The Real Sillimanian

“Where are you studying?”
“Silliman University.”
“Wow. That’s pretty cool.”

More often than not, this is the usual conversation among friends, especially the freshmen. One can feel the privilege of studying in a very prestigious institution like Silliman.

But then I realized that privilege alone was not enough to really enjoy the essence of college life, of what it really means to become a real Sillimanian. So I immediately grabbed the chance when I was invited to participate in the Online Journalism Training of Smart Communications, Inc. held last April 22 and 23, 2010 at the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library. Not only Silliman participated; five other colleges and universities joined: AMA, STI, Foundation University, NORSU, and SPUD. I met new faces, became reunited with the old, and more importantly, I learned a lot of things that changed my view of what journalism is.

Having been in the field of campus journalism for three years, I have always thought of journalism to be neutral, cold, and extremely balanced. But as it turned out, there was another one of its kind: advocacy media, which disseminates information like news reporting, but at the same time convinces the people to act on an issue like editorial writing, hence making it a slightly biased form of journalism. And to cope with the fast development of the use of the Internet where various information travel across the globe incredibly fast, this media focuses on how facts should be published online, particularly in blogs and social networking sites. I, along with my fellow campus journalists from Silliman and other institutions, were made to go on exposure trips to places like the Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (GP Rehab), the Silliman University Marine Laboratory, and the Center of Tropical Studies. Afterwards, we sat in front of the computers of the Silliman University Cyber Library not to write small personal talk on our Facebook accounts and blogs, but to write meaningful and thought-provoking but factual articles for public consumption through Smart Communications’ campus journalism site, journ.ph. Indeed, I have learned about online advocacy media per se, but I also realized that we have a lot more to delve into than just learning.

In the GP Rehab visit, I met Gabby, a seven-year-old cerebral palsy patient. He is doing well in school and is actually happy and contented with his life, contrary to the belief of many that his disability is making his life miserable. Moreover, during the lecture of DENR Provincial Head Mrs. Mercy Teves, I learned that even our very own forest and marine life here in Negros Oriental are starting to deteriorate, and the government is now exerting effort to attend to this problem with the help of the local townsfolk.

My eyes were opened to reality. Reality that disability seen in some special people is only in the minds of the able, and that we are a part of the mute and ailing planet Earth and therefore we should be the ones to speak for it. Hence, we are encouraged to play our role as humans: caretakers for the environment and for the needy. In this world, we live in a cycle of interaction: other people need our help, and we need their help, too. No matter what way we impart that assistance, as long as the people involved are benefited, then we have done our part.

Taking up a certain course in Silliman may make us Sillimanians at the face of it; however, this cannot guarantee us that we are real students of Silliman University. A real Sillimanian possesses the awareness and compassion for the needy, Christian values that have been imparted by a Christian institution over the years. Academic excellence alone is not enough; one can only enjoy life as a college student and as a Sillimanian when he has cared and loved the environment and the less fortunate, and in the process inspiring others to do likewise, be it in writing, speaking, or simply doing.