CPUR TAPE, CLAYGO, and Know Your Trash Advocacy: A reminder to Centralians

More than 700 pastors attended the 77th General Assembly of the Convention Baptist Ministers+ Association Inc.

At the 77th Annual Assembly of the Convention Baptist Ministers’ Association on January 16 to 18, 2018 at Camp Higher Ground, news was out that a finance corporation has proposed a partnership with CPBC. The proposal was revisited. The motto “Towards a New Horizon” came up as discussions on the proposed partnership project for Camp Higher Ground went on with the Board. However, some unfavorable news later: it was learned that the finance corporation has backed out of the proposed partnership.

Looking at the current activities of the stakeholders, it can be perceived that the Lord has His own plan and direction for the operations and development of Camp Higher Ground. With more than 700 member churches and institutions nationwide, including Central Philippine University, Iloilo Mission Hospital, Filamer Christian University, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, Bacolod Christian College of Negros and individual donors, a unified support for the development of the camp is not impossible. Former General Secretary of the CPBC and current Executive Minister and Administrator of the Capiznon Kasapulanan, Rev. Job A. Santiago said that “a select group of professionals and executives from the CPBC are consolidating their ideas directed at another plan for Camp Higher Ground at this time.”

Rev. Job Santiago(center) with Australian guest Steve Smith and Mr. Natividad.

Incumbent CPBC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso said that “our pastors and our churches should pray, support, and contribute ideas for the Camp Higher Ground project.”  Engr. Eddie Cañuto, owner of the famous Ephratha Farms in Badiangan, Iloilo and a member of the CPU Board of Trustees, has been revealed to be the chairman of committee that studies and will make a proposal for Camp Higher Ground. Engr. Cañuto took up the challenge to help restore the property to its former glory and, maybe, even make it better as he fondly remembered the many summer camps that he joined during his elementary days at Camp Higher Ground.

Lush green bushes and trees line up along the patches leading to the heritage building and some dormitories. The scenery puts forward a vision of what could be a world class resort. The development of the property into a multi-purpose resort could create a sustainable enterprise providing possibilities for tourism, ministry and conventions, educational training facilities, and many more. This could result to future resource generation that could benefit member churches and pastors, and the various ministries of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches.

To God be the glory!

Centralians at Iloilo Mission Hospital

Aloha and her Centralian Assistant, Ash Duma-an.

It is understandable why Centralians or graduates of Central Philippine University are leading the number of employees at the Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH).  Historically, IMH is a sister institution of CPU, both being founded by American missionaries with other Christian institutions in the early 1900’s. Moreover, Iloilo Mission Hospital is an extension school of the CPU College of Nursing. Nurses, medical assistants, and medical technologists are trained at IMH prior to their graduation in college; thus, they are given priority during employment.

However, Centralians in the medical field and working in IMH are not acknowledged solely for these facts. Centralians are a valuable part of hospital service and courtesy, and these are largely attributed by both patients and the staff to the Central Spirit.

For Aloha Cocjin Genovaña, CPU Med Tech ‘93 and Ms. CPU Alumni 2013, Central spirit “is the spirit of humanism and love of service. Our daily work in the hospital is inspired by the Central spirit. Care is central in our mission to provide quality service to our patients. Putting our best in the workplace is also central in our duties at the IMH.”

Aloha Cocjin Genovaña on duty.
Mae Therese and her Centralian co-worker William Jinon.
Mae Therese on duty at the IMH.

Mae Therese Simpas, CPU High School Batch 1986 and BSMT Batch 1991 is proud of her being a Centralian worker at Iloilo Mission Hospital. Accommodating patients and providing for their needs involve kindness and are motivated by the values she learned from Central Philippine University.

Next time you are at Iloilo Mission Hospital, find the CPU pin on the nurses’, doctors’, and medical technologists’ uniforms and start expecting the quality service inspired by the Central Spirit.

Centralian develops Android app for Centralian Link

Engr. Barry Jone T. Matutina envisions to develop CPU mobile apps for the convenience of Centralians everywhere.

For the love of dear Central, Engr. Barry Jone T. Matutina, Human Resource System Staff of the CPU HRD Office and former CPU webmaster, developed an Android application tailor-made for the Weekly Centralian Link. Engr. Matutina saw that the readers of the Weekly Centralian Link could access the newsletter only through the website (www.cpu.edu.ph), an email subscription, and their Facebook account. He pitched the idea to the CPU Office of Communications to have a mobile app reader that will notify the readers every week when the new Weekly Centralian Link is published online and also read the newsletter through the app.

We are happy to release the first version of the Centralian Link Android app. You may download it at:link.cpu.edu.ph/installer/. It will soon be made available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Kindly send us your comments and suggestions for any improvements on the app.

Engr. Matutina is one of the pioneer graduates of the CPU Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering in 2005. He is also an Electrical Engineer (CPU BSEE, 2007), and is currently studying Civil Engineering at CPU. He envisions that CPU can soon develop mobile applications in which students can see their grades and pay their accounts.

The CPU Office of Communications is grateful to the help and innovation of Engr. Barry Jone T. Matutina.

Bridging the World through Link

Some Weekly Centralian Link issues.

The Weekly Centralian Link, the official weekly publication of Central Philippine University Office of Communications is described as “a window to the world,” “everyone’s source of information from the campus,” “what every Centralian should read,” and the like. A lot of ideas, passion, hard work, and commitment go into publishing one Centralian Link issue every week.

With the support of the university President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, the Office of Communications raised the mast to sail on a unified writing endeavor. The decision to push one publication per week was inspired by EXCEL (Exemplary Christian Education for Life)—to produce an excellent quality newsletter, to be supported and cherished by the university faculty and staff, CPU alumni, and friends. The struggle to sustain and maintain a timely newsletter was likewise driven by the Central Spirit. Its aim is to provide Centralians a new look at the news and information “from the campus to the world!”

On its second year (and after 50 issues), The Weekly Centralian Link promises to bring out the best of campus news, events, and features. The publication also showcases the developments of the University and other future projects with other institutions and linkages. Apart from the printed edition for distribution in the campus, the publication is also sent to individual subscribers via email, social media, and can be accessed through the official CPU website, www.cpu.edu.ph.

We encourage you to send your stories to us so that it will be a source of inspiration to everyone. We also ask for your help in finding stories and events that feature our alumni or alumni chapters.

We owe the success of The Weekly Centralian Link to the enthusiasm of the CPU stakeholders. We are also grateful to all our readers and supporters. It is our promise to send you The Weekly Centralian Link every Friday.

CPU takes part in the Greg Secker Foundation project for victims of Typhoon Yolanda

CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles shakes hand with English Philanthropist Greg Secker. Looking on is Mrs. Angel Robles.

Folks in a community in Lemery, one of the towns in the part northern part of the Iloilo province, received 100 houses from Greg Secker Foundation four years after typhoon Yolanda lashed the province. Greg Secker Foundation was founded by Greg Secker, an English philanthropist. Secker officially turned over the houses on January 5, 2018 at Sitio Malag-it in Brgy. Capiñahan, Lemery. The housing project is named the Greg Secker Foundation Village.

CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles and his wife Ma’am Angel; CPU Outreach Director, Prof. Levi O. De Los Santos, Jr.; Dean College of Education, Dr. Merle Junsay; CPU APROTECH Coordinator, Engr. Aries Rhoda Romallosa; and faculty members Dr. Myrna Luceño and Prof. Bernadine Baliguat were present at the Opening and Turning Over Ceremony. The event marked the start of a new community in Lemery.

According to DR June I. Sanico, Philippine Operations Manager of the Greg Secker Foundation, “The beneficiaries will receive more than a home. The second phase of the project includes help to provide education for both children and adults, and support from benefactors worldwide. This will help create a thriving and industrious community.”

Greg Secker Foundation Village at Sitio Malag-it in Brgy. Capiñahan, Lemery, Iloilo, Philippines.

The partnership of Central Philippine University with the Lemery housing project started in 2016 when Mrs. Rose Sanico, a CPU College of Education alumna and employee of the Greg Secker Foundation in London approached the Community Engagement and Service-Learning Center for Assistance.

As a partner in the project, CPU conducted social preparations for the project through its Social Work Department. The College of Engineering also extended technical assistance during the construction. It conducted a construction management seminar for the local foremen and carpenters and a product labeling seminar for food processing to the beneficiaries. The latter was held by the CPU Packaging Engineering. The College of Education, meanwhile, conducted tutorial instructions for the elementary pupils of the beneficiaries.

A number of dignitaries, celebrities-including former Miss Earth Angela Ong, VIPs, and international figures attended the turning-over ceremony.

Working for God ‘s greatest glory: The Nelia G. Bonete story

Prof. Nelia Bonete encourages fellow faculty and staff to love and offer their best for Central and ultimately for the glory of God.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” – Colossians 3:23

This verse is the guiding principle of Miss Nelia Bonete, Chairperson, Department of Business and Administration, College of Business and Accountancy, CPU who recently received the 45 years Long Service Award from the University.

The young-looking professor in her early sixties was born in Dao, Capiz and migrated with her parents to Mindanao in the 60’s. She is one of the seven children of the Bonetes. Her father was tailor and farmer and her mother, a housewife.

Bonete delivered a response speech on behalf of the faculty awardees. The address was simple, but full of appreciation and gratefulness for God and the opportunity He allowed—to serve Central Philippine University during the best years of her life.

For Nelia Bonete, “It’s a great privilege to have worked in CPU where I gained more knowledge and experiences; I was enriched with love, belongingness and security.” She added that while in CPU, God equipped her with skills and competencies. Her right attitude helped her much to achieve her goals.

The beginning of her desire to go to college was what pushed her to apply in the work-study program of CPU. It was her classmate in high school who encouraged her to apply. It was during a difficult time in 1972 when God granted her desire to be accepted in the
CPU work-study program.

Bonete was trained to become a responsible worker by the College of Agriculture Dean, Dr. Wilfredo Espada, who recommended her to become a part-time clerk before her graduation. Upon her graduation from college, she was hired as a fulltime secretary. Bonete is an accounting major. As she had to keep working in order to send her sisters, nephews and nieces to school, she was never able to take the board examination. However, she studied MBA on Saturdays and finished in due time.

Upon her graduation with an MBA degree, CPU took Bonete in as a full-time faculty member. She worked under three university presidents: Dr. Agustin A. Pulido, Dr. Juanito M. Acanto, and Dr. Teodoro C. Robles. She had been under six deans as part of the staff, as part-time faculty, and then as a full-time faculty member. She was the chair of the Department of Business Administration under two deans in the College of Business and Accountancy for 18 years.

In her response speech during the Awarding Ceremony for Long Service, Bonete reminded her fellow service awardees to “not be weary in doing well for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).” Bonete made her challenge to the awardees and all the faculty and staff “to continue to do our best in whatever task we are assigned to do.”

The prize for perseverance: The Abelardo Carman Story

A man of faith and perseverance – Carman inspires the Centralian community with his testimony.

“A positive attitude can bring anyone from a humble beginning to a higher achievement.”

This is what Mr. Abelardo Bedaño Carman, a 2017 CPU Long Service Awardee, believes in. Carman received his award after forty long years of working hard at Central Philippine University as a janitor, Assistant Supervisor, and then, a Unit Head in 2013.

Carman was a work student. He studied in the CPUCollege of Commerce but never got the chance to finish. Eventually, he got employed by the university in 1977.

Out of his love and responsibility for his wife and children, Carman has to endure being away from his family and coming home to them once a week for many years. Carman, who hails from Brgy. Kayan Oeste, Lambunao, Iloilo is married to a Public School teacher Melly Perla of Badiangan, Iloilo. In his hometown, Carman served as the Chairman of the Church Council of Foward Baptist Church. He and his wife have two daughters, Alfa June and Myla. With a scholarship privilege from CPU, Carman was able to have his two daughters graduate from CPU and they are now successful professionals.

He highlighted his achievement as an awardee with an inspirational message that affected the audience inside the Rose Memorial Auditorium, where the ceremony took place. It was a sentimental moment of joy and gratitude which he shared with his fellow awardees, faculty and staff, the Vice Presidents and Unit Heads—including the University President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles. Dr. Robles had personally asked Mr. Carman to extend his employment with CPU due to the need for his valuable service to the University.

The 61-year old Mr. Carman, fondly called Sir Abelard by everyone in the campus, is an idolized figure of perseverance and hard work. He lives and thinks of CPU as a way of life. As a matter of attitude, according to Carman, he loves and enjoys his work at CPU. His mindset is that when the CPU grounds are clean, then the teachers can teach better, and the students can study better. When the day’s toil has ended, he stays to check that all garbage cans were collected, gardens and bushes were trimmed, and plants were watered. He did all of these for the length of time that he worked for the Grounds Upkeep and Maintenance. “My secret of being able to work for 40 years and receive the award is perseverance and a positive attitude at work,” Carman said.

One of his daughters, Myla Carman Cañes (now married with two children) is employed at the CPU Human Resource Development Office. She proudly describes her father as a passionate Centralian worker. According to Myla, “My father loves our family very much. He also loves the CPU grounds. He comes home every weekend to bring home food and delights from the city, and comes back to his work in CPU the next day.”

Abelard is regarded and well respected by his co-workers and by the administrators at Central Philippine University. On a sentimental note to the audience during his response speech, Carman asked this question, “What would have happened to me without CPU?”