Typhoon “Milenyo” washed out 60 spans of fence during its unprecedented visit to the AUP on October 5, 2006. The bridge which connects the main road to the dormitories and the rest of AUP was partially washed out as water gushed from a flash flood which followed the concrete road going to the new Chrysanthemum girls’ dormitory. The residents of the said dorm slept that night at the Philippine International Church.

One week after that, Sam Villanueva visited AUP and saw for himself the mango trees, an alumni project, succumb to the typhoon’s fury. Twenty-year old acacia trees lined up the pathway after the three-hour storm which rendered AUP without electricity for a week. AUP faculty homes near the path of the surging water had to haul water from their houses. Residents of an adjoining village near the creek where many AUP students lodge had to run for personal belongings carried away by the surge of the flood. Flea market vendors also lost their fruits and fruit stands that unfortunate Thursday morning.

BULB (Bagong Usbong na Lingkod Bayan) whose certificate of incorporation was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2006, conducted its 1st National Summit at the Adventist University of the Philippines on October 25-29, 2006.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was guest speaker on Thursday morning, October 27, 2007. In her speech, she talked of progress in different sectors in the Philippines and invited the BULB members to join her in her efforts for continued and sustain progress. [She also made due recognition of the AUP Ambassadors as a winner in chorale competition held in Xiamen, China. The president herself will be attending a summit in Xiamen the next day---jgg].

BULB, an organization that will cater to the needs of SDA public servants, was founded by Congressman Harlin Abayon, Undersecretary Teddy Elson E. Rivera, and Rudy “Jun” Bautista, Jr.

AUP SA officers led by Aimee Tapeceria visited other student government officers in Mindanao and the Visayas on October 19-24 to spearhead the establishment of the Adventist Inter Collegiate Association in the Philippines (AICAP).

Six Adventist schools -- Mountain View College, Southern Philippines Adventist College, Manila Adventist Medical Center-School of Medical Arts, Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital-CMAFI, and AUP, attended the think-tank sessions that will bring together all the student government officers in a national convention in 2007.

AICAP was seeded by two former student leaders, now faculty members themselves: Rex Diamante and Glenn Lagabon. The goal of the association is to unify the Adventist tertiary schools in the Philippines and to produce among our students God-fearing leaders who will carry the leadership banner in the church, the society, and the country in the future.

MVC President and Vice-President Dan Dial and Araceli Rosario, respectively, and SPAC President Llanto, welcomed the AUPSA delegation. AUP delegates Aimee Tapeceria, George Flauta III, Ariel Celis, Jeoper Eurolfan, were with adviser Olive Tolentino.

Christian Rodelas brought home the 2nd prize in the Oil Acrylic Category, Romel Belga and Kneil Melicano, the honorable mention in the Digital Fine Arts Category, during the 39th Shell National Students’ Art Competition 2006.

“Living Links” is theme of the AUP Workers’ Spiritual Emphasis week on October 30-November 4, 2006. Dr. Gerald A. Klingbell, AIIAS professor and his wife, Chantall, are guest speakers.

Klingbell hails from Berlin, Germany and gained his theological degrees both from Andrews University and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He is currently a professor in Hebrew at the AIIAS Theological Seminary. Chantall is founder and director of the Language Institute of the Universidad Peruana Union, Lima, Peru and is English teacher at the English Language Institute in AIIAS.

An anonymous donor will match the funds raised for the building of the second phase of the Music Building . The donor already donated Php500,000 and he will donate another Php500,000 for the second building, on top of his matching donation.

Dr. Inherla Hernando donated three pianos, as disclosed by Dr. Heidi Cerna.

The Salvadors also donated a piece of property in Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite for the Music Building project.

Philippine Star, Friday, October 20, 2006 mentioned the name of AUP as one of the institutions which will be center for the PGMA (Pres Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) for Region IV. The lending program will benefit poor but deserving college students.