The compact Latin expression above is the motto of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion or CPC — for God and country — implying that the school administrators, members of the faculty, and studentry serve both God and the Philippines.
I wish to share with my readers the most pleasant news that I received from the Very Rev. Msgr. Cyril Villareal, S.Th.L.M.A., Rector of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, informing me that I had been chosen one of the Distinguished Awardees in the 75th Diamond Celebration of my Alma Mater, where I went to high school in 1950-1954, graduating as valedictorian.
His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula opened the celebration of the 75th Founding Anniversary of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion by saying the Holy Mass on 18 February 2023. His Eminence paid tribute to Msgr. Vicente M. Gonzales, D.P. who founded the college in June 1948, in response to the great demand for Catholic education in the archdiocese of Capiz. The Cardinal is the nephew of the Very Rev. Father Sinforiano Fuerte, the second rector of CPC who succeeded the founder, Msgr. Gonzales.
The text of the Jubilarian Award reads as follows: Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion presents this Diamond Jubilee Outstanding Alumni Award to Arturo V. Besana, for being an exemplary and outstanding Purisimian with excellence and distinction in the field of Public Service. The award made special mention of my being a columnist at Daily Tribune, my being a graduate of Master in Public Administration, from the University of the Philippines, and my being a resident auditor in various government agencies.
The other Jubilarian Awardees are: Dr. Ella Musico Castro, Education; Ma. Floramae B. Nater, Education; Ma. Carresa Lynn A. Siglos, Education; Dr. Margarita Sia-Montellano, Public Service;
Prof. Fe G. Villaruz, Education; Atty. Eduardo T. Bajador, Public Service; PCpt. Jerky May F. Lapasaran, Public Service; Engr. Leonester V. Diestro, Public Service; C/E Antonio D. Herrera, Public Service.
Hall of Fame Awardees: Dr. Adolfo B. Bellosillo, Public Service; Ret. Gen. Roberto T. Lastimoso, Public Service; R. Alberto B. Roxas, Public Service; Hon. Justice Josue N. Bellosillo, Public Service; Hon. Justice Manuel M. Barrios, Public Service; Gov. Fredenil N. Castro, Public Service; Ms. Menia S. Alvidera, Education; Atty. Rodriguez D. Dadivas, Public Service.
Jubilarian Awardees: Fiscal Anatalla E. de Pedro, Public Service; Suor. Jean Briones, Public Service; Ms. Roma C. Padua, Public Service; Maria U. Javier, Public Service; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Freddie B. Billanes, Public Service; Dr. Ma. Luisa O. Sarbues, Public Service; Dr. Tomas D. Bautista, Public Service; Rep. Emmanuel A. Billones, Public Service; Atty. Ricardo F. Bernas, Public Service; Ms. Emiline Ines Barguin-Alovera, Education; Rev. Fr. Ronald D. Ignacio, Public Service; Dr. Maria Jacinta A. Arquisola, Education; Dr. Gerald B. Burgos, Public Service; Engr. Marcelo A. Bolaño, Public Service.
To some of the Jubilarian Awardees, the 75th Founding Anniversary was a celebration of other equally significant milestones. To Art Besana it brought back the memory of his wedding to his wife Monette (27 years and six months ago, two years after he lost his first wife, Luz, to leukemia), solemnized by then priests, Father Bonifacio Baldonado, now a Monsignor in America, and Father Jose Fuerte Advincula, now His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincuila. Hall of Fame Awardee, Senior Associate Justice Josue Bellosillo, was one of the principal sponsors at the wedding.
Let us rally behind the campaign of the Very Rev. Msgr. Cyril Villareal, the College Rector, for the construction of the P35 million library of our Alma Mater, the Colegio de La Purisima Concepcion.