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.
Newer members who joined UPAA Toronto recently may not be aware that our Association, through UP Foundation in Diliman, maintains an Endowment Fund that has two components - a Professorial Chair and a Scholarship Fund. This Endowment was started in 1992 and through efforts of past councils, it grew to roughly 2.2 million pesos as of March 31, 2010.
Last September 16, 2010 our Treasurer, with the approval of Council, transferred the amount of $15,292.40 (US$14,600.00 ) to UP Foundation's bank account in PNB New York. This amount represents your Association's latest augmentation to the Endowment Fund. At the current rate of 44.30-to-1USD, this addition amounts to roughly 646,780 pesos.
