Saturday, March 29, 2008 Traders, actress lead SJI golden jubilee By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
ST. JOHN'S Institute (SJI), popularly known in the Bacolod Chinese community as 'Hua Ming', is celebrating its 50th golden jubilee from March 27 to February 11, 2009.
In Friday's gathering of students, alumni, board of directors and members of the media, SJI principal Father Noly Que described the institution as "reaching the prime age of 50 years but she is far from retiring."
SJI, through one of its active alumna Marivic Rio, disclosed its lineup of activities highlighted by the presence of Dr. Lucio Tan, entrepreneur Lance Gokongwei, book author lawyer Alex Lacson, and actress Chin-Chin Gutierrez.
These activities were designed holistically, as they synergize "credibility, spirituality and culture," and will be posted in various media outlets and opened to the general public.
Rio said Lacson, Gutierrez and Gokongwei already confirmed their participation in the yearlong event.
Lacson and Gutierrez will be at SJI in August in line with the school's 'Linggo ng Wika' symposium, where Lacson will speak on "how to become a good Filipino citizen", while Gutierrez will speak on the topic: 'Discovering our true heritage.'
Gokongwei would be the main speaker in a symposium titled 'Entrepreneurship in a Wired and Wild World,' scheduled December 19.
Rio said Tan has not sent his word of confirmation yet but he would be the special guest during the opening of the golden heritage exhibit on October 30 at the SJI Heritage Hall, High School Building.
Two other main program highlights were also presented. One is the search for 50 pre-eminent SJI alumni (deceased or living), which was launched Friday and dubbed as the 'search for SJI golden jubilee awardees.' The search would culminate on January 26 in a program titled 'Honoring our best awards night.'
There would also be the groundbreaking of the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in Handuman on June 24, where 50 homes would be constructed and dedicated to the two SJI founders, Msgr. John and Mgsr. John Su.
Other events include the all-original reenactment of 'A thousand Lives,' the life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, launching of the coffee table book about SJIs history, service awards for retired personnel and administrators and the Foundation Day on February 11.
