Central Spirit soaring high in Hawaiian style

By Kathy Leyble Kriewall

President, CPU Northern California AA

*A day in the sun – Centralians bask the summer heat while enjoying each other’s company.*

Just as the many Eucalyptus trees standing tall around us raised our eyes, the Central Spirit of the Northern California Alumni Association was likewise soaring ever higher with each participant’s arrival. There were approximately 60 in attendance on Saturday, August 12th, including children and grandchildren of these CPU alumni who were again inspirational, engaging and full of the Central Spirit. There was added success because of sharing the same date and place of the picnic with the Dumangas Association of Northern California, headed by Marah Rafols Torres, who, along with several of the members of this association, are also the product of Central Philippine University.

The soaring central Spirit was visible in many ways: Warm greetings and embraces with each new arrival; energetic handshakes for those just meeting for the first time; busy hands working together in every aspect; and the absolute plethora of scrumptious Filipino Cuisine–as each one was eager to bring their specialties and/or favorite Filipino restaurant dish to contribute.

To highlight the August celebration of birthdays, our own retired attorney Pat Desales made sure we had a whole Lechon for the feast. All this wonderfully followed by many colorful and tasty cakes and other desserts.

The chapter gained 4 new members that day and our very own Nieto and Susan Xavier saw a need to donate a portable microphone/megaphone for future use. It was hard to finally end the picnic but hearts were again warmed with anticipation for our next gathering.

The Central Spirit of Central Philippine University Alumni Association keeps on soaring high. God bless us all!

A Centralian from Canada visits the campus

*Revisting Central – Mr. Filomeno “Jun” Faldas, Jr. together CPUAAI President Mr. Dan Dorillo and Mr. Cyrus Natividad.*

Meet Filomeno “Jun” Faldas, Jr. – CPU High School Batch ’65, and BS Chemical Engineering Batch ‘70. He passed the Licensure in Chemical Engineering Exams in 1970, and in 1971 went to work as a Chemical Analyst in a big company in Canada. Jun is currently a Board Member of the CPU Alumni Association of Toronto and Greater Toronto Area, Canada.

While on vacation in Iloilo, he visited the offices of his close friends at Central, and stayed a while at the CPU Alumni Office to exchange pleasantries, good news and applied for a lifetime CPU Alumni ID. Like a true blue Centralian with the Central Spirit, he appreciated how far CPU and the CPU Alumni Association have moved forward in terms of projects and campus development.

He took pictures and strolled around to admire the campus. He also reminisced on what he used to enjoy in CPU back in his student days. He cannot come back in the forthcoming Alumni Celebrations on September 30 but he promised, “I will always come back to enjoy the beautiful CPU Campus.”

Jun spent some time with Mr. Dan Dorillo, CPUAAI President outside the Alumni Office. President Dorillo showed him the possibility of putting umbrellas to serve as shades for the newly-built open terrace. Jun was positively interested to the idea and will bring the idea back to his alumni chapter. God bless you Jun!

CPUDHS Batch 1992 holds Silver Reunion

*Arvin de Leon, Jojie Balume, Jade de Asis, Hope Millamena-Tesoro, Ramel Florea, Meriam Junin-Florea, Vincent Alocada, Yvonne Moso-Piodena, Venson Ardales, Ivan Arriola (Batch Prexy).*

Remembering Centralian friendships and making them last – the CPU Development High School Batch 1992 held their Silver Reunion at Smallville 21 on August 5, 2017.

Present during the event are their beloved teachers. Mrs. Mildred Sazon Harder, one of the batch’s teachers, shared her teaching experience with the batch and expressed her joy to the batch officers for organizing the event. “Thank you Ivan Arriola for organizing this reunion, and to all your committee members. You did a perfect job. So, let´s do it again on the 30^th while your teachers are still around and able.”

*Mrs. Mildred Sazon Harder expresses her joy in seeing her students again.*

Batch members have expressed their intention of holding the Reunion every five years. Dervie Del Rosario- Crespo shares that the celebration of their Alma Mater and wonderful teachers is more than what money can buy. “This makes me proud of our batch. This is more than what money can buy.”

*All smiles – the batch looks forwards to more get-togethers in the near future.*

The Centralian Spirit is fervently burning in the hearts and minds of CPU alumni around the globe. With the upcoming 2017 Grand Alumni Homecoming and General Assembly this coming September 30^th, the CPU campus is ready to be filled with the warmth of the Centralian Spirit of camaraderie.

*A night of food, fun and friendship with the former high school teachers.*

Centralian is Spokesperson in UK Hospital Promotional Video

*In a screenshot, Centralian Maria Teresa Maria Quino-Picache promotes a UK hospital in this video.*

Central Philippine University has always been renowned for its outstanding nurses here and abroad. With its strong promotion of EXCEL – Exemplary Christian Education for Life, CPU nurses have been deemed model employees leading with faith and excellence in their respective workplaces.

Maria Teresa Maria Quino-Picache, a 1995 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate of CPU has been chosen as one of the spokespersons of the Peterborough City Hospital in UK promotional video. Picache started working in the hospital in 2001, currently she is the Clinical Facilitator of the said hospital. She helps overseas nurses with their documentation and makes sure that they are settled well in the workplace.

In the promotional video, Picache promoted Peterborough City Hospital as an excellent medical institution that promotes the welfare of overseas nurses. She also talked about Peterborough as a safe, fun, family oriented and opportunity field community. “There a lot of brilliant schools around Peterborough. There’s a lot of parks and woodland, and it’s also a very accessible place.” The video can be found in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5AnfcYE2VA.

Picache is part of the Education team helping overseas nurses in their career adjustment and providing them with opportunities to improve their skills and nursing practice.

Centralians in North Carolina hold Get-Together

*Ties that bond – CPU Alumni Chapter San Francisco Bay Area holds a get-together.*

A warm treat before the 2017 Grand Alumni and General Homecoming and General Assembly on September 30, 2017 – CPU Alumni Chapters all around the globe have been holding their meaningful get-togethers. One of them is the CPU North Carolina Chapter.

The group met at Isla Restaurant in Newark, California on July 29^th, 2017. The warm summer weather outside Isla Restaurant was an indicator of the warmth of the Centralians inside.

*Filipino food and Filipino smiles bring the heart home.*

Fellowship and bonding are an understatement when it comes to the time spent together by this CPU alumni chapter in the San Francisco Bay Area. Large and small group gatherings always lift everyone’s spirit, as evidenced here also by much laughter and the smooth progress of this planning meeting.

According to Kathy Leyble Kriewall, President of CPUNorCalAA, “We missed many who were not in attendance, but the majority will be at our August 12^th Picnic event at Coyote Point in San Mateo. All are welcome to join this gathering of the Central Philippine University Northern California Alumni Association.”

BSN Class 1992 visits CPU

*25 years later – the CPU BSN Class of 1992 re-visits the College of Nursing.*

Familiar faces gathered at the front of the Loreto D. Tupaz Building, home of the College of Nursing, as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class 1992 took their group photo. The meet up, 25 years after their graduation in Central, rekindled their friendship and reminisced their Centralian college days on July 28-30, 2017.

*CPU BSN Batch 92 at the Iloilo Mission Hospital.*

They also visited the College of Nursing and Iloilo Mission Hospital, a partner institution of CPU, which served as the venue of their hospital immersion. Through the CPU Alumni, Centralians around the globe are always happy to come home to CPU and re-experience the campus and the camaraderie brought about by the Central Spirit.

The 2017 Grand Alumni Homecoming and General Assembly will be held on September 30, 2017. Centralians around the globe are encouraged to come home at CPU.

Centralian appointed as UN Consul-General

Hon. Ramona Palabrica-Go, Former Mayor of the Municipality of San Enrique, was appointed as United Nations Consul-General of the International Commission of Diplomatic Relations Human Rights and Peace, International Governmental Organization United Nations at California, USA on July 12, 2017.

Go is a Centralian, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1977. A native of San Dionisio, Iloilo, she is hailed as the first woman Line General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2011.

In 1986, she became a full-pledge pilot after training at the Aerostar Flight Training Center. She is the first woman military pilot of the Philippines.

As an Army cavalry officer, Go occupied primary staff positions (adjutant, personnel, intelligence, and education and training) in the Light Armor Brigade (now Light Armor Division). In the field of education and training, she served as Tactical Officer of the Combat Arms School and the Service Support School, and faculty member of the Army Command and General Staff College (now Army Command and Staff School). She was also designated as the Deputy Army Inspector General, the Secretary Army General Staff, the AFP Adjutant General, and the AFP Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J1. She also headed the Establishment of Personnel Information Management System Project under the Philippine Defense Reform Program and served as President of the General Court Martial Number 1 (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Ramona_P._Go).

The International Commission of Diplomatic Relation Human Rights and Peace is an international, non-for-profit, Sovereign Inter-Governmental Organization legally established by treaties under the Resolutions of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (18th April, 1961) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (18th April, 1963) to promote international co-operation (http://www.icdrhrp.org/index.php/about-us)

CPU Alumni hold Summer Get Together

*The CPU British Columbia-Washington State Alumni Chapter.*

Rekindling the Centralian Spirit – The CPU British Coumbia-Washington Chapter and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Batch 1995 based in the U.S. held a summer get together, gathering familiar faces of cheer and nostalgia.

The CPU British Coumbia-Washington Chapter had a meet up with fellow Centralians to celebrate the Centralian Spirit of camaraderie.

On the other hand, the BSN Batch 1995 enjoyed an outing in Log Country Cove Texas Hill Country on July 23-26, 2017. Together with and friends, the group enjoyed a three day vacation reminiscing their stay in CPU and looking forward to more events with the Centralian family.

*A summer get together, rekindling the Centralian Spirit.*

The 2017 Grand Alumni Homecoming and General Assembly will be held on September 30, 2017. Centralians around the globe are encouraged to come home at CPU.

Centralian Girl Scout Achiever represents Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in the United Nations

*Serving as the voice of the Filipino into the global arena.*

Angeli Monique Siladan, an alumna of Central Philippine University High School Class of 2009 and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in 2013, represented not only the Girl Scouts of the Philippines but the entire World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to the United Nations High Level Political Forum last July 10-19, 2017 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Last year, she went to Copenhagen, Denmark from May 16-19, 2016 to deliver a lecture for the “Women Deliver´s 4th Global Conference.” This is the world’s largest global conference on the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women in the last decade. From 5,000 applicants, Angeli was one of the 700 young people selected for a scholarship from Women Deliver to attend the event.

*Empathy is the universal language of development.*

While in the CPU High School, Angeli was a Chief Girl Scout Medalist in 2008, and the Girl Representative to the Iloilo Council Board in 2009-2012. She later became a Member of the GSP National Program Committee in 2012-2015.

In the website www.wagggs.org, Angeli wrote, “In a world where we are challenged to make a difference, it is my aspiration that: More girls stay longer in school. More women are healthier and are free to make their life choices. More women own enterprises and are able to provide for their families. And finally, more women take on key decision-making positions in the government. For a young woman like me, this is what a successful future looks like, and it is my dream that we all continue to take action for all girls and women worldwide.”

She previously attended the following international conferences representing the Girl Scouts of the Philippines: 11^th Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2013 in Japan; Participatory Photography Training on Maternal and Child Health 2013 in Pax Lodge, London; World Conference on Youth 2014 in Sri Lanka; ASEAN Young Women’s Leadership Conference 2015 in Malaysia.

Currently, she is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Youth Committee and WAGGGS Advocacy Network for SDGs.

Girl Scouts of the Philippines has been a venue for girls and young women to develop their personality, enhance their talents and skills and improve their communication and leadership abilities. Through the years, GSP Iloilo Council produced a lot of young women achievers and leaders in different fields.

Nursing Class of 1987 turns over cash donation to the College of Nursing Virtual Lab Project

*Batch 1987 together with Atty. Salex E. Alibogha and Prof. Rowena M. Libo-on.*

The CPU Nursing Class of 1987 Alumni that arrived from the United States this week turned over a check of 100,000 Pesos to the CPU College of Nursing at 9:30 AM on July 28, 2017 at the CPU Board of Trustees Conference Room. The amount is another tranche of donation for the Nursing Virtual Laboratory Project of the CPU College of Nursing. A fund raising campaign for the proposed project has been ongoing with Nursing Alumni Associations worldwide.

The turn-over ceremony was witnessed by Atty. Salex E. Alibogha, Acting Dean, CPU College of Nursing and President of CCI-NAA (Central Philippine University, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, and Iloilo Mission Hospital), members of the CPU Nursing Class of 1987, and Prof. Rowena M. Libo-on, Director for CPU Transnational Programs.

*At home in Central – Batch 1987 visits CPU.*

According to Atty. Salex E. Alibogha, the fundraising will continue until the amount is enough to finance the proposed project. He is grateful that the “CPU Nursing Alumni have been very responsive to the need of the CPU College of Nursing to have the Virtual Lab project realized.” A number of Nursing Alumni Chapters from abroad and some individuals have already turned over checks for the project.

*Atty. Salex E. Alibogha hopes that the virtual lab will expand the learning experiences of students.*

Thirty-three members of the Nursing Alumni Class of 1987 led by Mrs. Eva Espanera Rafols are on a tour of the country, and purposely dropped by to handover the check to the CPU College of Nursing. Most of the Nursing Class of 1987 also belongs to the CPU Alumni Association, Chicago Chapter.