Centralian Excellence: Joana Christine Q. Rabulan

Excellence in the service of Ilonggos, Joana Christine Q. Rabulan inspires Centralians to persevere and pursue greater heights for the glory of God and the pride of Central. Photo Credit: Joana Christine Q. Rabulan

Scientia et Fides—The heart of the Centralian experience is the fulfillment of young lives in becoming exemplary Christian learners for life. To embody the pursuits of excellence and faith is the reason for the university’s existence. Central Philippine University is home to outstanding individuals that have made a mark in their respective workplace and community.

One of these individuals is Joana Christine Q. Rabulan, a Centralian alumna of CPU kindergarten until tertiary education. She graduated with the degree Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at CPU.

Recently, Rabulan was awarded the prestigious 2017 Top Branch of the Year Nationwide, Mall Branch Category, Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO)—the No.1 bank in the Philippines. As the branch head of BDO SM City Iloilo B Branch, located in SM City, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, she has dedicated her passion and perseverance in providing excellent banking services to Ilonggos. “I manage the overall operations, sales, and housekeeping area of the branch. I have 30 people (officers and staff) under me and my responsibility is to achieve and/or exceed the branch yearly targets and loans targets. My team and I focus on giving excellent service to all our clients.”

According to Rabulan, the award is a recognition of her commitment to her work. “This prestigious award is a huge, huge affirmation of my and my team+s persistent, hard work and output for the branch. To be awarded with this is a testament of God+s abundant grace upon the team. Our branch had stiff competition given that we had other mall branches all over the country who were also working hard to try to get the national awards. For our branch to be No. 1 overall for 2017 gives us a sense of pride and humility as well as this feeling that all our sacrifices were worth it. Each officer, each staff, including our guards and messenger, have contributed greatly to garner these awards. We also extend our utmost gratitude to all our clients for their continued trust and support.”

Sharing her experiences as a Centralian, Rabulan talked about the people who have helped her along the way to achieve her potential. “Two of the people I hold with high regard and I deem to be my mentors are, my mother and my professor in accountancy. My mother is Mrs. Corazon Rabulan, a CPU College of Education professor who has been with CPU for decades and who is an excellent teacher to her students. She has imbibed in me the value of hard work, integrity, and excellence in achieving my results. She is an intelligent, very gracious, and humble person who is strict but fair. The other one is Mrs. Gloria Biado, my accountancy part-time professor at that time. She was very clear whenever she explained the subject matter to us and was a calm, intelligent teacher. I even said to myself at that time she was our teacher that I wanted to be like her when I pursued my career.”

It was her faith in God that motivated her to excel and empower others. According to Rabulan, her stay in the university helped her get ready for the real world and translate her faith intoa excellent performance in her career. “During my student years in CPU, I was already proud to be a Centralian. I knew that when I got to the real world, I would be bringing with me the Christian values that the university had inculcated in me since kindergarten, as well as the strength that my learning years had molded into me. I believed that I would be a competent and a very productive graduate when thrown into the cut throat world of my profession. It was just a matter of time and I received that affirmation with the most recent top award in the country.”

Love for God, faith, prayers, love for work, sacrifice, selflessness, patience, humility, and the drive for excellence—these are the values Rabulan learned from her university.

For the next generation of Centralians Rabulan advises that they should carve their own path, write their own story. “Never listen to the naysayers; never let negativity touch your skin. Always remember that you have greatness in you. You just need to choose to harness it to its highest potential.” She further encourages them to persevere and work hard to achieve their dreams. “Perhaps I would like to echo what Mr. Denzel Washington said in one of the College Commencement speeches he delivered, ‘Don+t just aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference wherever you are.’ Finally, don+t ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. You are the only person who can ever say that. Dream big, work hard for it, and never forget that at the end of each success, always acknowledge the grace and mercies of God. In each of our own journeys, we must never forget to always be grounded and keep our values intact.”

Centralian Joseph Celis is new NAPOLCOM Chief for Region 6

*Atty. Joseph Celis, Director, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Region 6 shared how CPU honed him to act with integrity and discipline. Photo Credit: Aksyon Radyo Bacolod Facebook Page*

Attorney Joseph S. Celis, Director of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Region 6 is a leader who exudes loyalty, love, and respect—among the core values he imbibed from Central Philippine University. Joseph Celis, also known as Jong-jong, revisited CPU after being installed with a Special Order as Director II at the Iloilo City NAPOLCOM Headquarters. He reminisced his good old college days as an idolized football star, an active student leader in the CPUR, and a member of the Political Science Student Organization and Order of Kalantiao.

The son of Jose A. Celis, CPU Commerce graduate and a businessman, and CPU Education graduate, Elvira Celis, Joseph studied in CPU from Kinder 1 up to Grade 2. He graduated from CPU High School in 1984 and he finished his AB Political Science, also from CPU, in 1988. Celis recalled how he was supported in his studies by their family business—the famous Jackson Steel Cabinet manufacturing in Western Visayas, producer of quality vaults and other equipment. He helped his father in the business while also doing well in school.

He proceeded to study at University of Santo Tomas Law School after he finished college in CPU. Later, he worked hard to finish his Bachelor of Laws at the Philippine Law School. After that, he was appointed to several government agencies as legal officer, Assistant Regional Director, and Director, particularly at the National Police Commission, which is attached to the Department of Interior and Local Government.

His early engagements in the police included monitoring, inspection of police stations, spot checking, and compliance level for the police assigned. His job also included press and media interviews. His first assignment was in July 7, 2004 as Acting NAPOLCOM Assistant Regional Director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), after which, he was promoted to Assistant Director on December 2006. He became the Regional Director in December 2008.

He is the youngest Director in an Army Camp’s Instructional Defense Risk Association in Camarines Sur. He covered five provinces as NAPOLCOM Regional Director in Tuguegarao City’s Regional Office in 2010. In 2011, Celis served as NAPOLCOM Assistant Regional Director of Davao before being appointed in the same year as NAPOLCOM Regional Director for Muslim Mindanao. He has become the longest sitting non-Muslim Regional Director.

From 2004 to 2006, Celis was the Regional Director for Negros Island Region (NIR) while serving as concurrent NAPOLCOM Provincial Officer for Iloilo. He was assigned as Provincial Officer of Aklan and other provinces until his appointment as Regional Director of Western Visayas with Special Order: NAPOLCOM 2018-001, dated January 4, 2018.

Celis has been assigned another responsibility when he was elected President of Central Philippine University Elementary School Parent-Teachers Association for 2017-2018.

All his stints, positions and responsibilities, he carried on with excellence and integrity. These he attributes to his basic training at CPU, a strong Central Spirit and discipline in himself.

Gerry Escolta: Labor is honor

*Escolta with his friend and former co-worker Mr. Cyrus Natividad.*

From a humble working student at Central Philippine University, Gerry A. Escolta has realized his dream of becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He is now a CPA who owns the G. Escolta Management Consultancy Services that provides management consultancy services to several companies in Sta. Rosa City Laguna and parts of Metro Manila.

His hardships and difficulties during his college days only made him more determined to pursue his plans to finish college and become a CPA. Escolta recalls that he would wake up very early from the municipality of Passi where he came home to every weekend and catch one of the few jeepneys that go to Iloilo City every Monday. Escolta finished his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Central Philippine University in 1981 and succeeded to pass the CPA Board Exam in Manila the following year.

He came back to CPU very recently to visit friends, former classmates, particularly his co-work students at the Student Service Enterprise. He did not forget his work 40 years ago—checking the enterprise stocks and serving his customers with courtesy. He studied his lessons diligently during work intervals and learned from the accounting process of the enterprise as well.

Escolta believes in quality and to have studied at CPU is a fortunate experience. He constantly thinks about how he could have succeeded if not for the Work-Study Program of Central Philippine University.

He emphasized that “labor is honor.” Labor was what made him a deserving work-student, a determined career person and now a very successful Certified Public Accountant.

Escolta revisited CPU with a plan to organize a Student Service Enterprise Alumni Association (CPU SSEAA). For those who have been a work student before and assigned to the SSE, please contact Gerry Escolta on this number: 09155477296.

Agustin Pulido: A Distinguished Centralian

*A testimony of commitment to faith and excellence – Dr. Agustin A. Pulido continues to inspire a generation of Centralians.*

Dr. Agustin A. Pulido, nicknamed “Gus,” was born to the couple Agustin Pulido, Sr. and Sol Aguilar-Pulido on March 20, 1932 in Cadiz, Negros Occidental. He was brought up by his parents to follow their footsteps as educators. His mother and father were both teachers who believed that “it runs in the family.” For Dr. Agustin A. Pulido, it is an experience that strengthened him to become one excellent educator.

He started his education with a younger brother in a primary school in Cadiz. He was a consistent honor student, until World War II broke out in 1941. He transferred residences with his family several times during the war. They stayed in Isabela with his aunt but later moved to Escalante.

He finished his secondary education in Bacolod City then took up his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Silliman University, Dumaguete City. He graduated in 1953, magna cum laude. He pursued his Master of Science in Chemistry from U.P. Diliman in Quezon City. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (Physical Chemistry) from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.

Turning his back to far more lucrative roles as an educator and researcher elsewhere, Dr. Pulido assumed the presidency of Central Philippine University on September 8, 1971, a post vacated by the passing away of senior friend and fellow Christian, Dr. Rex D. Drilon, the first Filipino president of CPU. He shelved his expertise, as a chemistry professor, to assume a position, which he declared “required a different and higher level of chemistry.”

After 25 fruitful years as President of CPU, Dr. Pulido retired in 1996. Immediately after that, Silliman University’s Board of Trustees chose him to be their 11^th President.

Dr. Pulido has served as member of the CPU and SU Board of Trustees and CPU Corporation. He has also served as Dean, Department Chair, Professor and Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines in Iloilo City. He has carried out duties in different committees in these three universities. In other institutions, he has served as Chair, as Vice Chair, and/or as a member. After Dr. Juanito M. Acanto, Dr. Pulido became Chairman of the Management Committee while the search for the new CPU president was ongoing.

With able leadership and selfless dedication, he developed the physical infrastructures, strengthened the financial resources through endowment funds. He upgraded the influence of CPU to make it one of the great centers of higher education in Asia. The Distinguished Centralian Award in Education was presented to Dr. Pulido for his outstanding accomplishments as an educator and University President last 1996 during the 91^st University Day celebration of CPU.

The concrete proof of this development under his administration are the Engineering Building, New Valentine Hall, the Elementary School, Henry Luce III Library, the new Rose Memorial Auditorium and other buildings. On the other hand, Dr. Pulido worked hard in the field of alumni relations. He successfully reached out to the CPU alumni all over the Philippines and many other countries, mobilized them into active chapters to support CPU in pursuit of its various programs and projects that offered an Exemplary Christian Education for Life (EXCEL).

Now, he is simply enjoying life with his loving wife Dr. Dorothy Ann Bermejo Pulido, a medical doctor, in their residence near CPU. Dr. Pulido shared some of his secrets in staying active and mentally alert. First of all, he says, “We need to free up our minds with problems, by choosing which one to solve first.” He added, “We can simply subsist on fresh fruits and vegetables, and a bit of exercise by walking.” But the activity that the Pulidos love most is reading.

Their children, Cybele Ann, an elementary and high school graduate of CPU, and married to Engr. Luther C. Risma now lives in the United States with their child Idra Ann. Deneel, also an elementary and high school graduate of CPU and married to Col. Ezra James P. Enriquez, a graduate from the Philippine Military Academy, have two children, Mark James “Wofie” and Joshua James, a famous photographer in the campus and in the Visayas region.

BSN Class 1990 donates to College of Nursing Virtual Lab

A commitment to a greater Central – the completion of the Nursing Virtual Laboratory will help catapult the CPU College of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in the region. Shown in picture is CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles and Atty. Salex E. Alibogha, Acting Dean of the College of Nursing accepting the donation from Dr. Helen A. Hofileña, sister of BSN Class 1990 graduate Mr. Jessie Almonares.

The Central Philippine University College of Nursing Class 1990 donated $1, 156 or 58, 724 pesos for the completion of the soon to be constructed P5-million Virtual Laboratory of the College of Nursing. The said donation was received by Atty. Salex E. Alibogha, Acting Dean of the College of Nursing and CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles at the Board of Trustees Conference Hall on January 30, 2018.

According to Atty. Salex, the funds for the said laboratory have reach 2 million pesos. He hopes that funds can be completed before 2018 ends. The Virtual Laboratory will help the College of Nursing attain a “Center of Excellence” status in the region. The fund raising campaign for the proposed project has been ongoing with Nursing Alumni Associations worldwide. It will continue until the amount is enough to finance the proposed project.

*CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles signs the receipt of the donation from BSN Class 1990.*

The Nursing Virtual Laboratory will provide simulation of various nursing procedures such as IV therapy, parenteral medications, for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and others. They expounded that this is part of the Outcome-based education (OBE) curriculum. The lab will help prepare students develop their nursing skills, depicting real life situations, before doing it on actual patients. It will be a facility that will have doll simulators, IV virtual laboratory monitors, and camera for other students to watch how procedures are being done while in another room. With this Virtual Laboratory, CPU students will be able to practice their delivery of health care and errors will be minimized on real patients.

CPU President, Dr. Robles thanked the CON Class 1990 for their continuous love and support to the university. He also encourages Centralians here and abroad to support the cause as the College of Nursing gears for new heights in the field of competitive nursing.

The College of Nursing hopes that more donations will be raised to complete the project on time. For your donations and inquiries please call (033) 3291971 loc. 1037 (College of Nursing Secretary’s Office) or loc. 2107 (Faculty Room) or email nursing@cpu.edu.

10th CPU Alumni Global Reunion to be held in July 2018

*The Central Spirit across borders, languages and years for the Glory of God and for the pride of CPU.*

With the theme, “Fostering CPU’s Legacy-Let the Central Spirit Shine!” the Central Philippine University Federation of Overseas Alumni Association and CPUAA Midwest USA are inviting Centralians all around the globe to attend the 10^th CPU Alumni Global Reunion to be held at Crowne Plaza, Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Illinois on July 5-8, 2018.

Alumni are expected to be part of this grand event of rekindling the Centralian flame of friendship. Let us celebrate the Central Spirit with pride and joy as we gather together and immerse ourselves in the years of camaraderie and faith that Central has helped shape.

For more information on the event please check: www.2018cpuglobalreunion.com for the itinerary and registration.

Please send your registration early to avail of special pricing in both registration and lodging. Invite your family and friends to join you—the more the merrier!