DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 3  (PIA) -- The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) led the unveiling the historical marker for Silliman University (SU) signifying its status as a national historical landmark at the Leopoldo Ruiz Administration Hall grounds in Dumaguete City.

SU has been a national historical landmark since June 19, 2002 when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) recognized SU’s historical significance through Resolution No. 7, S. 2002.

Dr. Rene Escalante, NHCP chairman, said SU as a national historical landmark is classified under Level I, the highest recognition level from the NHCP, having both an official declaration and marker from the NHCP.

SU President Dr. Betty Cernol McCann thanked NHCP for the recognition and for Escalante’s presence during the ceremony.

SU Vice President for Academic Affairs and NHCP Commissioner Dr. Earl Jude Paul Cleope said Escalante initiated the installation of a historical marker when the NHCP chairman visited the SU campus before the pandemic and saw that the marker installed at the Administration Hall grounds needed to be replaced.

The previous marker, which Cleope called an “institutional marker,” described a short history of SU but did not mention SU’s status.

The previous marker is now at Silliman Hall, on a wall between the entrance to the main function hall of the first floor and the stairs going to the second floor.

Meanwhile, the new marker acknowledges SU’s status as a national historical landmark.

According to NHCP’s guidelines, a national historical landmark is a “site or structure closely associated with a significant historical event, achievement, characteristic, turning point, or stage in Philippine history, or a structure made or created by a national hero.” (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from SU-OIP)