6 Outstanding Sillimanians named

         Six alumni have been chosen by a selection committee, later approved by the Board of Trustees of Silliman University, to receive the 2007 Outstanding Sillimanian Awards to highlight the celebration of the university’s 106th Founders Day. The awardees, all coming from various alumni chapters in the country, will be honored in fitting ceremonies in a special convocation at 10 a.m. on Aug. 28 at the Luce Auditorium.

         The awardees are: Justice Venancio D. Aldecoa Jr. in the field of government service; Dr. Victor B. Amoroso in the field of botany; Dr. Juan Q. Bartolo Jr. in the field of community health service; Winglip K. Chang in the field of business; Dr. Perla Rizalina Maturan Tayko in the field of organizational development; and, Olivia Villaflores Yanson in the field of entrepreneurship.

Justice Venancio D. Aldecoa, Jr.

         Justice Aldecoa, who was nominated by the Dumaguete alumni chapter, obtained his elementary and secondary education, with honors, from the public schools of Dumaguete, his hometown. From Silliman University, he obtained the degrees of Associate in Arts, Pre-Law (with highest honors), Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude), and Bachelor of Laws (cum laude). He passed the 1952 bar examinations with a rating of 90.7 percent.

         As a senior lecturer, he taught in the College of Law of Silliman University for 20 years, while also serving in its Board of Trustees for 15 years. He was elected seventh president of his alma mater, in the process saving the university, which was heavily indebted during the martial law years, from financial ruin. He was elected to the City Council of Dumaguete for four consecutive terms, later appointed to the judiciary as presiding judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, then as RTC Judge of the National Capital Region in Quezon City, and finally as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, the first from Negros Oriental.

Dr. Victor B. Amoroso

         Dr. Amoroso was nominated by the Bukidnon alumni chapter where he serves as Professor VI of Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon. A native of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, he finished high school at St. Agustin Academy, Bayawan and proceeded to Silliman University for his Bachelor of Science in Biology degree, graduating in 1973. He went to the University of the Philippines, Diliman for his M.S. in Botany, major in morphology, graduating in 1977 as a college scholar. He later obtained his Ph.D. in Botany, major in morphology and taxonomy, at the UP Diliman in 1983.

         He is likewise Scientist III of the Department of Science and Technology-Civil Service Commission-Central Mindanao University, as well as head of the Mt. Musuan Zoological and Botanical Garden and University Museum. He is also the coordinator of the CHEd-Mindanao Advanced Education Program since 1997.

         Through the leadership of Dr. Amoroso, he brought accolades to Central Mindanao University, implementing several research projects in various fields, which obtained funding from outside sources, both locally and abroad. On his own, he was bestowed 22 awards and honors from prestigious national entities; published 45 scientific papers, handbooks and manuals here and abroad; attended 28 international scientific and technological conferences and seminars; and, completed 12 research works, among others, that left a lasting impact on the biodiversity and conservation of flora and fauna.

         Dr. Amoroso’s efforts were recognized by his hometown when he received the Hamiling Bayawanon Award and became an Outstanding Negrense, just like Justice Aldecoa, in the field of science and technology.

Dr. Juan Q. Bartolo, Jr.

         Nominated by the Metro Manila alumni chapter, Dr. Bartolo was born in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental. He finished elementary in 1950, high school in 1954, and Associate of Arts in 1957, all from Silliman University. He finished medicine from the Cebu Institute of Medicine in 1962, passing the medical board examinations on the same year. He went to the UP Manila for his Master of Public Health in 1976, the first from Kalinga-Apayao (where he and his family are based today) and the Cordillera Administrative Region to attain such from the state university.

         Dr. Bartolo served the province of Kalinga as a medical officer from 1967 until he retired from government service in 1998. He became Chief of Hospital II at Kalinga District Hospital in Lubuagan, Kalinga where he, among other accomplishments, improved service delivery to the poorest of the poor by making available badly needed medicines and drugs, as well as initiated and sustained medical, surgical, and dental services to the nearby barangays of Lubuagan, Kalinga. He also became Provincial Health Officer II in the province of Kalinga-Apayao and together with his wife, Presentacion, was able to perform medical extension work in several barangays of Tabuk and Pinukpuk.

          He was also chief of the Apayao District Hospital and chief of the Technical Division of the Regional Health Office, Cordillera Administrative Region, as well as Provincial Health Officer of Kalinga Province.

          In all his undertakings as a community medical worker, Dr. Bartolo manifested the ideals of being a true-blue Sillimanian in heart, mind, and deed.

Winglip K. Chang

          Nominated by the Cebu alumni chapter, Chang was born in Cebu City, obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Silliman University. Widely known as a successful restaurateur, his business empire in Cebu includes The Grand Convention Center, popular not only as a favorite venue for functions, but also as the location of the Grand Majestic Restaurant.

          Other than the Majestic Restaurants and the Grand Convention Center, Chang also has interests in Asian Cuisine Corporation, Senryu Japanese Restaurant, and Tongs Restaurant. His non-restaurant business includes six branches of Tita Gwapa Supertinda, Inc., a newly established retail establishment currently operating six branches, and Sto. Niño de Cebu Finance Corporation.

          Apart from his business pursuits, he is also active in various organizations, including being a member of the City Sports Club of Cebu, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.

Dr. Perla Rizalina M. Tayko

          Similarly nominated by the Dumaguete alumni chapter, Dr. Maturan-Tayko is a respected process consultant, coach, facilitator, and trainor in curriculum, instruction, human and organization development, and transformation. Born in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, she graduated valedictorian from Bethel Academy, Hinunangan in 1960 and earned her degree in Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (magna cum laude) in 1965 from Silliman University. She went on to finish a Masters in Science Education from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, in 1969 and a doctorate in organization development and planning from the Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI) in 1981.

         She is international associate program director of the Graduate School of Business, Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand. She is also president of the Training, Learning, and Consulting Services in Manila and served as past vice-president, and now liaison officer-Philippines of the IODA, a network of organization development consultants/professionals from 40 countries registered in Washington, D.C. She served as dean of the Graduate School of the SAIDI from 1981-1990.

          Considered an outstanding professional in her field of organization development, she was the first recipient of the Richard Beckhard IODA Award for outstanding professional contribution to the OD practice during the 17th World Congress in Santiago, Chile of the International Organization Development Association in 2002.

Olivia V. Yanson

          Villaflores-Yanson was born in Bayawan, Negros Oriental. She finished her basic education at the Tolong Junior High School and Negros Oriental Rural School, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Silliman University in 1956. Upon graduation, she was employed as a staff nurse at the Silliman Mission Hospital for a year and a half, after which she relocated to Bacolod City following her marriage to Dr. Ricardo Yanson Sr. by whom she has seven children.

          Together with her entrepreneur husband, Love – as she is fondly called by friends and associates – is known to be the “heart and soul” of the three major transit companies the couple started early in their married life. These are the Vallacar Transit Corporation, known nationwide as the Ceres Liner; the Rural Transit Company of Mindanao; and the Bachelor Express Corporation. She is the Chairman of the Board of all three corporations.

          Nominated both by the Dumaguete and Bacolod alumni chapters, her perseverance, hard work, and enterprise made it possible for their business to become the biggest and largest privately owned transport company not only in the Philippines, but also in Asia.

          With only one jeepney to their conjugal name when they started out their business enterprise, the Yanson couple has successfully built a transportation business with around 2,000 well-maintained and comfortable buses serving the islands of Negros, Panay, Cebu, Mindanao, and parts of Luzon with a total of 7,500 employees with 9 branch offices nationwide.

          In March 2007 she was conferred the Signum Lasallianum Award by the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod for living out the Lasallian ideals of faith, service, and community.

          The six Outstanding Sillimanian awardees have truly manifested their alma mater’s motto of “Via, Veritas, Vita” through their accomplishments and life-long ideals.