Yesterday's ( Aug.20, 2011) Kapihan - the "Battle of the Iron Grill Chefs" - is another successful, well-attended event of the UPAAT. Seventy nine attendees enjoyed the sumptous barbecue and other excellent food prepared by the Food Commitee.
Five past presidents, chefs Evelyn Laraya, Mila Symes, Linda Etzkorn, Tom de la Torre and Joe Zagala "battled" over the barbecue grill with beef, chicken and pork. Special guest chef, Consul General Pedro Ong Chan, also UPian, is a departure from the rest, when he grilled flayed marinated bangus, the national fish of the Philippines.
Amidst all the fun and hilarity, Immediate past president Joe Zagala won the most coveted Championship, and Evelyn Laraya the runner up. It was surmised that Joe was given the winning votes because he pleaded " Botohin nyo na ako - gugolpihin ako ng asawa ko kung matalo uli ako." He lost in 2009 at the first "Battle ". JoeZ as the third champion of the barbecue cooking contest follows two winners in 2009 and 2010, Beth Ruivivar Vasquez and Terry Chua, respectively, who are this year's coordinators of the "Battle of the Iron Grill Chefs."
(Atin Ito, April 2011) - A regular Kapihan meeting of the UP Alumni Association in Toronto held on April 30 at ax's Restaurant served as the venue for the induction of the new UPAA council. To serve for a term of 2 years, the new council is composed of Rose Tijam (President), Marlene Mogado (Vice President), Rhodora Liboro (Secretary), Alice Herrera (Treasurer), Gena Baldivia (Auditor) and Marie Chris Garingalao (Public Affairs Officer). The other council members are: Abe Tomas, Agnes Manasan, Benjie Abis, Chyrell Samson, Don Alinea, Fanny Calucag, Gody Dolor, Michelle Montojo and Rosemarie Gerardo. Outgoing president Joe Zalaga, who will sit as ex-officio member of council inducted the new council into office.
In accepting her position as president, Rose Tijam said that she intends to continue on with several of the highly successful projects complete by the past council, such as for example, the Tee UP High benefit golf tournament the objective of which is to raise funds for UPAA's professorial chair and scholarship funds, the Career Development program, co-sponsored by Scotia Bank and the Kapihan series. "There is no need to reinvent the wheels." said Rose Tijam. She added that during her term, she intends to initiate new projects such as a leadership seminar and a 35th anniversary celebration in 2012.
Outgoing president Joe Zagala (far right) inducts the new council and executive officers of the UPAA Toronto. Shown L-R are: Ben Abis, Michele Montojo, Abe Tomas, President Rose Tijam, Public Affairs & Communications Officer Marie Garingalao, Agnes Manasan, Vice President Marlene Mogado, Secretary Rheea Liboro, Treasurer Alice Herrera, and Auditor Gena Baldivia. Not in picture are members Don Alinea, Rosemarie Gerardo, Cheryll Samson, Fanny Calucag and Fred Dolor.
Click here to view the photo gallery of the golf tournament.
Click here to view the photo gallery of the players.
Richmond Hill Toyota and UPAA Toronto signed a sponsorship agreement on its Tee UP High charity golf tournament at Lionhead Golf and Country Club in Brampton, Ontario, May 30. At the signing are from left UPAA’s Jess Perucho, Bay Bernabe, UPAA Pres. Joe Zagala, Tee UP High Chairman Marilou Parcero, Richmond Hill Toyota Leasing Manager Ron Clarin, and UPAA Vice-Pres. Fred Gamboa.
At the signing of golf tournament sponsorship between Scotiabank and UPAA Toronto are from left UPAA Council’s Rose Tijam, Scotiabank Senior Manager of Multicultural Banking Sante Tesolin, UPAA Pres. Joe Zagala, Scotiabank Investment Sales Coach Maricel Honoridez, UPAA Tee UP High Tournament Chairman Marilou Parcero,UPAA Vice-Pres. Fred Gamboa, and Gina Capistrano, UPAA volunteer. Read more
Your Career Development Group is proud to announce the completion of the first CD Seminar series amply called Getting the Right Job.
It was what a gruelling 7-week session where the participants got a dose of tips and info on various subjects ranging from rebranding, resume preparation and interview techniques. They also got an over all picture of the current market place vis-à-vis the minorities who have come to Canada with the dream of a fresh start in their careers.
Allow us to share some of the comments from the participants themselves –Read more
For a long time, alumni of the University of the Philippines were contented to attend Christmas parties with other groups, but this year, they decided to hold one for themselves. They marked the occasion at the Ottawa Hall of the Filipino Centre Toronto with a rousing merriment filled by singing Christmas carols and dancing, and warm reunion with many “older” as well as newcomer alumni who attended. As expected, there was a lot of ribbing and laughter, even as the group was cognizant of the recent devastation of a series of typhoons, “Ondoy,” among others, that hit the home country recently.
In his brief speech, UPAA president Joe Zagala reported that the association’s quick response in fundraising for victims of the typhoons resulted to about $15,000, which was remitted to the Philippines. He reported that the association’s membership roster has grown significantly, as a result of the indefatigable drive of the membership retention and recruitment committee. President Zagala spoke about the series of career planning and job networking events for members, and the expansion of the mentoring program aimed at newly arrived UP alumni immigrants. He also reported that a UPAA Golf Tournament would be held in May 2010, which is expected to garner enough monies to donate one million pesos to the Endowment and the Professorial Chair funds.
Zagala gave credit to the membership for their leadership in initiating community events like the annual Summerfest, where UPAA takes active leadership among various alumni associations. It was noted that UPAA co-hosted a seminar on Live-in Caregivers with the Philippine Press Club-Ontario, where the speaker was lawyer Rafael Fabregas, a UPAA member. UP alumni in Greater Toronto and elsewhere often take active participation in the community.
Early on, Zagala and members of UPAA welcomed a visiting UP alumnus and athlete, Cesar Guarin, who just completed the milestone global run of TransUSA-Canada in his last leg of North American Marathon. Guarin was warmly welcomed at the Christmas party.
In smaller groups at the event, Zagala informed new members that UPAA holds a monthly social – “Kapihan” - for members, family and friends, that include fellowship breakfasts, and activities like “Sketching from Life” where artists-members and other fellow artists sketched a nude professional model; “Battle of Barbecue Iron Chefs” where members competed in barbecuing; networking, and others. The events are held in various Filipino gathering places like the Filipino Centre Toronto, Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre, Fiesta Filipina Cultural Centre, restaurants, banquet halls and picnic ground. Over the years, “Kapihan” has evolved into popular social networking events
Zagala concluded his report with an assurance that the New Year will see more and bigger activities for the association. He exhorted all members to review the newly improved and expanded website www.upaatoronto.org, and advise new alumni to visit the site as well.
