HISTORY OF UPAA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BERKELEY CHAPTER

Transcript from the archives of the UP Office of Alumni Relations, Diliman:

In the mid-60’s, there was a student group called “The Filipino Student Association at the University of California, Berkeley”.  The leaders of this organization were professors from the University of the Philippines taking graduate studies at the University of California Berkeley campus.  They were
recipients of grants from prestigious institution like the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Fulbright Foundation as well as from UP itself.  This outstanding group of UP scholars included Flor Lacanilao (Zoology);  Romeo Cruz (History);  Rolando Danao (Mathematics);  Salvador Bautista (Landscape Architecture);  Mario Zabat (Sanitary Engineering);  Flora Fernandez (Public Health);  Bert Alano (Economics);  Soledad Borromeo (History); and Romy Ocampo (Public Administration).

From the first UPAA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Chapter Newsletter ….

The Northern California Berkeley Chapter of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association is the first alumni association organized outside of the Philippines.

It was organized with pure grit.  The first move to organize a chapter here started in the fall of 1968.  A meeting was held at the residence of Dalisay Balunsat.  Said meeting was attended by Johnny and Mellie Leandicho Lopez; Benny and Josie Mendoza; Lou and Nina Raymundo; Pablo and Edna Victorino.  But it was not formally organized until the winter of 1968 at a Christmas Party held at the UC International House in Berkeley.

Dr. Tomas S. Fonacier had just organized the UP Alumni Association in the Philippines (UPAA). As the Executive Director of the UPAA, he was empowered to establish UP alumni chapters all over the world.  He came to Berkeley in February 1969 and thus the first UPAA was established by the charter/pioneer members.  They sought the help of their founder and “Ninong” (godfather), Regent Tomas S. Fonacier.  The charter members wished to preserve the original format of being basically an academic and charitable organization.  Dean Tomas S. Fonacier gave some constructive criticisms during the formation of the chapter.

The following men and women contributed to the growth of the chapter.  Benny and Josie Mendoza; Pablo and Edna Victorino; Gilbert and Ditas Tipton;  Bayani and Helen Domingo.  They were dubbed the “Workers”.

Johnny and Mellie Leandicho Lopez have hosted meetings in their residence in Berkeley, mentioning the first meeting with Dr. Tomas Fonacier.

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Northern California Berkeley Chapter (UPAANCBC) is a duly-registered non profit (501)(c)(3) corporation recognized by the State of California as well as the federal government.  It attained its legal status as a non-profit and tax-exempt organization chapter in 1997 and is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Through the years, UPAANCBC has been led by the following:

1968-1969 – Salvador Bautista
1969-1970 – Gilbert Tipton
1970-1972 – Benny Mendoza
1972-1973 – Helen H. Domingo
1973-1974 – Vic Mercado
1974-1975 – Josie Mendoza
1975-1976 – Oty Balagot
1976-1977 – Virgilio Victoria
1977-1978 – Cherry S. Utleg B.S. Chemical Engineering’63
1979-1988 – Inactive
1988-1989 – Oty Balagot B.M./Piano ’55,  B.M./Cello ’61
1989-1990 – Dave Katague
1990-1992 – Minda Azarcon A.B. Music’61’64  M.A. Music’67
1992-1994 – Lettie T. Figueroa B.S. Business Administration’59
1994-1996 – Norma V. Lacambra B.S. Business Administration’70
1996-1998 – Ceny A. Duldulao B.S. Elementary Education’70
1998-2000 – Jay Castro B.S. Business Administration’69
2000-2002 – Vangie  Poe-Quesada B.S.H.E. Hotel/Restaurant’77
2002-2004 – Raffi Rey B.S. Business Administration and Accountancy’73
2004-2005 – Joe Aliling B.S. Electrical Engineering MSIE MBA’81
2005-2007 – Romi Beza B.S. Business Economics’81
2007 – 2010 – Alexis A. Zulueta B.S. Business Admnistration and Accountancy’69
2010 – 2012 – Selenna Franco-Cefre B.S. Business Admnistration and Accountancy’84
2013 – 2014 –  Inactive
2015-2016 – Daisy M. Rodriguez B.S. Nursing’69 MS’71
2017 – present – Romi Beza B.S. Business Economics ’81

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2017 Officers

President (Interim)
Romi Beza
B.S. Business Economics ’81

1st Vice-President
Jay Castro
B.S. Business Administration’69

2nd Vice-President
Evelyn Balancio

Treasurer
Diosy Rey
B.S. Business Administration’73

Auditor
Cherry S. Utleg
B.S. Chemical Engineering’63

Secretary
Henry Fajardo

Director
Alexis Zulueta
B.S. Business Administration and Accountancy’69

Parliamentarian
Daisy M. Rodriguez
B.S. Nursing’69 MS’71

Committee Chairs

Advisory
Romi Beza
B.S. Business Economics ’81

Awards
Jay Castro
B.S. Business Administration’69

Communications
Rose Ramos

Grants
Raffi Rey
B.S. Business Administration and Accountancy’73

Membership
Andet Las Pinas
B.S. Music

Music
Henry Torres
A.B. Music

Philanthropy / Scholarship
Romi Beza
B.S. Business Economics’81

Projects Review
Ceny A. Duldulao
B.S. Elementary Education’70

Protocol
Quinito Joaquin B.S. Engineering

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