Galing Awards

Every year, Silliman University talent scouts conduct a search far and wide for graduates who have made an impact on people’s lives and communities they serve. The graduates found are given Outstanding Sillimanian Awards (OSAs) during the university’s foundation anniversary celebrations in Dumaguete City in August. In Manila, the Sillimanians in Metro Manila (SIMM) conduct their own search, give out Galing Awards, with large amount of hope that the winners would be given OSAs the following year.

In its recent celebration of Silliman’s Founders Day, SIMM presented Galing Awards to three graduates whose influence extends beyond Metro Manila where they are based. These “Galing” persons, according to SIMM president Ed Dames, have been painstakingly chosen by jurors Rey Langit, a multi-awarded broadcaster, Dr. Toby Dayrit, Ateneo professor and chancellor, and Dr. Mariano Apilado, former president of Union Theological seminary and former Silliman University pastor.

Mark Ferenal, dubbed “The Educator,” finished the Silliman BS electrical engineering degree (Class ’84), then later earned an MBA, a Ph.D and an international masters degree in hospitality management. His professional career started with the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. as a network engineer, to quality and productivity trainer, and then as assistant to the division head, until he was drawn to the world of academe. Today he is president of Southville International School and Colleges, a multi-awarded educational institution.

Mark shares his experience and knowledge through numerous speaking engagements. He has co-authored such books as “Institutional Productivity and Quality Through Key Result Areas and Rubrics”; “Human Resources Management – Local and Global Perspectives” and “WPS – An Effective Tool for Organizational Efficiency.”

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SIMM bestowed on “Galing” Jocelyn Pancrudo Turla the title of “The Army Doc.” Jocelyn took up psychology at Silliman, then her masters in hospital administration at UP Manila in 2007, and doctor of medicine in Southwestern University, Cebu City. She is the first woman military officer produced by Silliman. Now deputy commander for professional services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, her record shows her having demonstrated “courage under fire, earning her accolades” like the Bronze Medal for Act of Heroism in the conduct of emergency search, rescue and retrieval operations during various calamities and various wars in Mindanao.

Col. “Panes,” as she is popularly called, applied her training as a psychologist in developing excellent networking and referral system with other government hospitals. She has led many medical missions that served far-flung communities, including those of cultural minorities. During her stint as commanding officer of Camp Nakar Station Hospital, she received numerous awards for the many programs she initiated that benefited the hospital and the AFP.

Dr. Joy was always at the center of Balikatan exercises participated in by the US forces and the AFP. T. Sta. Ana Jr., former commander, AFP Medical Center, said Col. Turla directed the First Forward Medical Responder to the AFP operations such as the Super Typhoon Yolanda, the Zamboanga Siege, rescue of the German Nationals in 2014 and many other natural and man-made calamities. “Due to her leadership, First Forward MEDICS, though a small and undermanned unit, has evolved to become a very important component of the AFP. “

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The “Galing” in the hotel business is Geuel F. Auste (A.B. political science, 1970), who has a masters from Philippine Christian University, and who is now human resources director of New World Hotel Makati, and a professor at the Center of Higher Learning, PCU.

Geuel showed leadership qualities early as an AFS (American Field Service) Exchange Scholar in Iowa, USA. At Silliman, he was chairman of the Student Council, but he could not finish his last semester after he was imprisoned during martial law.

While in detention, Geuel experienced the reality of God. HE was able to formulate “the trinity of principles on human behavior and survival” which he applied in his later work in human resource management. A pastor’s son, he survived an assassin’s bullet that tore a part of his face because God has a special plan for his life; that he was meant to serve others.

He is the longest serving HR director of New World Hotel since it opened in 1993. The hotel has remained union-free on account of his leadership style. He says, “To choose to be in this industry takes the heart of a servant. This concept is an inspiration from the teachings of Christ on servant leadership.”

Geuel is a recipient of the HR Leadership Award presented during the 2014 HRD congress in Singapore. He is recognized as one of the 100 Most Talented Global HR leaders during the 2015 HRD world congress in Mumbai.

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Adding luster to the Galing Awards night was the participation of two notable performing artists.

I was happy listening to my favorite singer, tenor Conrado Calnea Ong III (otherwise known as Dondi), once more. Dondi was the only Filipino member of the international touring cast of “Phantom of the Opera” where he performed various ensemble roles and as understudy for the role of Piangi, the principal tenor in the production that toured Asian cities for eight months. In June 2011, Dondi was conferred the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Presidential Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Last December 2014, he was elevated to the Aliw Awardee Hall of Fame, having won the “Best Male Classical Performer of the Year” for the third time.

Dondi finished the BM award in voice, magna cum laude, at the UP College of Music. He studied under the late Prof. Elmo Makil, a Silliman alumnus. He has performed in every imaginable concert event.

At the Galing Awards, he sang “Sway,” “Ikaw,” “What I Did for Love,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “How Great thou Art.” Dondi was just great.

He matched well with the other performer, soprano Katrina Marie Tiongson Saga. Together they did “A Little Fall of Rain,” “Dahil sa ‘Yo,”’ “Last Night of the World,” “I Have Dreamed,” “This Is the Moment,” “Libiamo” and “The Prayer.”

Katrina is from Dumaguete, grew up loving her lolo’s (the late Atty. Jose ‘Pepe” Tiongson) piano and accordion music which introduced her to jazz, classical, Filipino and standard songs. She studied piano, flute and piccolo, was a member of the SU Campus Choristers, Silliman Jazz Band, and other ensembles which she has also directed.

Katrina has performed solo recitals and concerts with renowned artists like New York-based violinist Michael Emery, cellist Ann Alton and pianist Christine Coyiuto, and mezzo soprano Clarissa Ocampo. She graduated with honors and was awarded the 2010 university talent award.

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