BAGUIO CITY – In the Kapihan Session held at the University of the Cordilleras Cañao Hall last May 2, 2024, members of the University of the Cordilleras (UC) – Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF) Alumni Association Inc. discuss their plans for the upcoming Grand Alumni Homecoming of the university to be held on May 18, 2024.
The theme for this year’s Alumni Homecoming is “Blazing in Excellence”, in reference to the line within the UC Hymn; “Hold high the torch, Let its flames reach all corners”, as well as to commend the success and accomplishments of several distinguished alumni produced by the university in their various respective fields.
According to the President of the UC-BCF Alumni Association, Baguio City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, as a response to the long hiatus of UC’s annual alumni homecoming, and to build upon the success of last year’s homecoming event, they have decided to add several programs to the lineup of activities for this year’s Grand Alumni Homecoming.
Some of the most notable activities are the awarding of the university’s silver and golden jubilarians, along with the search for the university’s Outstanding Alumni, and Homecoming King and Queen.
In addition, the UC Grand Alumni Homecoming will also be featuring a mini crafts and job fair to help its alumni with businesses and enterprises to connect with each other and promote their products and services. This is to emphasize not only the socialization aspect of homecoming, but also to provide opportunities for professional and economic growth.
Dr. Rhodora Ngolob, the Vice-president of Administration and Treasurer of the UC-BCF Alumni Association, explains the proposed May 18 date of the alumni homecoming, stating that it is to usher in the celebration of the 78th Founding Anniversary of then Baguio Colleges Foundation on June 19.
“So lagi po kami at the University of the Cordilleras, starting last year, na a month prior to June 19 ay sinasagawa po natin ang ating Alumni Homecoming. Parang ang ganda ng vibes ng homecoming to usher in… ang ating founding anniversary. So, kung preparation, dahil excited kami lagi to host ang ating mga pauwing alumni, ay talaga naman pong ginagalingan namin.” Ngolob says.
The program will start with a Grand Alumni Parade beginning from the University of the Cordilleras Main Campus at 8 AM and will proceed to go down to the program venue, the University of the Cordilleras Gymnasium by 9 AM.
Confirmed to be the guest speaker for the May 18 alumni homecoming is Marilene Acosta, the chief executive officer of PAD-IBIG Fund. She is an Alumni of BCF, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1981.
Invited to share some of their experiences from their time in UC as students were two of the awardees of last year’s Outstanding Alumni, two-time Mixed Martial Arts World Champion, Edward Folayang, as well as the Vice president of the UC-BCF Alumni Association, Pedro Gines.
Folayang expressed his gratitude to the University’s Administration which was, according to him, fully supportive of his athletic career from his college years back in 2001 to 2008.
“I represented the country in various competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and World Wushu Championships. So siguro I’m very lucky and I’m very blessed kasi I’m part of the student-athlete varsity… and I’m very grateful kasi napakalaking tulong sa akin and even my department kasi we worked together to finish my studies and of course to be able to be competitive internationally.”, Folayang states.
Gines, being a retired US Navy personnel prior to his enrollment in UC in 2017, was also very grateful to the institution. He explained how the school’s administration helped him to enroll despite the US Veterans Affairs halting their financial support for his studies. Gines graduated his Masters in Business Administration in 2020 and is set to finish his PhD in Management this coming September.
Not only is the University of the Cordilleras one of the tertiary educational institutions to lend to Baguio’s reputation as the Educational Capital of the North, UC has also produced some of the most notable figures in Baguio and Northern Luzon’s Media and Journalism industry, among many other industries.
Some of which mentioned in the Kapihan were Thomas Picaña; editor-in-chief of Amianan Balita and current president of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, Dexter See editor-in-chief of Baguio Herald Express, Harley Palangchao, editor-in-chief of the Baguio Midland Courier, Tatang Edong Carta of PTV-CAR and Z-Radio, Jordan Tablac of Bombo Radyo, Dhobie De Guzman; Public Information Officer of Pangasinan, and the masters of ceremonies for the Kapihan sa UC, Redjie Melvic Cawis of Philippine Information Agency – Benguet, and William Garado Jr. of Cool 97.5, and many more.
To further emphasize the achievements of UC and BCF’s alumni, Councilor Tambanda also recalls her time teaching in BCF from 1971 until 1975.
“I used to teach in BCF. Many people may not know… I was teaching here in the College of Liberal Arts, and many of the top officials, elective officials, were my students. Mga congressmen. In fact, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan was my student. My other colleagues in the council were my students.”, says Councilor Tabanda.
Additionally, according to Atty. Paul De Vera, a faculty member of UC College of Law, UC has been consistently within the top 10 schools nationwide to be producing bar passers since 2011 up until 2020. The Legal Education Board also awarded UC with the Educating for Justice Award last 2023.
The University of the Cordilleras, and formerly Baguio Colleges Foundation, has produced many highly revered personalities from various fields of profession, whether in the government or the private sector, and this year’s Grand Alumni Homecoming is not only an opportunity for UC and BCF’s alumni to reminisce and reconnect with former colleagues, but to also honor and recognize the accomplishments of UC and BCF’s esteemed alumni over the years.
The Former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Former Vice-president of Administration, Sonia Daoas invites the alumni of UC and BCF to come home to the university, emphasizing how much has changed since its BCF days.
Daoas explains, “Filipino families, di ba? It’s very common na uuwi ka sa pinanggalingan mo. Ganun din ang homecoming, kaya nga ‘home’. Eto ang home natin when we were studying kaya balik po tayo dito sa BCF, sa University of the Cordilleras, sa eskwelahan natin where we gained a lot of knowledge, where we got our degrees, where we developed old friendships, we started everything and also developed ourselves. Kaya balik po tayo sa pinanggalingan natin, sa eskwelahan po natin na naghulmo sa atin… so we can reach whatever we are, where we are now.” By Jimmig Malingan
