University donors cited in Homecoming for UP Alumni in Panay

Indeed the Grand Alumni Homecoming for past graduates of the University of the Philippines based in Panay Island became a venue for the acknowledgment of alumni donations and for more proposition on how they could give a piece of what they have for the University.

Held on July 23, 2005, UP Alumni from all over Western Visayas trooped to the main campus of UPV to attend the whole day

celebration just dedicated for them on the occasion of the 58 years of UP Presence in Iloilo. It began with a mass officiated by Fr. Eber and shared by UP President Emerlinda Roman, UPV Officials, faculty and staff. This was followed by a motorcade around Iloilo City.

At 9:00 a.m., the blessing of the UPAA Iloilo Perimeter Fence which is facing Gen. Luna Street and which provides an elegant enclosure to the newly built Graduate and Continuing Education Building was attended by the same band of cheerful alumni and UP officials. The construction of the fence was initiated by the UPAA Iloilo Chapter under the able leadership of Dr. Reynaldo Gustilo and came from the generous donations of alumni from UPV that included: Engr. Mariano Araneta, Jr. (for UP High School Class of 1971), Mr. & Mrs. Ernesto Borromeo, Jr. Atty. & Mrs. Leopoldo Causing, Mrs. Ma. Elena Divinagracia (In memory of Santiago Divinagracia), Engr. & Mrs. Ramon Doromal, Atty. & Mrs. Mervyn Encanto, Dr. & Mrs. Reynaldo Gustilo, Atty. & Mrs. Eduardo Hernandez, Hon. Jed Patrick Mabilog, Mr. Anastacio Martirez, Gov. Salvacion Perez, Mr. Gideon E. Robles, Mr. Steve E. Robles, Mr. Raymundo E. Robles, Ms. Eva Sanson (In memory of Manuel Sanson), Mr. And Mrs. Winston Santos and Family, Engr. & Mrs. Pedro Siason, Dr. Alex Soriano, Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Villa, UP High School Class of 1974, UP High School Class of 1979, UP Silak Brotherhood and UP Silab Sisterhood.

Refreshments came afterward where former schoolmates caught up with each other retold memories. After which, they proceeded to the Appreciation of Alumni Donations wherein certificates were handed on to fence donors. The same event became the launching pad for the P2.5 M Centennial Fund Campaign, an offshoot of what Pres. Emerlinda Roman is proposing for the U.P. System as it reaches its centennial year in 2008. Such fund would finance development projects as well as support academic excellence programs in all

constituent universities. Gov. Sally Perez of the Province of Antique was chosen as Chairman of the Centennial Fund Campaign in Western Visayas.

The Grand Alumni Night held at the newly refurbished and fully air-conditioned auditorium became a scene of a ball for accomplished personalities and eminent individuals in Western Visayas. The night also brought recognition to distinguished alumnus Dr. Manuel Alba who was named lifetime achiever along with other outstanding jubilarians who were given miniature oblations for what they have achieved in their respective fields.

UP'S OUTSTANDING JUBILARIANS

2005 Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award - DR. MANUEL S. ALBA; AA'55; BSBA'57 - For his outstanding scholarship all throughout his academic life, in particular, in his chosen field of business administration; For his leadership and integrity as public servant, in particular, as Secretary of Budget and Management (1980-86); as Assemblyman, Batasang Pambansa, and Chair, Appropriations and Reorganization Committees (1980-86); and as officer of various government agencies and corporations; For his proven dedication while in the service of our country and people.

2005 Outstanding Professional Jubilarian Award:

Business Administration - ATTY. EDUARDO N. AGUILLON ( BSBA'65) For his outstanding success as entrepreneur of various businesses in Panay and Negros which have given gainful employment to many of our countrymen; For his achievements as Lawyer and Certified Public Accountant and member of various academic and civic organizations; For his thoughtful generosity and continuing interest in the physical growth and expansion of the UPV, Iloilo City.

Arts and Letters - DR. MA. ZENAIDA B. FRENCH ( AA'55; AB'57; MA'70; Ph.D.'90) For her devoted support of the development of Arts and Letters in the country, particularly Region VI; For her selfless involvement as researcher, paper reader, writer and participant in conferences and fora in the retrieval, preservation and dissemination of Philippine arts, literatures, and culture; For her achievements and contributions to Philippine Arts and Letters as a published and multiawarded poet, theater enthusiast, and cultural researcher of note.

Political Science - ATTY. LEOPOLDO T. CAUSING (AA'55; LLB'59) For his militant concern for the improvement of the country's political climate through practice of his profession as lawyer and as professor of law and political science; For his tireless efforts to bring about a just, responsive and progressive governance through his writings and advocacy of charter towards a paradigmatic shift in our system of government; For his active participation in civic professional organizations which push forward the frontiers of good governance in the country.

Agriculture - DR. BERNABE B. COCJIN ( MS'69; Ph.D.'75) For his solid achievements in his various researches on livestock and poultry and their publication, gaining awards in the field; For his outstanding performance in the administrative positions he occupied, culminating in his selection as President of West Visayas State University (1993-99); For his innovative improvement of the breeding of native poultry pursuant to its export/import- exchange potential for the country.

Fisheries - DR. SONIA V. SEVILLE (Cert. in Fisheries'65; Prog. in Dev. Eco.'77; MS in Public Management'85) For her dynamic leadership of the Fisheries Sector in Region VI as Regional Director since 1998; For her active and constant participation in community organizing of the fisherfolk and in the strict enforcement of fishery laws; For her dedication to the propagation and maintenance of excellence in the various activities pertinent to Fisheries.

(Anna Razel L. Ramirez; UPV-IPO)