by Francis Paolo M. Quina
Former UP President Senator Edgardo J. Angara administered the oath of office to the new set of Board of Trustees for the Friends of UP Foundation in America. The oath-taking ceremony was held during a meeting of the FUPFA Board on August 31 in San Francisco.
Senator Angara, who also serves as the chairperson of the UP Centennial Commission, was instrumental in the establishment of FUPFA in 1982 when he visited with UP alumni in America.
Aside from the oath-taking ceremony, the meeting saw the turnover of records from outgoing FUPFA Executive Director Francisco L. Juan to the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Evelina Galang.
Juan received a Certificate of Recognition for his exemplary service to UP through his role in FUPFA. He, in turn, announced two new substantial donations through FUPFA from the alumni: $ 8,000.00 from the Pharmacy alumni, and an anonymous $ 50,000.00 donation.
The members of the FUPFA Board shown in the photo are President Emerlinda R. Roman (Chairperson), Polly Santiago-Cortez (Vice-Chairperson), Julieta Zarate-Hudson (Secretary), Evelina Galang (Chief Financial Officer), Mae Echanis, Gigi C. Cervero, Marietta Maligalig-Ison, Francisco L. Juan, Crisostomo B. Garcia. Other board members (not shown in photo) are Alma Hidalgo Onrubia, Dr. Vicente R. Limcaoco, Dr. Archie B. M. Laaano, Dr. Zenda G. Lat, Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr. and Juan G. Colla, Jr.
Galang, meanwhile, was presented with a Certificate of Donation for the $ 15,000.00 she donated to establish the Angelo and Amparo Galang Centennial Faculty Grant for the College of Engineering.
During the meeting FUPFA agreed on a target amount of $ 500,000.00 for various projects for the centennial, such as the establishment of more professorial chairs and faculty grants.
The FUPFA Board consists of President Emerlinda R. Roman (Chairperson), Polly Santiago-Cortez (Vice-Chairperson), Julieta Zarate-Hudson (Secretary), Evelina Galang (Chief Financial Officer), Mae Echanis, Gigi C. Cervero, Marietta Maligalig-Ison, Alma Hidalgo Onrubia, Francisco L. Juan, Crisostomo B. Garcia, Dr. Vicente R. Limcaoco, Dr. Archie B.M. Laano, Dr. Zenda G. Lat, Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr., and Juan G. Collas, Jr.
New donations through FUPFA
Senator Angara and President Roman were in the US to attend the biennial UP Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) Grand Assembly and Convention in San Francisco on September 1 to 3.
Before heading to San Francisco, President Roman visited with alumni across California, along the way receiving numerous pledges and donations to be administered by FUPFA.
In Los Angeles, outgoing UP Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) president Francis Mamaril made a pledge to set up the Arturo P. and Aurora Pizaña Centennial Professorial Chair for Science and Technology. The first installment of $ 15,000.00 was made payable to Friends of UP Foundation in America (FUPFA), with the remaining balance to be handed over in time for the centennial.
During the UPAAA Gala Dinner at the Hilton in San Francisco, Olive Rocha gave a check in the amount of $ 2,000.00 for the Centennial Fellows, Michael and Patricia Araneta gave half of their $ 1,000.00 pledge to the University Library through FUPFA.
UPAA Central California president Dr. Helen Reyes gave a check in the amount of $ 8,500.00, five thousand of which will be used for UP Mindanao, with the remaining amount to be used for various centennial projects.