Originally established in March 1948 by student editors Cesar J. Amigo and Aida Rivera to promote exceptional literary standards on campus, Sands and Coral serves as the widely respected, biannual student-led literary organ of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. The October 1955 issue represents a highly celebrated historical milestone for both the publication and the university's English department, directly capturing the monumental achievements of its faculty advisers and the broadening academic footprint of the institution. The volume is deeply intertwined with national literary achievements and institutional history. This particular year marked a "golden era" for the Silliman Writers' movement, as showcased by the biographical updates of its leadership: adviser Edith L. Tiempo won first prize in the Philippines Free Press contest and second prize in the Palanca Memorial Awards, while her husband and department head, Edilberto K. Tiempo, was awarded a prestigious $5,000 Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing. Culturally and academically, the issue expands beyond poetry and prose to encompass local dramatic plays, such as Rosario C. Binamira's "The Orange Tree," alongside pioneering scholarship like Eliseo P. Bañas's investigation into the history of music in the Philippines. It also documents the university’s growing status as a major regional hub for creative writing, drawing elite scholars nationwide, such as graduate contributor Carminia Yaptenco from the University of the Philippines. As an archival item, this volume preserves a critical zenith in mid-20th-century Philippine literature written in English.
Sands and Coral, Vol. 7 (October 1955)