My World In Photos

Miss Silliman 2011 (photo by Betsoy Diao)

During our college days at Silliman, it is seldom that an Engineering student would win the Miss Silliman Beauty Pageant considering the ratio of women enrollees against the different colleges and departments. We, at the College of Engineering (now known as College of Engineering and Design) would not expect to win in this prestigious event as it is the High School department who dominates this contest. However, in its 65th year of showcasing talent and beauty, the Miss Silliman Pageant crowned Alexis Dawn Masangkay, a fourth year student of the College of Engineering and Design.

This year's pageant theme is "Virtuously empowering women for global relevance." "To be globally relevant," according to Alexis Dawn, "one has to be conscious about people and the environment. It is not about yourself, it is how you relate to everything. And when you start  to be conscious and be aware, you are moving in...then you are globally relevant. So don't be afraid to make that change."

The San Isidro Labrador Parish and Convent brings to mind the old Spanish settlement in Lazi, Siquijor. This Baroque church was established in 1857 by the Augustinian Recollects. The convent, located across the church is one of the oldest and biggest in the country and was erected in 1887.

According to National Commission for Culture and the Arts, “the church has two pulpits, the original retablos, and wood floors with herringbone pattern. The church walls are approximately a meter thick, The walls are reinforced with log post which are embedded in the wall. The façade is veneered with coral stone, while the rest is made of fill. The pediments of the church are made of wood panels.”

This yellow bells or locally known as Kampanilya climbs the posts of our gate to welcome visitors. I am so amazed at this plant because it is always in bloom the whole year round even if it gets little care. I just learned lately that in other countries this has some medicinal uses. However, in the Philippines this not edible and considered poisonous. Its scientific name is Allamanda Cathartica and is known as Golden Trumpet in English speaking countries and Huang Ying in China.