The awarding in fitting ceremonies is at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium as one of the highlights of the 108th Founders Day of Silliman University.

Bangayan was nominated by the Davao City alumni chapter. He graduated with the degree of bachelor of business administration in 1973 from Silliman University. While a student, he learned the ropes of the family’s copra business, becoming the head of the family at the age of 18 after his father suffered a stroke. Immediately after his college graduation, he worked as a purchaser, payroll master, and a copra analyst. He went into the trading business in 1974 and earned his first million pesos two years after graduating from Silliman University. To this day, he continues to be active in socio-cultural activities in Davao and staunchly supports scholarship programs and undertakings spearheaded by various organizations from Silliman University.

Bauzon is a member of the Silliman University High School Class of 1966 and finished the degree of bachelor of arts, major in political science, at Silliman University in 1970. He was nominated by the Silliman alumni chapter of New York-New Jersey, where he is currently associate professor of Saint Joseph’s College in New York, USA since 2002, among other teaching positions. He earned his master of arts in history (1975), master of arts in political science (1978), and doctor of philosophy in political science (1981) all from Duke University. Currently, Bauzon is completing a volume on multiculturalism in the United States, a product of his participation – as part of a team of scholars from the US, Canada, the Philippines, and Australia – in a multi-year and cross-disciplinary project that critically addresses the dimensions of multiculturalism in the US involving race and ethnic relations and, in particular, the criminal justice system.

Nominated by the Dumaguete alumni chapter, Corsino was born in Dumaguete City where he studied at Silliman University, graduating high school in 1962; bachelor of secondary education, major in history and English, in 1966 (cum laude); and, master of arts in education in 1972. He obtained his Ph. D. in political science in 1977 from Northern Illinois University and took advanced studies as fellow, Center for International Affairs at Harvard University in 1985-1986. He is recognized for his professional leadership and has represented the Department of Foreign Affairs in many national and international conferences and seminars. His various diplomatic assignments include being stationed at the Philippine Embassy, Washington, D. C., USA as First Secretary and Consul, Second Secretary and Consul, and Third Secretary and Vice Consul; Consul, Philippine Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Minister and Consul General, Ankara, Turkey; the United Nations; and, the Philippine Embassy, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. At present, Corsino is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cuba, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Haiti, and Jamaica.

Somera was nominated by the Association of Central Texas Sillimanians (ACTS). Born in Dumaguete City, he finished elementary in 1951, high school in 1955, and master of divinity in 1967 at Silliman University. He graduated with the degree of bachelor of science in agriculture in 1961 at Araneta University, Malabon, Metro Manila. He earned his doctor of ministry in 1974 at Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Centre, Massachusetts, USA. Despite retiring from the military, Somera continues with his “Internet ministry” and other pastoral responsibilities, and continues to serve as an active advocate of quality of life issues for the military and civilian families. He had been involved with the founding and establishment of various alumni chapters – Aloha chapter in 1985, Silliman University Alumni Association of Washington State chapter in 1989, and the ACTS in 2007. He is also active in activities for the Silliman University Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA) and the Silliman University Tree of Life campaign program.