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| CG Usudan administers oath to first set of USTAAHK officers led by Yumul (with yellow sash) |
More than 100 people gathered on Friday, Jan19, at The Hive in Sheung Wan, to witness the induction of the first set of officers of the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Hong Kong (USTAAHK).
It is the first time that the Hong Kong alumni of
Asia’s oldest existing university officially formed their own chapter. Prior to this, they joined other alumni groups in various activities in an unofficial capacity.
The newly licensed group aims not just to unite alumni
but to also network with Filipino professionals and come up with projects to
help empower students and migrant workers in Hong Kong. The group also plans to
help promote Philippine arts, education and culture through workshops, exhibits
and concerts.
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| TAWAG NA! |
Guest of honor, Consul General Germinia
Aguilar-Usudan who is herself a Thomasian, having acquired her law degree from
the university, urged the newly formed group to serve Filipinos in Hong Kong the
UST way, that is, with competence, compassion and commitment.
“Let us all serve our kababayans in HK ‘the UST way’
and make our alma mater proud,” she said.
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| Joining the officers and CG in this photo is USTAAI chair Evelyn Songco |
Congen Usudan administered the oath of office to the
founding officers, made up of Jan Yumul, president; Nobel Gabasan, vice
president; Anna Pendry, public relations officer; Erwin Regalado, secretary;
Byron Agarano, treasurer; and Joel Almeda, auditor.
Five of the officers also took their oath as heads
of various committees, alongside fellow committee chairs Tanya Sales-Manzano, John Go, Joy Alba,
Maureen Pickering, Jenely de Ocampo, Michelle Rea Yongque, and Victorino
Baltazar.
The induction ceremony was also supported by guests
who flew in from Manila, including Evelyn Songco, chairman of the UST Alumni
Association Inc.
In her speech, Songco lauded the founding officers
of the new chapter, saying: “Giving birth and sustaining an alumni association
is a daunting task. It is a volunteer work for all of us. It is a commitment; a
mission; and most importantly, it is an act of giving. As volunteers, we are
blessed not with material things but with joy in our hearts. That is our
reward.”
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| PINDUTIN |
The Manila contingent also included officers from
the UST Office Alumni Relations led by Joreen Rocamora, acting director; Carla Romina, alumni engagement officer and
Marlot Ira Coleen Ngo, web data management officer.
In her closing remarks, Yumul, who is a Hongkonger
who went to UST for her degree in journalism, thanked everyone who came and
said she was in a way glad that the approval of the USTAAHK’s licence was
delayed as she and the rest of the officers got to take her oath before a
fellow Thomasian.
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| PADALA NA! |
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