Reunion for a cause
IT was heartwarming seeing a record number of about 300 alumni and guests troop to the University of the Philippines Promenade to attend the annual homecoming reunion on December 7, 2019. That day, the UP Virata School of Business (UP VSB, or formerly the UP College of Business Administration) community gathered to not only bond with their batchmates, but also to rekindle ties and pledge support to their alma mater. It was fortunate that all of these happened during my second month as the new dean of the VSB.
This year’s homecoming had a fiesta motif under the tagline of the title of the popular folk song of “Liron Liron Sinta.” Liron was used instead of the original name of Leron since this is the acronym of my initiatives as dean of the college of “Looking in Reaching Out Now.” These initiatives are anchored in looking into and tapping the various resources and goodwill of the VSB to perpetuate its many successes in the past, and being
outward looking and reaching out to address many requirements of the various stakeholders of the school. UP VSB should be able to service the academic and other demands of both its internal stakeholders and the external community.
Inside the UP Promenade Fair grounds, the guests were welcomed by a festive drum and bugle band and colorful banderitas hanging in poles. They enjoyed so many sights, sounds and amenities of the school reunion cum fiesta. There were various stalls selling food, drinks, fruits and even a boot providing for virtual reality games. Alumni scrambled to buy UP souvenir and VSB commemorative items. They also enjoyed a lot of freebies, including free haircut or trim in an instant pop up salon booth, product giveaways and door prizes.
The school recognized the Jubilarian classes consisting of Batch ’59, Batch ’64, Batch ’69, Batch ’74, my own Batch ’79, Batch ’84, Batch ’89, Batch ’94, Batch ’99, Batch ’09, Batch ’04 and Batch ’14, and gave special customized medallions of recognition to the member-alumni. We honored three Distinguished A lumni Awardees, namely Ericson Marquez, Reginald Yu and Wilson Chua.
I signed a memorandum of understanding with the heads of the VSB alumni associations; Manuel Villar, the chairman of the College of Business Administration Alumni Association; and Francisco Josef, the president of the MBA Alumni Society. The objective of the MOU is to ensure that the VSB’s relationship with its alumni, through the alumni associations, is a strong and positive partnership, benefiting both the alumni, the VSB and its various stakeholders.
Three jubilarian batches donated to the VSB. These are Batch 1959 (LED Viosk Display valued at P200,000), Batch 1969, and Batch 1994 (P1,200,000). I personally extend again my appreciation to these batches for their generous support. I anticipate that the other batches will be sending their contributions soon.
During the homecoming, I launched four major initiatives, the 2020 Alumni and Corporate Networking Directory, a revitalized communication platforms, the LIRO Alumni and Supporters program, and the VSB Vantage Point Journal. These programs are intended to foster further the relationship and engagement of the school with its alumni.
To be continued
Joel L. Tan-Torres is the dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. He was the former commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue from 2009 to 2010, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy from 2014 to August 2018 and a partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co., CPA, from 2011 to October 2019 and the SyCip Gorres & Velayo. He is a certified public accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979.