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THE AUPIAN in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

THE AUPIAN IN CYBERLINK A GIANT HAS FALLEN

DR. CELEDONIO FERNANDOS LEGACY

Perhaps no one has seen and heard much of Dr. Celedonio Fernando this past couple of years. He was ill and he was in pain much of the time and was uncomfortable. He stayed home not wanting to be visited by request. But that didnt mean he was forgotten. Being a very private man he chose to be by himself when he was disabled, surrounded only by his family and not much of the public. It was early morning of August 16, 2013, when he passed away in his sleep in California. This brings closure to Dr. Fernandos life, -- a life he served well. He was a giant among us and he has fallen. He was a man devoted to his family, his church and the alumni association of the Philippine Union College now Adventist University of the Philippines, leading it through its development to where it is today. Dr. George Atiga was the first known president of the alumni association when it was organized, a position held for a year. Dr. Celedonio Fernando, is credited in developing the alumni association as an active organization in the United States for the next seventeen (17) years. He nurtured and guided the PUC Alumni Association as the Western USA Chapter (WUSAC), then as Western North America Chapter, (WESNAC), precursors of the current Alumni of Western North America (AWESNA) which it is today. Dr. Celedonio Fernando also pioneered the development of the Cagayan Valley Sanitarium and Hospital (CVSH) in Isabela, Philippines during the 60s and early 70s, before immigrating to the United States, where he undertook Neurosurgery training at White Memorial Medical Center. He was finishing up his residency at the White Memorial when I was training as a Cardiac

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

Perfusionist. One day when I was talking to him, he reminded me that my mother Isabel was a very intelligent woman and she was his very good friend. This would be repeated many times when we met at different places. He probably wanted me to be near my mothers intelligence of which I am not. When my mother died of complications from brain surgery in a hospital in New Jersey, I have always wondered if the results would have been better had Dr. Fernando done the surgery himself. I trusted his skills without a doubt. I have attended the alumni association meetings in his home so many times during the 17-years era of his leadership as my then wife Jeannette, was active in the alumni association until her death at a young age. When I married Jedd, the impetus of the alumni association continued on with me when I moved to the East Coast and we formed EASNAC with a core of close friends. It is a direct credit to Dr. Fernandos leadership and influence and my numerous times in his home where the meetings were held.

Pellentesque:

Truly, we will miss Dr. Celedonio Fernando. He was a giant in our midst. We extend our condolences to his supportive and faithful wife Adela and to his children who grieves the loss of a husband and a father. By Sam Villanueva Photo credit: Dr. Elma Lou Roda

Memorial Service For Dr. Celedonio Fernando

Viewing/Visitation at the Pasadena Fil-Am Church, August 24, 2013 at 1:30-3:00 PM 1280 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104 Memorial Service same place at 3:00 PM Funeral Service at Pasadena Fil-AM Church, August 25, 2013 at 10:00 AM Consectetuer: Graveside/Interment at Oakdale Memorial Park 1401 S Grand Ave, Glendora, CA 91740

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

And Look At Their Bodies

By Ruth Ibanez, PRO New York Subchapter Philippine Fiesta, is a yearly event that comprise of conference presentations and exhibitions of Philippine Products, as well as the traditional Santa Cruzan parade followed by a program hosted and presented by the music artists of the Philippines. Sunday August 18, 2013, found the New York AUPians on a trek to Secaucus New Jersey. Having confused Secaucus from Syracuse, some woke up a little too early to get there on time, and were in need of a nap to recharge our energies towards the end of the day. The team offered free health screening, food tasting, a trial food sale to raise funds. The vegetarian palabok prepared by Hilda Natividad proved to be scrumptious and highly sellable. The complimentary health service was topped off with a glorious massage experience that generated a long line of massage aficionados. Donations were received. Teresa Nava Denosta, Nelia Alvarez Wong, Judy Robles, Ben Arguelles, Jonel Robles, and Jeril Natividad manned the health booth. This was festooned with the New Start Health banners. Ruth Ibanez, offered a combination of Shiatsu and Swedish massage she learned from her masseuse. She said, I am spreading around the relaxing experience I have received. Toto Quilog, offered the more technical and therapeutic aspect of massage therapy. His patrons were delighted and came back for more. One of them was a Chinese manufacturer of fortune cookies and various Chinese pastas. A couple of passersby who stopped for a chat commented. Oh, look at that, they are promoting the Adventist lifestyle. And look at their bodies. Modesty aside, the team who manned the booth looked 20 years younger than their eat everything you can contemporaries. Praise the Lord for the blessings of youth and beauty; for the priceless benefits of His instructions. Let us remain faithful to the Word.

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

BOOK PROMOTION

I Could Have Been A Monk

A Major Surgery At the start of my first year in college (SY 1946-1947), PUC required that I transfer to the schools dormitory for lack of a guardian. This meant that I would take my meals at the schools cafeteria the cost of which was more than double or treble that of my meals in my residence outside. My tuition scholarship (I was salutatorian of my class in the academy) surely helped. I continued to work with a Chinese laundry outfit at the U.S. Army depot at the back of what is now the Philippines Publishing House. (It was hard work. I loaded dirty heavy army uniforms on a large make-shift washing machine and then hang them to dry. I was wet from 6 oclock in the afternoon to 2 oclock in the morning.) The second semester had just begun. I was in class when I felt a terrible pain on the right side of my abdomen. Classmates took me to the clinic where Dr. Regalado Santos, the school physician, diagnosed it to be acute appendicitis. He rushed me to the Chinese General Hospital where he immediately operated on me. Appendectomy in 1946 was still a major surgery. I spent two weeks in the hospital. It was almost December when I was discharged, so I went home. I realized that I could not go back to my laundry work; and without that income, I could not continue my studies. I decided that I would just go back to school, either summer of 1947 or the next school year.

We Can Make a Monk Out of You One day, Ben Candelaria, a wealthy Roman Catholic friend of mine, visited me. He learned that I just had had a surgery and that I had no funds to go to school. He told me that there was a nun boarding in their home who might be able to help me. But more than that, I am worried about your soul, Ben said. I want you to go back to our church. She surely can help you on this matter, he continued. That afternoon, I went with him. I found the nun to be very friendly and sweet person. Ben appraised her that I was once a devout Catholic until I was misled by the Sabadistas; that now I was studying to be a minister of that Church; that I was a working student; and that because I just had a major surgery, I could not go to school anymore. Once a person has been baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, that person remains a Catholic forever, the nun began. The question is are you a good or bad Catholic? She smiled as she said: I think you are a bad Catholic. To make you a good one, I want 4

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

you to do two things: go to the confessional and receive communion. Once you do these two things, you are a Catholic of good standing again. Then I can help you go to school. If you want to be a minister, we will send you to one of our seminaries. We can a monk out of you! (To be continued) Dr. Gil Fernandez comments: I have read the book through and through. Hundreds, nay, thousands would benefit reading it! Dr. Reyes note: This is an excerpt from my 5th book entitled I Could Have Been A Monk that might be of interest to my fellow alumni. I was with PUC as a student for 10 years and as a mentor/teacher for almost a third of a century. I donate all the proceeds of the books I have written to our institutions. The proceeds of my book Dr. Man, the Man! built a two-doors quarter for volunteer visiting professors to AUP. Each door is fully furnished with a king-sized bed, air-conditioning unit, a hot shower, a refrigerator, a kitchenette, a dining room that could serve as classroom for graduate students. The proceeds of this 5th book will go to a joint project of the South Central Luzon Conference and Lipa Adventist Academy. This book and donations are our legacy especially to the youth of our church. Copies have begun to arrive from my publisher in the Philippines.
You may order from: Herman L. Reyes 23632 Verrazano Bay Dana Point, CA 92629

Tel: (949) 661-1164

AUP Art Students Do It Again

It is almost automatic that whenever there are major art competitions sponsored by Petron Oil or Shell National Art, there would be AUP art students competing and winning. It is no different in the latest Shell National Art competition. Two AUP students are finalist in two art categories. Elizabeth Alag is finalist in the digital art category and Rene Sibulangcal for watercolor category. The winners will be announced and awarded on September 9, 2013. Lets hope AUP students will again be at the top. AUP have developed its reputation in winning these art contests that the Art Department have seen an increase in registrants, especially non-Adventist students. /sbv

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

TO THE EASNAC SUBCHAPTER PRESIDENTS 2010-2013

To all subchapter presidents: I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. It was a pleasure to see a number of you at the International Convention held at AUP and the Taal Vista Hotel. For a first convention in that magnitude, the host National Association did a really good job. For those of you who took a set of the Hope Convention Video home, it may be a good idea to show those members who were not able to come during your next meeting. Thank you for having made the effort to go for the event. I hope you also had a nice vacation with friends and family in the Philippines. The next significant event will be the AUP Centennial celebration on 2017. There are plans to make a similar event so you may mark it in your calendars. We will keep you posted as plans develop. The term for all officers of EASNAC (National) and the subchapters was amended to be three years instead of two, concurrently. Our year is from convention to convention which is usually in August. Since the EASNAC convention this year 2013, was with the First International PUC/AUP Alumni Convention in April, the national EASNAC election was conducted before the convention in the Philippines so we could have their induction to office there. I thought it would be a much grander occasion to have it that way. It is now August and the term of the current officers ends. I would like to remind you that it is the responsibility of the Presidents of the subchapters to convene with their members and elect their officers for the next term which will be August 2013 - August 2016. After your election, kindly give a report to the President, Dr. Salcor Quines. You may induct the new officers after your election or if you prefer, set aside a special day to celebrate with your new officers. The New Jersey and New York Subchapters have elected their new set of officers. New Jersey President is Sam Magsipoc, and New York is Theresa Denosta. I would like to thank you all for the service you have done during my term as President. It has been a pleasure serving with you. It is always inspiring to be able to see service for the alma mater among the alumni. 6

The AUPian in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

Not short of a miracle, AUP finally got the approval to open the College of Medicine in June 2014. Above everything, let us not forget that no matter how many obstacles we see and unfavorable happenings we hear about AUP, I believe with all my heart that it is the school of God. He does not require us to keep His school going. Even in our day, if those who are in positions to take care of the school's affairs fail, He is able to have miracles happen. We are privileged to have the opportunity as alumni to help support its development and progress. To this end, please accept my personal appreciation for your support of EASNAC and the Adventist University of the Philippines. God bless. Jedd Villanueva

PS. If any of you would like to have a copy of the International Convention in its entirety on Video by Hope Channel Philippines, let me know. Pastor Max Cadalig, Director of University Advancement Office (he took the place of Beth Casel) will be coming to visit Alumni Subchapters from September to October and he could bring some with him. Set of 5 CDs cost $25.00

THE AUPIAN in Cyberlink

August 18, 2013

EASNAC CALENDAR August 31-September 1, 2013 AWESNA Convention La Jolla Marriot Hotel San Diego, CA August 24, 2013 EASNAC Executive and EASNAC Foundation Meeting, Fil-Am SDA Church Beltsville, Maryland
The AupIAN
Fairfield, CT 06824

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