UP President Emer Roman kicked-off her latest USA/Canada official visit by having a folksy meeting with the officers and benefactors of the chapter last Friday May 4, 2007 at theHula Hut Restaurantin Benecia. The laid-back dinner affair was highlighted by Pres. Roman’s no-holds-barred update on the state university. Pres. Roman’s talked on a wide variety of topics, including the recent tuition increase, budget supplements from the government, the 2008 centennial preparations, the Balik-UP program and the faculty sign-on of 16 year old Mikaela Fudolig, the Class 2007 valedictorian.
In response, association President Romi Beza thanked Pres. Roman for visiting with the chapter leaders. He also took the opportunity to thank the supporters of the chapter’s ongoing fundraising effort for the UPAANC Berkeley Professorial Chair. With the exception of the Utlegs and the Tiongsons, the Professorial Chair benefactors were all present at the Friday affair. Below is the complete list of benefactors as of May 4:
Beza, Romi $ 3,000
Hudson, Julie 3,000
Utleg, Cherry & Lito 3,000
Zulueta, Alexis 3,000
Sarmiento, Gani 2,500
Tiongson, Ike & Cora 2,000
Figueroa, Letty 2,000
Castillo, Janine 1,000
Batara, Frank 691
Rey, Raffi & Diosy 500
The fund collected thus far is still a few thousand short of the $30,000 Professorial Chair minimum. However, Pres. Roman was assured that in addition to ongoing collection effort from the generous alumni who have already put in their professorial chair pledges, there are fundraising projects in the pipeline that should enable the chapter to achieve the minimum target by January 2008.
