Honored guests, our distinguished guest speaker, Dr. Aprodicio Laquian, fellow UP alumni, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the officers and members of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto, I welcome you to our Silver Jubilee celebration. This celebration is in recognition of the achievements of the past 25 years and to thank the members who made these achievements possible.

I would like to thank Dr. Philip Kelly and Ms. Deanna Santos for giving the UPAA the opportunity to collaborate with York U. on the special forum and book launch of Dr. and Mrs Laquian’s latest best seller. I would pronounce yesterday’s event a success. It was very informative and there was a lively exchange of ideas between and among the audience, the panelists and Dr. Laquian. We hope York University and the UPAA can continue to work jointly on such projects in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the officers and members of the alumni associations of UST, CEU, FEU, Ateneo, St. Scholastica's College and the alumni of other schools who have come to join us in commemorating this milestone. Thank you for your support. Last summers’ special event (Summerfest) is proof to everyone that we, the alumni from different schools, can work and will work together. To the Philippine Artists Group for lending a special touch to the evening with their beautiful art pieces. To Omel Masalunga for his creation of the Obie, the statuette that will henceforth be the symbol to recognize our Most Outstanding Member or Most Outstanding Alumnus. To Solon Reyes, an eminent pianist who will play some of his arrangements of Filipino music, and to the Fiesta Filipina “Juniors” who will present their dance numbers as part of the evenings programme. To Danny Samson for working the long hours to rush the souvenir programme through in time. To Mel and Adryan Manasan for the programme cover design and to Vanessa Rementilla for the ticket design.

A special thank you to my co-chair for this event, Rod Reventar, and the chairpersons and members of the working committees for their creativity, hard work and dedication in bringing this 25th jubilee celebration to fruition.

To my fellow alumni, I will end this talk with this message: a firm foundation has been laid and we must continue to work and build on the achievements of the past. As we face the future, it is our hope that more of you will take part and get fully involved in the Association’s activities. We need your experience and commitment to meet the challenges that lay ahead.

Thank you and enjoy the evening Bay Bernabe.

Later in the evening, Awards Committee Chair Jo Flach, assisted by Geny Toribio announced the names of the two “Most Outstanding UPAA Toronto Members” for 2002. Then, Bay Bernabe presented the Obie Statuette to Mario Andres and Victoria Santiago, the awardees.

Bay Bernabe