CAS Faculty, administrators, and former Dean of the college, Dr. Lynette Camello, (4th from the left), during the CAS Month Opening Salvo
True to its banner, CAS launched the 16th Annual CAS Month Celebration with just the right amount of KasiCAS— a portmanteau of kasing-kasing (heart) and CAS, which isalso a Cebuano-Bisaya term for”rustle.” The Opening Salvo took place on Valentines’ Day (February 14). This year’s Féte de CAS is themed “CAS 2022: Thriving to be transforms of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences.”
The one-day affair commenced with a live-streamed Holy Mass at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral presided by Rev. Fr. Glenn Therese Guanzon. The opening program aired live from CTU-Main’s CN Building through CTU Premiere, the university’s official Facebook page. The blended format enabled virtual participation from the CAS community despite pandemic-related protocols.
Highlighting the college’s resiliency amid the challenges brought by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Typhoon Odette, the opening salvo celebrated the life and legacies of valuable individuals who have been pivotal to the college’s journey. Dr Julies Selle, Associate Dean for the Sciences, said that the CAS story is worth telling, stressing the importance of keeping the legacies of past leaders alive.
Celebrating Life and Legacies
Among the trailblazers honoured during the event were Dr Lynette Camello, former CAS Dean and current University Director for Extension Services.
Serving CAS between October 2019 and September 2021, Camello led the college during its trying times. Dr Sunliegh Gador commended Camello’s steadfast leadership, highlighting the latter’s role in “keeping the college afloat despite the pandemic.” In his message, Dr Christian Licen, Associate Dean of the Arts and Chair of the Department of English and Literary Studies, recalled Dr Camello’s brand of “cathedral leadership” as a way of “build[ing] the university one brick at a time.”
The CAS community also acknowledged retired professors and celebrated the lives of valuable members who have recently passed on: Dr Queen Jayme (May 28, 2021), Physical Education Professor; Dr Edwin A. Pilapil (August 7, 2021), the first Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and former University Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr Doris O. Gascon (September 15, 2021), one of the core faculties of the Department of English Language and Literary Studies and former University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Affairs; and Dr Elvisa Basubas (January 10, 2022), Mathematics Professor and former focal person of Gender and Development.
CAS Soldiering On
Dr Hedeliza Pineda, the Vice President for Academics, enjoined the CAS community to relive its triumphs and endeavours over the past years, emphasizing the college’s role in the university. Among CAS’s essential attributes, Pineda said, are its inclination towards “critical thinking and civic engagement” and its “creation of expanded opportunities for a more developed university.” The CAS “bloodline is constantly growing,” she added, “because it is a home where diverse disciplines flourish.” Dr Joselito Letrondo, (Vice President for Finance and Administration), and Dr Imelda Villarin, Campus Dean of Instruction, also stressed the essence of the College of Arts and Sciences as a critical player in the university’s success.
Dr Sunliegh Gador, the incumbent Dean of the college, enjoined the CAS community to draw strength from experience to learn and grow constantly. Gador highlighted new developments, such as changes in the internal structure and offering new programs.
Dr Shielalaine Romulo hosted the opening salvo. The one-day affair included a wellness lecture on Metabolic Syndrome and a presentation of TikTok videos created by participating students and staff. / Rei Earl Tinambacan (BAL-LAP 4-A), Prof. Bejay Bolivar