None of them had ever been to the Office of the UP President. Hence, the newly-elected officers and members of the UP School of Economics Alumni Association (UPSEAA) Board of Trustees were energized by the invitation of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual to hold the induction at the Quezon Hall.
On October 24, Pascual swore in the 2011-2012 UPSEAA Board led by its second-term President, Atty. Ernesto L. Albano. Comprising the Board are: Albano, Dida Cosio Salita, Ma. Maret Bautista, Jimmy Gimenez, Teresa Jayme Ho, Rachel Kapunan Abis, Sherry Palencia Verzola, Leah Panganiban Castro, Antonio Pio de Roda, Tirso Serrano, Popo Suanes, Viqui Torres del Rosario, Ronee Villanueva Juanengo, Vickee Viterbo Quimbo and Facundo Yeneza. Batch 1987 Representative Bobby Estebanlar was also inducted, as his batch will lead the 2012 homecoming.
Albano reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to follow through with UPSEAA’s mission to “partner with the alumni in their professional and social development and support UPSE in attaining academic primacy.” He said that UPSE and its alumni are working even more closely now that the 50th anniversary of the School is barely three years away.
On his part, UPSE Dean Arsenio M. Balisacan said that, over the years, the alumni has tapped group and individual sponsors to renovate most of the UPSE rooms and donate state of the art facilities to the School. This has made the UPSE building one of the most modern in the campus.
Pascual challenged the new Board to help broaden the perspective of the alumni to think not only of their college but of One UP. He said that UPSE and UPSEAA’s successful harnessing of the resources of alumni to help UPSE is a “success story” that must be told. It can be replicated in other units but there are quite a number of colleges which need help so the more advanced units should extend support to insure that no one is left behind. The idea of a “sister college” was put forward and may be one of the projects of the Board.
A highlight of the event was Batch 1986’s turn-over of P 5M to UPSE as seed money for its developmental programs. According to Batch 1986 representative Rachel Kapunan-Abis, this is their way of giving back to the School and the University. Their batch has promised to continue to help in raising the P50 M objective for the 50th anniversary of the School.
The induction and turnover ceremonies were witnessed by UP and UPSE officers and staff. These included: UP VP-Academic Affairs Gisela P. Concepcion, UPSE Dean Arsenio M. Balisacan, UPSE Professors Raul V. Fabella, Joseph Capuno and Stella Quimbo, UPSE staff Rose San Pascual and UP Executive Assistant Carmencita Loyola.
