Eye Opener
By Rodolfo Gumabong

CPU Centennial Celebration a roaring success

Coming from North America, Canada, Guam, Hawaii, Australia, Koronadal, South Cotabato, Luzon and other parts of the Visayas, CPU alumni keep on pouring in at the CPU campus. According to CPU Alumni President Glenn A.M. Catedral, and President Juanito M. Acanto, as of August 4, 2005, about 1,500 Centralians have made their way to the 24-hectare campus of their Alma Mater. Despite the intermittent downpour, the true-blooded Centralians braved the rain and went on with their fellowship with their classmates and other alumni who, for more than 50 years, have not seen each other.

The Centralian nurses are the most active alumni group in town as they hold their homecoming and reunion in 5-star hotels. Arts and Sciences, law, engineering, education, high school and elementary were never out-beaten as they also conducted their “sadya-sadya” and “bonga-bonga” with lechon and lauriat food.

Dr. Catedral said in an interview that dollar spending of North American alumni at SM City and other big malls in the city has reached $300 million and this huge amount added to the coffers of Iloilo City business establishments and the city government. Banks were also filled with dollar-earning CPU alumni as SM City has limited their exchange of dollar to a peso at $300 as they reportedly ran out of Philippine peso. The CPU Alumni president averred that the golf tournament in Sta. Barbara was the greatest event ever held in Iloilo since time in memorial as alumni from abroad dominated the golf play. What is most interesting was the declaration of Gov. Niel Tupas of Iloilo for August as the CPU Centennial month. Antique Governor Sally Z. Perez and Governor Rhaman Nava have also opted to declare August as CPU Centennial Month.

The wildest and the craziest event of the CPU Centennial celebration is the Alumni Centennial Homecoming dinner to be held on Saturday evening, August 6, at the CPU auditorium. Local alumni who were preoccupied with their office work and other government and private activities will troop to CPU grounds on Saturday to make their day busy and memorable.

Alumni who will miss the 100 years celebration of their Alma Mater may no longer make it on August 3005! While you have the opportunity now, come to Central Philippine University and meet your classmates, friends and teachers whom many are in their 70's. Statistics show that at age 70, there are more women than men, but at age 70, who cares? See you at CPU!