MANILA, Philippines — Last Saturday, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association had its General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion with the theme “Harapin ang Bagong Hamon!” Among the alumni batch honorees, all jewels of UP, the Ruby Jubilarians (’71 graduates) stood out by numbers, enthusiasm, organization, and their bright red T-shirts bearing the slogans  “Isulong ang Pagbabago: Kundi hindi tayo kikilos, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?”

I could be biased being the president of the Ruby Jubilarians together with Dr. Elmar Oliva Perez, vice president; Ms. Leticia Salvador Tojos, secretary; Union Bank senior executive Teodoro Panganiban, treasurer; and Mrs. Pacita Yuvienco Aguirre, PRO.

But how can this group not shine with their cohesiveness and performance in delivering the most advertisements to the Homecoming Yearbook; having the most rehearsals to come up with the well-applauded number, the “Barikada,” in songs and movement to the guitar accompaniment of Tos Lansang and Prof. Greg of the UP College of Music; and adopting the UP Diliman Infirmary Emergency Room as their Legacy project.

Most significantly, two of the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees came from Class ’71: Ms. Teresita B. Ang-See AB’ 71 for Community Empowerment and Responsibility and Mr. Roberto P. Alingog, BSBA ’71; MBA ’74 for Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation, while Dr. June Pagaduan, BS ’72 for Social Cohesion is a ruby jubilarian at heart.

Ms. Teresita Ang-See is best nationally known for her fearless efforts to strengthen the community bonds with government agencies in order to improve law and order, economic conditions, and community life. Her advocacies of greater citizen responsibility in all aspects of society and her creation and nurturing of institutions leading to a better understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of the contributions of the Filipino-Chinese of our community have borne fruit through the years.

Mr. Roberto Alingog deserves national recognition with his myriad accomplishments which has greatly improved the lives of the communities, which he and his companies touched. In the mid-70s. His push for the mechanization of rice cultivation by providing credit in a fast (WIWO System) and easy way (not collateralized by real-estate) was pioneering and a new business model.

This was based on Mr. Alingog’s belief in the farmer. His business methods and risk-taking efforts resulted in a new “sense of self” for the farmers and the rural folk who now feel that they are not bound by unwritten conditions in their loans, and that there is no “utang na loob” attached to it, much less implied servitude.

With this attitude or self-concept, the farmer now feels emboldened to be entrepreneurial: That he can take financial risks and do some business to improve his income or at least to allow him some livelihood. It is freedom in a real sense.

The records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue show that the companies of Mr. Alingog are in the top five of the highest taxpayers not just in the province but also the region, reflective of his sense of citizenship responsibility as are his contributions to the community, church, and the University of the Philippines. This is consistent with his philosophy of recognizing where he came from and acknowledging his debt to these institutions.

While two were awarded, many of those who attended were also worthy of recognition in terms of their contribution to business, industry, and society.

We saw Millennium Fund Executive Director Marivic E. Anonuevo, St. Luke’s Chair Robert Kuan, PPA Finance, Legal, and Administration head David Simon with spouse Amy, banker Frank Capalongan with wife Julie, economist and lawyer Ernesto Albano, cardiologist Dr. Raul Jara, World Bank economist TJ Jayme, business personalities Arthur Tuason, Alberto Alano, Francisco Josef, Teodorico Durias, Aurora Dee Pineda, Tere Zuniga, Everdina Gan Enriquez, Dida Cosio Salita, Amaryllis Santos Salazar, Bituin Valdez Salcedo, Melchor Dizon, Marilou Rausa Quicho, outstanding leaders in community development and social welfare Dr. Sylvia Ciocon de la Paz, Josie Muyco Balangitan, Evelia B. Pardo, Ronaldo Rogel, Evelyn Ramos, Trinidad Sta. Romana Velayo, Violeta de Jesus, Agnes P. Paynor, and Susan Dava Macabuag. The list can go on and on but I must confess that at 60+, I do forget names.

What I can be sure of is that all who attended had their commitment to serve the Filipino people renewed and their debt of gratitude being “eskolars ng bayan” rekindled.

Business Bits. In preparation for the Golden Jubilee, ten years from now, all ’71 graduates of the University of the Philippines are requested to send their picture and contact details to melitosalazar71@yahoo.com. The attendees agreed to annually get together and bring in more co-graduates.