THE University of the Visayas (UV) celebrated on Sunday its centennial, which culminated with a Grand Alumni Homecoming (Gahom) and the awarding of the outstanding alumni in one of the five star hotels in Cebu City under the theme “UV: A century of love and service to humanity.”
The school was founded in 1919 by the late Don Vicente Gullas, a lawyer by profession but an educator by heart, and his wife Josefina “Pining” R. Gullas. It was named Visayan Institute (VI). In 1948 it received the university status and was the first university in Cebu.
Just like lawyer Frank Malilong, and my wife Dr. Malou J. Espinoza, I am a true “Green Bloodied Visayanian” as Dr. Jose “Dodong” Gullas, UV executive vice president and VP finance, puts it in his message during the awards night on Sunday.
The Gahom brought us back the good memories. We met our teachers, instructors, professors, and classmates. I was pleased to meet Janet Rama, one of my English teachers, former Law Dean Teddy Almase, and my criminal law reviewer, former Supreme Court Justice Regino Hermosisima.
Seeing the 89-year-old Eddie Gullas, Cebu’s first district congressman and UV President, still vibrant and energetic at his age gives me so much inspiration to do more. By the way, Eddiegul was one of our wedding sponsors. Dodong Gullas even with his bad knee was effervescent in his speech.
What almost brought the house down was the speech of UV Alumni president lawyer Josephus B. Jimenez. Everyone had a good laugh with his welcome address that was blended with some green jokes.
One hundred years of the school’s existence is such a long time, but memories of being part of an institution that provides affordable education to the financially handicapped or less affluent families is so sweet to remember. I’m proud and grateful for the goodness that UV afforded me. UV is true to its motto “Amor Servitum Humanitas (Love Service to Humanity).
Best wishes to UV, the founders and the administrators for reaching a milestone in the education industry. Congratulations also to the outstanding alumni. The late Don Vicente Gullas dreamed of “producing kings and queens who shall not wear crowns but royals just the same.” Indeed, UV has produced graduates who have excelled in their chosen profession.
****
Thirty thousand lotto and STL (Small Town Lottery) outlets were closed by the police in compliance with the President’s directive. In Cebu, the police are concerned, as a result, illegal gambling like masiao will be back. The police should know better than we do.
After the President ordered the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to stop all forms of gaming due to massive corruption, the police should be ready to face the new challenge, that is, to run after the other forms of illegal gambling.
Inveterate gamblers can make do even without the lotto and STL draws. While they may undergo a lull, what bothers most citizens is the effect on PCSO’s financial assistance to the needy, on indigent patients in government hospitals. While the PCSO assures of continued assistance to those in need, bhow long will that last if the Lotto operations are not reopened soon?