UPSEAA: Going the extra mile
Members of the University of the Philippines School of Economics Alumni Association (UPSEAA) are all stirred up under the dynamic and innovative leadership of its President Jeffrey T. Ng. With the support of the Board of Trustees, President Jeff has planned and lined up a number of programs and projects to make the UPSEAA more visible, relevant and active. Jeff is a successful entrepreneur at the helm of Cathay Land, South Forbes Golf and Country Club, and the chain of Astoria hotels nationwide, among others.
The present members of the UPSEAA Board of Trustees represent a cross-section of the different generations and batches of UPSE alumni. Among them are Atty. Rey Regalado, vice president; Steffi Panganiban-Manhit, secretary and Scholarship Committee chairperson (UPSE Representative); Florante Bautista, Jr., assistant secretary; Pearlie Poblete-Lontoc, treasurer and Ways and Means Committee chairperson;
Gigette Javier-De Luna, assistant treasurer and Alumni Homecoming chairperson; Mio Lejano-Chongson, Communications Committee chairperson; Sally dela Paz-Magat, Special Events Committee chairperson; Aaron Limpe Aw, Membership Committee chairperson; trustees Doji Lopez, Tito Rodriguez, Bim Mojica-Mercado, Joi Natividad, Verge Gepuela; and Ronee Juanengo, immediate past president and ex-officio member. Ensuring the smooth operations and coordinating the various UPSEAA activities is executive director Bobby Estebanlar.
Since the start of President Jeff’s stint, he has introduced new ideas to UPSEAA. At the outset, the Board held a planning session on Feb. 10 to lay down the roadmap to be pursued for the year. The Alumni Homecoming Committee chaired by Gigette de Luna of Batch ‘93 worked hard to raise funds through the Art Exhibit “Buhay U.P.” last April 27 to May 5, at the Shangri-La Mall, attended by no less than Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) SVP and CFO Ferdinand Constantino who joined President Jeff in the ribbon cutting. The event was a big success, generating enough funds to make the Alumni Homecoming on Sept. 22 free for the first time, compared to previous years when alumni had to pay entrance fees. On April 17, the UPSEAA hosted a dinner at Astoria Plaza inviting the representatives of the different alumni batches and presented to them the plans and programs of the UPSEAA to encourage more active participation.
On May 9, the UPSEAA held the highly successful Distinguished Service Awards Dinner at the Manila Golf Club where the association honored two UPSE alumni who have worked for more than 40 years in the government. They are regarded as unsung heroes who have worked behind the scenes loyally and with full dedication without publicity. The awardees were Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran and Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan. This initiative, a brainchild of President Jeff, honored dedicated public servants who may not be known by the general public. The event was well attended with no less than former Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata leading the guests of honor and witnessing the awarding of Usec. Beltran. Also in attendance were noted economists and former Socioeconomic Planning heads Winnie Monsod, Manny Esguerra and Arsenio Balisacan; joined by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Monetary Board Member Philip Medalla, among others. During
the said event, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. was the special guest speaker and also led the presentation of the awards to the two honorees. He also inducted the members of the Board of Trustees of the UPSEAA.
Following this successful event, the UPSEAA held the 3rd Golf Tournament on June 1 at the South Forbes Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite. Some 40 participants joined the tournament, which generated more funds for the UPSEAA to support its scholarship program. On June 4, the UPSEAA, led by President Jeff, made a courtesy call to Gov. Espenilla. This occasion opened the opportunity for the UPSEAA and BSP to discuss and forge efforts to undertake joint projects, strengthen the UP School of Economics and pave the way for UPSE alumni and students to be considered for employment at BSP, assuming that they meet the requirements for certain positions.
The UPSEAA has also gone international. On July 6 and 7, through the initiative of mainly US-based alumni led by Jojie Santiago-Yap, more than 50 alumni attended the first-ever reunion in Las Vegas named “Malayo Man Narating, PUSONG UPSE Pa Rin.” The two-day event began with a welcome dinner with alumni attired in Vegas glam at the One Ocean Grill Restaurant followed by two party buses doing the rounds at the Vegas Strip as the alumni danced, drank, ate and enjoyed full fellowship. On the second night, the UPSE alumni, dressed in cowboy/cowgirl attire, enjoyed country dance, music and games at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country. While majority of the alumni came from California and other states, Lita Manalastas-Watanabe flew all the way from Tokyo, Japan to attend the reunion. Coming from the Philippines were alumni Em-Em Macaisa-Onglengco and UPSEAA trustee Sally Magat who also joined the reunion. It was a night to remember, meeting former batchmates and making new friends, enough to expand one’s network of UPSE family.
Plans are afoot to hold another UPSE Reunion next year, this time, most likely in the East Coast like in New York City.
Another breakthrough is the August 20 field trip at the BSP Manila Head Office by 35 students accompanied by UPSEAA executive director Bobby Estebanlar. They were given an orientation and spent some time with Gov. Espenilla to give them a better understanding of the operations of the monetary sector. They later proceeded to the BSP plant in East Avenue, Quezon City where they had a tour and observed how money is being printed. This gave them an exposure to the practical aspects of monetary economics. Further strengthening the partnership between the UPSEAA and BSP was the Economic Briefing hosted by BSP for the UPSEAA on Aug. 24, preceded by cocktails and dinner. The briefing was conducted by BSP Assistant Governor Dr. Francisco Dakila, Jr. who made a very elaborate and brilliant presentation of the Philippines’ economic condition and prospects. About 100 alumni and some students attended the economic briefing.
One very innovative project introduced by UPSEAA with the full backing of President Jeff is the introduction of the new UPSE Alumni Card with PayMaya and Beep features. The card has practical uses especially to those who ride the LRT and MRT and in expediting payments and getting discounts. The new card has been met with full enthusiasm by alumni and students and orders have poured in, especially with the prospect that the beep can be used eventually in Ayala Mall parking lots. The UPSEAA is very much alive, thinking of new ways and projects to serve the alumni and sustain their interest in actively participating in all the activities of the association.
The UPSEAA is all set for its Grand Alumni Homecoming tomorrow to be held at the UPSE Auditorium. The UPSE is proud of its high quality of education having produced prominent alumni such as Vice President Leni Robredo, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and former Socioeconomic Planning heads such as Solita Monsod, Dr. Gerardo Sicat, Dr. Felipe Medalla, Dr. Augusto Santos, Dr. Dante Canlas, Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, as well as top executives in the private sector, especially in banks, other financial institutions, technology and telecommunication companies. The UPSE will celebrate its 53rd Anniversary and hold a special program with the full participation of its alumni with the theme “Buhay U.P.” Indeed, this is a very special occasion full of positive vibes and high hopes for the continuing legacy of academic excellence for which the University of the Philippines School of Economics has been acknowledged, both locally and internationally.