Inhenyero ng Bayan Gather for the Homecoming

With close to 400 attendees, the 2016 UPAE Alumni Homecoming was a huge success! Venue of the November 12 affair was at the Manila Polo Club.

Alumni started streaming in as early as 5:00pm. UPAE Secretariat along with the Engineering Student Council (ESC) volunteers ensured the smooth flow of registration, while making sure that only the qualified ticket holders are admitted. As started last year, a UPAE paparazzi wall provided attendees the opportunity to pose with family, batchmates, and friends.

 It was also a chance to get updated with the happenings in the College even before the speeches, when attendees were given the 173-page 2016 Ingenium, which were read cover to cover especially by those who came in early. The Ingenium contained the annual reports of the COE, departments, ERD Foundation, fraternity alumni organizations, etc.; milestones and major events from 2015 to 2016; and the UPAE year in review.” As alumnus Mon Ramirez commented, “the content gives an alumnus a grasp of the main strands of college life and activities today. The list of facts is both interesting and very useful to alumni…t is also in this yearbook that I found for the first time an exposition on this year’s theme,”Inhenyerong Bayan, Kaagapay sa Malawakang Pag-unlad” and what it is all about beyond the slogan.

Spotted among the early comers was ex-Prime Minister – and – alumnus Cesar Viratawho came at 5:00pm.  Also early was 2016 Awardee for National Achievement in Government Service – Engr. Don Mustapha A. Loong. The program started with UPAE President – Levy Espiritu’s Welcome Remarks followed by the solemn invocation by UPAE Board Member – Dan Abando.

The emcee of the evening was none other than the charming Tuesday Vargas. singer, actress and comedienne who also happened to be a UP alumna – from the College of Mass Communications. Along with UPAE’s own Dante Briones,she acknowledged the presence of the COE departments, COE organizations.

COE Dean Dr. Rizalinda L. De Leon delivered her message, followed by UP President Dr. Alfredo E. Pascual. UPAE Immediate Past President Lilit Tumbocon presented the Study Now Pay Later (SNPL) Annual Report. The much-awaited acknowledgement of the Jubilarians, which included Batch 56 (Diamond Jubilee), Batch 66 (Golden Jubilee), Batch 76 (Ruby Jubilee) Batch 91 (Silver Jubilee) and Batch 2001 (Bronze Jubilee), was welcomed. The Diamond Jubilarians took the opportunity to recall how things were in the 50’s.

The other highlight of the homecoming evening was the conferment of the 2016 alumni awards. (Please see the list here.). Awardees were led by the most distinguished alumnus award to Isidro A. Consunji who delivered his speech on behalf of all the awardees.

VP – External Nicky Villaseñor introduced the keynote speaker DOST USec – Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, who delivered the speech of and accepted the plaque for invited speaker DOST Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña who had a medical emergency.

Comelec chairs Rafael R. Aguila and Rogelio I. Robang then announced the seven newly elected directors to serve for 2017. List is available here.

Everyone waited for the door prizes to be drawn, where presence was required to claim the prize.  For the major Fund Raising Raffle which raffled off two cars and an array of Apple gadgets, presence was not required. The lucky winners are listed here.

The sumptuous food, along with the six lechons donated by Tau Alpha, Beta Epsilon, Aces, Epchi and EMC2 and the overflowing draft beer donated by San Miguel Corporation were appreciated by  everyone. Sponsors of the event were Asdec Builders Corporation, MERALCO MPOWER, Sunlife Financial, Inframachineries Corporation, Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc., AB Ison Pilot Construction & Trading Corporation, Top Grade Metakraft Industries, Guanco Marble, Laticrete Philippines, Inc., MEV Built, MP Reg Structural System Corporation, AH Lordsons Incorporated, Cabrera Concept Design and Fabrication, Damare Concept International, Inc., New Heights Construction, Makati Development Corporation, Datem  Incorporated, MERALCO Industrial Engineering Services Corporation, MRT Development Corporation, FJT Concrete Products and Trading, Azenda Corporation, Deeconcrete Incorporated / Premier Ready Mix, Inc., Opzioni Verdi, Calco, Miami Tools Supplies, Axcel Core Builders, Getzcom Trading, Inkrite, Elgo Marketing, Rivson Trading & Construction, Livan Trade Corporation, Prodril Supply Company, Inc., JRL2K, and Mayer Steel Pipe Corporation / LEC Steel.