightly weed or picking up pieces of paper. Rev. Forbes bending over a hoe, or carrying some stray piece of lumber or scrap iron, or pushing the lawnmower, was a common sight.”
All throughout these years, Centralians from 1905 up to the present, are challenged to excel in every endeavour that they face, and to become exemplary in their actions. Rev. Forbes has left us a challenge to make a lasting mark in this world—“As Centralians, each of you must make a worthy achievement in the realms of service to our present day community life. The College program has endeavoured to make you aware of the standards of Christian citizenship in a deeply troubled world. It has sought to inspire you to commit your life to that valiant struggle for a world of justice and brotherhood (sisterhood).”
(References: Centralite 1949, 1950, Golden Jubilee Year 1905-1955 Souvenir Program)
Prof. Sharlene Gotico and Prof. Mellianne Mangana stayed for one year as exchange professors at the Korea University of Media Arts (KUMA) in Sejong-si, South Korea.
Prof. Sharlene Gotico of the Department of Languages, Mass Communication and Humanities (DLMCH) and Prof. Mellianne Mangana of the Senior High School Department are back at Central Philippine University after completing a one-year Exchange Professor Program at Korea University of Media Arts (KUMA) in Sejong-si, South Korea.
Prof. Gotico and Prof. Mangana left for Korea in March 2018. While at KUMA, they handled English language credit courses for university students. At the same time, they also taught English classes for the university’s after school program and during the summer and winter language camps. They also had English enrichment classes for dormitory residents.
This Exchange Professor Program is one of the activities undertaken by CPU and KUMA as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities. For many years now, CPU has been sending teachers to KUMA to teach English classes in the said university. A few years back, KUMA students were at CPU to participate in the short-term English classes facilitated by the Office for International Relations and Cooperation and taught by professors from the DLMCH.
RV E. Esgrina and Ren Lurenz B. Madrilejo (both left) hopes that the CPU Mobile Info app will promote the university here and abroad.
After re-launching The Centralian Link, the official publication and media forum of Central Philippine University, the Office of Communications, headed by its Director, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on has been exploring initiatives to further improve the efficiency of delivering news and information to Centralians here and abroad.
Thus on January 14, 2019 with the guidance of University Webmaster, Mr. Mark Clemens J. Ortaliz, Office of Communications on-the-job trainees RV E. Esgrina and Ren Lurenz B. Madrilejo took on the task of developing the “CPU Mobile Info” Application – a downloadable android mobile app for the public to give them real-time information and announcements of university events, entrance examinations, etc. It is also user-friendly version of the university website.
Esgrina and Madrilejo are both senior students taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the CPU College of Computer Studies. According to Esgrina, the purpose of developing the app was not only to keep up with the technological trends but to make it easier for Centralians to navigate the CPU website through their mobile phone. “The app will give Centralians easier access to information and announcements through their mobile phones which is more convenient. It will also give other people a chance to get to know the services offered by the university in a user-friendly portal.”
Madrilejo shares that the task of developing the app wasn’t easy but with the guidance and support of the Office of Communications they were able to come up with an interface that responsive to the needs of the community-at-large. “At first we doubted if we can really make the app but Sir Mark encouraged us in every step of the making the app.”
The app provides simple mobile navigation for easier access.
As a tag-team, Esgrina was responsible for the mobile interface while Madrilejo took on the task of developing the content. Madrilejo shares that while developing he learned new things about the university such as its history and other significant events. “The app will really help you get to know CPU.”
CPU Mobile Info provides a simple platform that will help users know more facts about the university, its job openings, school calendar, etc. It also provides a feedback mechanism to provide an on-line assessment of the services and programs offered by CPU.
One salient feature of the app is its easy access to Seeds of Faith, a daily devotional guide for readers. Such feature highlights CPU’s commitment in sharing the Word of God not only to Centralians but to the world-at-large.
According to Rev. Jalando-on, the Office of Communications is set to launch the said app in Google Play Store on April 2019. Meanwhile, you can download the latest beta version of this Android app in https://www.dropbox.com/s/z4355mttlvqvlxb/cpu_app_m_v14.apk?dl=0
Ms. Rong Qian, Senior Economist, World Bank, highlights the importance of working together to move forward economically.
ILOILO CITY, March 21, 2019 – To propel shared growth and prosperity, the country needs to focus on creating more and better jobs, upskilling its workforce, investing in health and nutrition, focusing development efforts in Mindanao, and managing disaster risks. Further, policy reforms are needed to remove constraints in domestic and foreign competition, regulations that stifle entrepreneurship and small and medium-enterprises and restrictions on foreign participation in the economy.
These are among the highlights of the discussions during the multi-sectoral forum on Making Growth Work for the Poor held March 21, 2019 at Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City.
The forum—jointly organized by CPU Knowledge for Development Community (KDC), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the World Bank—focused on growth and productivity as milestones for achieving AmBisyon Natin 2040, the country’s long-term vision of matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.
It sought to generate discussion of development issues using the World Bank’s poverty assessment and productivity reports, engage with stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector in the regions, provide input to the World Bank country partnership framework for fiscal year 2019 to 2022, and provide input to NEDA’s upcoming regional consultations for the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) Midterm Update.
Ms. Teresa Guadalupe, Senior Economic Development Specialist of NEDA Region 6 discussed the economic and social progress in Western Visayas.
Mr. Reynaldo Cancio, NEDA Director of the National Policy and Planning Staff, said, “We have taken major strides in our reform agenda but more is needed to keep growth working for the poor.”
Ms. Teresa Guadalupe, Senior Economic Development Specialist of NEDA Region 6, presented the region’s progress toward AmBisyon based on PDP and the Regional Development Plan.
As input to the discussion, Ms. Rong Qian and Ms. Sharon Faye Piza, Senior Economist and Economist respectively of the World Bank, presented the highlights of two reports: Making Growth Work for the Poor: A Poverty Assessment for the Philippines and Growth and Productivity in the Philippines: Winning the Future.
KDCs comprise 19 universities, policy and research institutions in the Philippines that promote knowledge sharing about development issues, in partnership with the World Bank Group.
The KDCs nationwide include Asian Institute of Management in Makati (Makati city); Ateneo de Naga University (Naga City); De La Salle University – Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance (City of Manila); House of Representatives KDC (Quezon City) National Economic and Development Authority (Pasig City); Notre Dame University (Cotabato City); Palawan State University (Puerto Princesa City); the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Quezon City); Saint Paul University Philippines (Tuguegarao City); Silliman University (Dumaguete City); the University of San Carlos (Cebu City); University of Southeastern Philippines (Davao City); University of the Philippines Los Baños (Laguna); University of the Philippines School of Economics (Quezon City); Western Mindanao State University (Zamboanga City); Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan; and the World Bank Office in Manila.
Coggins’ commitment to the Lord has raised many Filipino Christian young leaders.
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 77th 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)
Hon. Antonio T. Carpio, Senior Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines with CPU Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dr. Florence P. Bogacia, Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees, Atty. Von Lovel D. Bedona, Vice Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees, Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera, CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, and Mr. JM Suelo, President, CPU Republic President.
With the aim of enlightening Centralians on significant issues affecting the country, the Central Philippine University administration, Board of Trustees and the CPU Student Republic invited Hon. Antonio T. Carpio, Senior Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines to talk about the West Philippine Sea sovereignty at the Rose Memorial Auditorium on March 8, 2019.
The opening prayer was led by CPU Vice President for Student Affairs, Rev. Joniel Howard H. Gico.
Hon. Antonio T. Carpio encouraged Centralians to be aware of national and international events in order to be aware of the issues that affect the country.
For the opening remarks, Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees, Atty. Von Lovel D. Bedona thanked Justice Carpio not only for being passionate in educating the Filipino people about the issues being faced by the country but also for inspiring Filipinos to love the Philippines and defend its sovereignty. “JusticeCarpio is a man competent enough to take on the issue on the West Philippine Sea. He is a man who took on the responsibility of educating us today for the purpose of protecting the next generation of Filipinos.”
Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera, Vice Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees, introduced Hon. Antonio T. Carpio.
In his talk, Justice Carpio presented the economic and political significance of the South China Sea. “The South China Sea, to me, is the most important waterway in the world today. It is a very small sea which occupies 2.7% of the ocean’s surface but it is critical for world trade and for world security. $5.3 trillion in ship-borne goods traverse the South China Sea every year. Four leading exporting countries use the South China Sea for maritime and export trade.”
A Centralian asks a question during the open forum.
Justice Carpio goes on to discuss China’s historical claim on the West Philippine Sea. According to him, such rights have no bearing as the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea extinguished all historical rights of all states. Instead the UN convention gave each state an exclusive economic zone, also invalidating China’s nine-dash-line claim.
A growing need to education and enlighten Filipinos – Justice Carpio encouraged Centralians to help raise awareness on territorial disputes currently being faced the country by being updated on national and international events. He also highlighted the importance of being united as a nation as we uphold our claim on the West Philippine Sea. After his talk, Justice Carpio answered questions from CPU students.
It was then followed by a short message given by CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles. In his message, Dr. Robles, thanked Hon. Carpio for sharing his time and expertise. He also hopes that Centralians the lessons they learned from Hon. Carpio’s talk will help them make wise decisions in the future. “This [forum] shows that we need more things to learn to make wise decisions that will affect not only our future but the of the next generation’s future.”
After which Dr. Robles, Atty. Corvera and Atty. Bedona presented a token and plaque of appreciation to Justice Carpio.
The closing remarks was then given by CPU Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dr. Florence P. Bogacia.
Dr. Peter Lerrigo (2nd from left) was welcomed by Centralians when he arrived at the airport. He was with Rev. William O. Valentine when they started Jaro Industrial School in 1905.
The history of Central Philippine University is rich with lessons that Centralians can learn from. Here are lessons from that we can glean from the life and ministry of two CPU Presidents: Dr. Peter H. J. Lerrigo and Dr. Almus O. Larsen.
Dr. Peter H. J. Lerrigo, a missionary doctor and President of CPU in 1950-52, posed a soul-searching question: “Did it ever occur to you that you leave behind in Central upwards of a hundred teachers and administrative workers all of whom have a stake in you? ‘In what way?’ you say. Well, you are the product of the combined impacts upon you of parents and other ancestors, friends, companions, and especially teachers. Picture, if you will, these latter: the hundred teachers you leave behind. Their faces are a mixture of pride and gloom, and just about now, they are quoting the words of attributed to the infant Father of his country, George Washington, ‘I did it with my little hatchet,’ and adding perhaps, ‘Why didn’t I make a better job of it?’”
Furthermore, Dr. Lerrigo, emphasized the freewill and personal accountability of all Centralians: “But there is one thing they (faculty and staff) didn’t do to you. They did not have the final say about how you were going to turn out. This was, is, and will be determined by choices made in your own heart, in company with that “spirit of the Divine” who lives there if you let Him. So you, yourself, and not your remote ancestors, nor your recent teachers, have the final say. And you can change the trend in any of these directions, either now, or in the future. It might be a good thing to look at your trends and see where they are likely to lead as you mingle in society. We have great faith in you. Justify it!”
President Almus O. Larsen was passionate about raising a generation of brave Centralians by reiterating that one of the educational objectives of the school is to fight for freedom.
Dr. Lerrigo established the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital in 1902 with the money given to him by the Rockefellers who were his friends and fellow church members. Together with Rev. William O. Valentine, they started Jaro Industrial School, now CPU, in 1905. His friendship with the Rockefellers brought about another donation so that the school was able to buy the 24-hectare campus in Jaro. He was responsible for the development of the college day celebration in 1950 and of the start of Christian Emphasis Week in 1951. He is also remembered as the president when the Rose Memorial Hall, a building in honor of a Hopevale Martyr, Rev. Dr. Francis Howard Rose, was constructed
The “Central Spirit,” the bond that binds all Centralians, was explained by Dr. Lerrigo. He was in his late 70s when he became president of Central: “There is something about the Central fellowship which is not too often found elsewhere. It is a ‘something’ of straightforward and open-eyed friendship between the very young, the older youth and even the aged which means a two-way flow of life, thought, happiness, and understanding and that puts us all into the category of the wise men bringing gifts. We are free at Central. Yes, there are bonds and prohibitions, but they grow out of the nature, purpose, and atmosphere of the place. The understanding spirit accepts them as part and parcel of the Spirit which originated Central and breathes into it the breath of every day’s new life… There are occasional flaws in the fellowship and its practice. These are thrown into high relief by the uniform prevalence of the democratic spirit of give and take which emphasizes the occasional lapse.”
President Lerrigo highlighted that CPU promotes freedom and equality not just in the campus but in our country: “We are not only free but we are equal at Central; equally privileged to give and to receive, to love and be loved, and to be an articulate functioning unit in the Republic. It is a Republic of democratic spirits who for the most part, almost unconsciously, live and rejoice in the ties that bind but do not hamper.”
Dr. Almus O. Larsen, President of Central Philippine University when it celebrated its 50thanniversary, reiterated that one of the educational objectives of the school is to fight for freedom. He was trained as an educator up to his master’s degree, and then received a Doctor of Education, honoris causa.
He wrote, “We are now fifty! And mature! Mature minds can only develop where freedom of thought and of the individual conscience before God prevails. Centralians have been nourished for fifty years on a philosophy that maintains the right of every individual to religious and intellectual freedom. The right to inquire, to hear, to speak, to accept personally Jesus as Lord and Savior are not rights we hold privately but rights that we share with others. We have found it our duty, therefore, as thoughtful citizens, to protest the suppression of these freedoms wherever it may occur, knowing that if they are lost, the democratic way of life will be replaced by a fascist or communist way.”
It is good to re-examine ourselves since 1955 if we have accepted the challenge of President Larsen to stand for what gives freedom: “May we reaffirm, then, as we approach the next milestone, that the indispensable condition for the preservation and enrichment of our Christian democratic heritage is the full and free examination and exchange of ideas in all of living.”
Dr. Larsen was man of great faith and was passionate in sports. He served as a Sunday School teacher, and as president of the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges in the country. As a sportsman, he would play softball and wholeheartedly supported the sports program of the university. He was the president of the West Visayas Private School Athletics Association.
Engr. Gelvie Lagos is an advocate of helping young people become passionate about electronics engineering.
This week’s topic in Looking Forward, a public affairs program of CPU TV Facebook Channel, is about electronics engineering. Engr. Gelvie Lagos, Faculty at the CPU College of Engineering, Department of Electronics Engineering (the new name for the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering), ably discussed the essential academic pedagogy that could help students in driving towards the future of electronics engineering.
Lagos shared the importance of electronics engineering in today’s age of technology: “It is now the vein that connects to the heart of what most young people and students are interested in.” The independent-traditional methods of teaching using the laboratory, he said, rely on the urgency to learn the skills. “While theories are said and written in front of the students, it is necessary to train them on skills of conceptualization and electronic systems design at the same time,” Lagos explained.
Outputs of Engr. Lagos students in one of his classes.
Lagos lets his students independently explore probabilities and perform tests on developing microprocessors, while progressively learning theories and knowledge in electronics. The demand on the subject of electronics, according to Lagos, has allowed students of Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering to integrate their studies with the Electronics Engineering Class.
He considers the laboratory as the Center of Ideation, Realization and Commercialization (CIRAC). Lagos conducts outreach projects with his department inside the campus and in communities in Iloilo City.
Halalan Na, Kilala Mo Na Ba Sila? encourages Centralians to be informed voters. The said production is a timely reminder to vote wisely in the upcoming CPUR, local and national election.
Even as the country waits for the National Midterm Elections in May this year, everyone in the campus is looking forward to the Student Republic (CPUR) elections 2019 next week. A play entitled Halalan Na, Kilala Mo Na Ba Sila? a production of CPU Teatro, Sining, Atbp. has raised awareness on the current political and social issues.
The story was written by Nestle G. Taala of CPU TV three years ago and was first staged on March 9, 2016 under the direction of Ms. Charity Faith Lozañes. It calls on all voters to know their candidates closely. The restaging was held on Wednesday, March 6 at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM at the CPU EMC Conference Hall. This year’s director is Taala herself. (With reports from Nestle G. Taala, CPUTV)
The Valentine family devoted their time, talent and treasure to serve God by serving Centralians.
Every Valentine’s Day I would remember the love story of Rev. William Orison Valentine and Ina Jane Van Allen.
Rev. Valentine was a graduate of the Colgate Theological Seminary in New York. He answered the call of God to become a missionary and joined the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABFMS). In 1895, he was sent to Rangoon, Burma, and then to Mandalay where he became principal of the Baptist Mission High School for Boys. In his eighth year in Burma he suffered a severe sunstroke and returned to America for treatment.
He was disappointed that he could not continue the mission work due to his condition. However, soon his disappointment turned into joy when he met a beautiful nurse in the hospital. He fell in love with Ina Jane Van Allen. It is a love story that reminds us that God works in mysterious ways. The couple got married in 1903 and planned to do mission work. They were sent by ABFMS to Iloilo City.
In 1905, Rev. William O. Valentine, became the principal of two newly-opened schools, the Jaro Industrial School and the Bible School. Jaro Industrial School started as an elementary vocational school for boys who worked for their board and tuition. The first batch consisted of 20 boys.
Early students of Jaro Industrial School with Rev. William Valentine and Mrs. Ina Valentine at the center.
Rev. Valentine recounted that “it was decided that in this new school, no boy, no matter how rich, should be admitted who was not willing to work for his food… All must work for their food. 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.”
By 1907 the enrolment of the school reached 300. The boys were working in the farm and in various trades. Rev. and Mrs. Valentine were hands-on in the school affairs. Mrs. Ina Jane Valentine taught some subjects, worked as a nurse of the school, and at the same time cared for the three Valentine children born in Iloilo between 1904 and 1913.
Rev. Valentine worked hard to have the school incorporated and recognized by the government. His objectives were reached in 1913, the year when the school began to also admit female students. In 1915, the first two years of high school were opened and by 1921, the first batch of high school students graduated.
In 1914, Valentine returned to America with his family for further studies at Valparaiso University, where he received a degree in education, and at the University of Chicago, where he presented a master’s thesis in the department of practical theology. His thesis entitled “Moral and Religious Values of Industrial Education,” recounted the success of work-study schooling at Jaro and other schools in Burma, South Africa, and India which had developed a similar philosophy of institutional self-support through the work of students.
With the completion of his studies in 1916, Valentine received a new appointment as provincial missionary for Negros Occidental, Philippines. He and his family went to Bacolod and became the pastor of Bacolod Evangelical Church.
He was instrumental in building a new mission house to replace the smaller chapel and he encouraged Filipino Baptist pastors to preach at Sunday services. He also established dormitories for boys and girls who attended public schools. These students received a Christian education at the mission house.
Because of his passion for Christian education, Rev. Valentine set about not only to establish new churches but also private schools in Bacolod and throughout the province like the Ilog Private Academy in the southern part of Negros Occidental. Mrs. Valentine taught kindergarten in the Bacolod school. The school and the church grew in quality and quantity during the eleven years that Rev. and Mrs. Valentine served there.
In February 1928, tragedy struck. Rev. Valentine died in Bacolod of malaria complicated by a heart disease. He was buried at the American Cemetery in Jaro, Iloilo City. Mrs. Valentine returned to America and bought a home offered by the Baptist Mission Society in Granville, Ohio, across the street from Denison University where all three Valentine children studied. She died in 1979 at the age of 100.
Soon after Rev. Valentine died, the Negros Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches and the Bacolod Evangelical Church renamed the mission house in Bacolod as the Valentine Hall. In this Valentine Hall, two Baptist institutions were born. In 1948, Baptist leaders in Negros met and decided to establish a college to be housed in the Valentine Hall. This college was named as the West Negros College, now West Negros University. In 1950, the Bible Institute under the Department of Christian Education of the West Negros College became a separate institution and was renamed as the Valentine Memorial Academy. This Bible School is now known as the Convention Baptist Bible College.
The Lord indeed works in mysterious ways. Even though Rev. Valentine passed away, his legacy gave birth to two successful learning institutions in Bacolod City and thereby, his legacy lives on.
Back in Iloilo, the Central Philippine College also decided to rename the then Administration Building as Valentine Hall, in honor of its first principal. Later, when the annex building was completed near the Valentine Hall, it came to be named as the New Valentine Building. Soon after, a new tradition was started. Every Foundation Day on October 1, University officials come to the American Cemetery to lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of Rev. Valentine and other American Baptist missionaries.
In 1969, CPU conferred a posthumous doctoral degree upon Rev. Valentine. He was accorded a Doctor of Pedagogy, honoris causa. When CPU celebrated its 100 years on Oct. 1, 2005, a bronze bust of Rev. Dr. William O. Valentine was unveiled during the Foundation Day ceremony to honor the life and ministry of the first principal of CPU.
More than 113 years ago, God authored the love story of Rev. William Valentine and Mrs. Ina Jane Valentine. Their love for each other extended to their ministry in the school and the church. Theirs was a love without borders. All Centralians and members of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches are recipients of God’s love through this couple.
God has authored love stories in the Bible, and will continue to do so throughout the ages. All we have to do is submit our relationship to God and be ready for God will do something wonderful through our lives.
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