Published on the eve of the Pacific War, this May 15, 1941 issue of The Alumni Bulletin captures a pivotal moment of institutional development and national anxiety at Silliman University in Dumaguete, Philippines. The bulletin documents significant structural expansions on campus, notably the collaborative fundraising and building efforts of the "Hibbard Century Club" to complete the second story of Hibbard Hall, as well as the historic April 1941 ground-breaking ceremony for the new Silliman University Church under the administration of University President Dr. Arthur L. Carson. Beyond campus affairs, the document reflects the broader socio-political climate of the Philippine Commonwealth era. In his documented commencement address, Dr. Pedro Ylagan discusses the impending transition toward political independence under the Tydings-McDuffie Law and the economic uncertainties brought about by World War II brewing overseas, highlighting the moral, economic, and intellectual challenges confronting the Filipino youth of the time.
The Alumni Bulletin of Silliman University, Vol. II, No. 2.