By Cyrus A. Natividad
Neonita A. Gobuyan is one of the Ten Outstanding Alumni in the Field of Public Information.
After she retired from public service in 2003, Neonita Alasa Gobuyan continued to enjoy cordial relationships with people; making use of her skill and talent in communication to help in wholesome projects and organizations, particularly with Central Philippine University and the CPU Alumni Association.
Fondly called ‘Nitz’ by friends and associates, Gobuyan was the Bureau Chief of Philippine News Agency within the level of a Regional Director. She is now a member of the Range Retirees Association. Gobuyan was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding CPU Alumni in the field of Public Information.
As a member of the CPU Alumni Association, Gobuyan supported and became part in planning and realizing the Christmas Lights project in CPU. During the CPU 100 years (Centennial) celebration, she was in charge of the Alumni Grand Ball at the Amigo Plaza Hotel.
As a woman for all seasons, Gobuyan initiated a helping activity for the Faculty and Staff of CPU recently. She’s a mover so that members of the Centralians in Mass Media made her idea to distribute food in CPU possible. She said, “The inspiration to support and motivate people to help are values which I brought along from my education in CPU. On top of it, the spiritual strength that guided me in life also follows.”
“My beloved Central honed me with a talent that fitted my personality.” Gobuyan whose father was a writer has been a feature columnist in popular newspapers in Iloilo and the Visayas.
She remembered that during her College days in CPU, she met generous and helpful fellows who would later become popular benefactors of Central. Among the successful students she mentioned were Dr. Alfonso Uy, the late Perfecto Yasay, Jr., Dr. Juanito M. Acanto and Engr. Aurora Alerta Lim.
Gobuyan is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts, major in History from CPU in 1965. She earned her secondary education from Negros Occidental High School, Bacolod City and her Elementary Education from Gil Lopez Elementary School in Fabrica, Negros Occidental.
She worked with the YWCA of Iloilo and was a Philippine delegate to the World YWCS on adult education in Seoul, South Korea, Japan and Taipei. In 1996, she was the Philippine Delegate to the ASEAN Conference on Drugs in Jakarta, Indonesia. She also worked as a teacher in Mindanao before joining Philippine News Agency which later made her Bureau Chief for Panay and Guimaras islands.
CPU has been a part of their family since all of them have studied there. Gobuyan has been a member of the CPU Alumni Association for many years. When asked how she defines the Central Spirit, she said, “You cannot define it but it guided me through the dark and happy times of my beloved Alma Mater.”
Neonita Gobuyan was born on June 29, 1943 in Hopevale, Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz (a significant place in the history of Central Philippine University), to parents Vicente Gobuyan, Sr. and Consolacion Alasa Gobuyan. Her father was a writer and the First Regional Director of Forestry in Western Visayas and her mother was one of the first Filipina missionaries in Panay. Neonita is the 7th of the eight children.
She is married to the late Oscar N. Almarez, a teacher in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. She has a daughter who is now a doctor working in Brunei and grandchildren who are now studying their medicine proper in Manila.