VISION FOR UP ALUMNI IN BC
As the incoming President of the UP Alumni Association in BC, what is your long-term vision for the alumni community here, and how do you plan to strengthen our connections with the University of the Philippines?
We envision a vibrant and engaged UP Alumni Community in British Columbia during the new board's term. We will continue the legacy and tradition of UPAABC from its 45 years of promoting camaraderie, providing a channel of communication between UP and the association, providing support to members, and pursuing activities that not only strengthen the bond of the UPAABC community but also impact British Columbia as a whole.
We envision a vibrant and engaged UP Alumni Community in British Columbia during the new board's term. We will continue the legacy and tradition of UPAABC from its 45 years of promoting camaraderie, providing a channel of communication between UP and the association, providing support to members, and pursuing activities that not only strengthen the bond of the UPAABC community but also impact British Columbia as a whole.
BRIDGING GENERATIONS
The alumni association brings individuals from various graduating batches together. How do you plan to meaningfully engage seasoned alumni and newer graduates, ensuring that all generations feel represented and involved?
There are great platforms that UPAABC already has institutionalized to engage seasoned alumni with newer graduates who made Canada their new home. As an example, the current board organized successful professional mentorships in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, dubbed “Employment Integration in BC Through Industry Mentorship,” where seasoned and professionally established UP Alumni served as mentors to newcomer UPians in their settlement and integration to Canada. The industry mentorship program aimed to help our Iskos and Iskas integrate into their pre-arrival professions in Canada. Among the industry areas covered in the mentorship program are Project Management and Financial Services, Human Resources, Data Analytics, Trade and Entrepreneurship, and so on. We plan to continue this mentorship program and engage more of the seasoned UP Alumni across industries and professions and tap our young successful professionals to share their experiences as well to newcomer Isko’s and Iska’s. We will continue to enhance our social events, which provide opportunities to connect and network among the members. Further, we will continue to engage our newcomer, Isko and Iska on the Board either as officers or volunteers in the various departments.
There are great platforms that UPAABC already has institutionalized to engage seasoned alumni with newer graduates who made Canada their new home. As an example, the current board organized successful professional mentorships in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, dubbed “Employment Integration in BC Through Industry Mentorship,” where seasoned and professionally established UP Alumni served as mentors to newcomer UPians in their settlement and integration to Canada. The industry mentorship program aimed to help our Iskos and Iskas integrate into their pre-arrival professions in Canada. Among the industry areas covered in the mentorship program are Project Management and Financial Services, Human Resources, Data Analytics, Trade and Entrepreneurship, and so on. We plan to continue this mentorship program and engage more of the seasoned UP Alumni across industries and professions and tap our young successful professionals to share their experiences as well to newcomer Isko’s and Iska’s. We will continue to enhance our social events, which provide opportunities to connect and network among the members. Further, we will continue to engage our newcomer, Isko and Iska on the Board either as officers or volunteers in the various departments.
PROMOTING UP'S VALUES
UP is known for its commitment to academic excellence, social responsibility, and national development. How do you intend to carry forward and promote these core values within the alum community in BC?
We carry a greater responsibility now as members of the UP Alumni Community here in BC. We will celebrate the successes of our Alumni in the professional field they are in and provide a platform where they can share their journey to inspire our young people in the community. We will engage in social causes that align with UPAABC's core values and are supportive in the achievement of our Vision and Mission. We will engage in national development initiatives through collaborations and partnerships with institutions such as the Philippine Ambassadors Office in Canada, the Philippine Consulate General, the Migrant Workers Office, Local Governments and Local organizations and others.
We carry a greater responsibility now as members of the UP Alumni Community here in BC. We will celebrate the successes of our Alumni in the professional field they are in and provide a platform where they can share their journey to inspire our young people in the community. We will engage in social causes that align with UPAABC's core values and are supportive in the achievement of our Vision and Mission. We will engage in national development initiatives through collaborations and partnerships with institutions such as the Philippine Ambassadors Office in Canada, the Philippine Consulate General, the Migrant Workers Office, Local Governments and Local organizations and others.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND GROWTH
How can the alumni community in BC contribute to preserving Filipino culture while embracing Canada's diverse, multicultural environment?
We are proud of our past presidents and past BODs who opened the door for us to continue the legacy they started. Balagtasan as an example, has been a great platform for the community to remain connected to our Filipino heritage and celebrate it. We continue to promote the culture of service through our strong and expanding scholarship program. We have consistently engaged in events celebrating Filipino Heritage, and we will continue to do so. We will support and pursue initiatives from the greater Filipino community in BC that will build on a greater Filipino Community presence
We are proud of our past presidents and past BODs who opened the door for us to continue the legacy they started. Balagtasan as an example, has been a great platform for the community to remain connected to our Filipino heritage and celebrate it. We continue to promote the culture of service through our strong and expanding scholarship program. We have consistently engaged in events celebrating Filipino Heritage, and we will continue to do so. We will support and pursue initiatives from the greater Filipino community in BC that will build on a greater Filipino Community presence
INNOVATIVE ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Can you share any new initiatives or innovative programs you hope to introduce to help alums stay connected, UP, and their communities?
We have started in the current board the Industry Mentorship program along with organizing the Filipino International Student Convention with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, and we will continue to do this and enhance engagement of the entire UPAABC community. For UP, we will enhance our scholarship programs, which is core to the existence of UPAABC, by supporting scholars representing all UP Systems and engaging more of our members to support our future leaders as sponsors. We will enhance membership engagement by providing them various platforms to contribute to the causes and initiatives of UPAABC. On a personal level, I will encourage the new Board to navigate and explore funded skills training programs to support newcomers to Canada in their settlement and integration and collaborate with learning institutions and service provider organizations in the delivery of such trainings.
We have started in the current board the Industry Mentorship program along with organizing the Filipino International Student Convention with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, and we will continue to do this and enhance engagement of the entire UPAABC community. For UP, we will enhance our scholarship programs, which is core to the existence of UPAABC, by supporting scholars representing all UP Systems and engaging more of our members to support our future leaders as sponsors. We will enhance membership engagement by providing them various platforms to contribute to the causes and initiatives of UPAABC. On a personal level, I will encourage the new Board to navigate and explore funded skills training programs to support newcomers to Canada in their settlement and integration and collaborate with learning institutions and service provider organizations in the delivery of such trainings.
STRENGTHENING UP'S INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
How do you see the role of alum associations like the one in BC in supporting UP's global visibility and enhancing its international partnerships and collaborations?
It works both ways, how does UP envision us supporting them to achieve global visibility and what kind of collaboration are they looking for? I am coming from the lens of understanding the level of support the UP System can provide Alumni Associations considering that through our own we have been carrying out UPs prestige already through what we do eg supporting scholars in various UP systems and various initiatives. Alumni Associations can be UPs conduit in understanding global talent demands and align curriculum and academic training with the priority occupations of countries like Canada. We are experiencing the reality of seeing Isko’s and Iska’s moving to Canada and we are in a position to help prepare them fully integrate into the community and optimize the skills they have to contribute to the needs of BC
It works both ways, how does UP envision us supporting them to achieve global visibility and what kind of collaboration are they looking for? I am coming from the lens of understanding the level of support the UP System can provide Alumni Associations considering that through our own we have been carrying out UPs prestige already through what we do eg supporting scholars in various UP systems and various initiatives. Alumni Associations can be UPs conduit in understanding global talent demands and align curriculum and academic training with the priority occupations of countries like Canada. We are experiencing the reality of seeing Isko’s and Iska’s moving to Canada and we are in a position to help prepare them fully integrate into the community and optimize the skills they have to contribute to the needs of BC
EMPOWERING UP GRADUATES
Many UP alumni in BC are successful professionals in their respective fields. How do you leverage this expertise to create mentorship opportunities and career development programs for younger alums?
We have started this already through the current board in organizing Industry Mentorships that have been very successful in reaching out to newcomers to Canada and meeting along the way UP Alumni. We contributed to the settlement and integration of our newcomers Iskos and Iskas and provided them the platform to engage and network with our successful alumni professionals. We want to expand the engagement of our successful professionals by organizing more industry and mentorship events. Along that line, we want to enhance our networking platform through our Membership and Engagement Division so we can continue to build on a directory of UP Alumni Professionals and their contacts. We will engage as well with local service provider organisations and offer our expertise in service delivery.
We have started this already through the current board in organizing Industry Mentorships that have been very successful in reaching out to newcomers to Canada and meeting along the way UP Alumni. We contributed to the settlement and integration of our newcomers Iskos and Iskas and provided them the platform to engage and network with our successful alumni professionals. We want to expand the engagement of our successful professionals by organizing more industry and mentorship events. Along that line, we want to enhance our networking platform through our Membership and Engagement Division so we can continue to build on a directory of UP Alumni Professionals and their contacts. We will engage as well with local service provider organisations and offer our expertise in service delivery.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
How do you envision the association's role in giving back to the local community in BC? Are there specific social impact projects or outreach programs you plan to initiate or expand?
We will use a strategic approach to community engagement. We will involve ourselves in what aligns with our Vision, Mission, and Core Values. We will identify engagements that recognize the strengths and abilities of UPAABC. We will engage based on our resource capacity and what is sustainable for us.
We will use a strategic approach to community engagement. We will involve ourselves in what aligns with our Vision, Mission, and Core Values. We will identify engagements that recognize the strengths and abilities of UPAABC. We will engage based on our resource capacity and what is sustainable for us.
SUSTAINING ALUMNI INVOLVEMENT
What strategies do you have to keep alums engaged and invested in the association over the long term, especially considering the challenges of maintaining strong connections in a digital, often transient, world?
By offering our Alumni a platform to engage and communicating to them that they are important and we value them. We will exert effort to know them and make them known. We will collaborate, partner, and work with them. We will listen to them and meet at a level where we are on the same page on why it makes sense to not just be an active member but an engaged member of UPAABC. We will celebrate their success and recognize them the best we can
By offering our Alumni a platform to engage and communicating to them that they are important and we value them. We will exert effort to know them and make them known. We will collaborate, partner, and work with them. We will listen to them and meet at a level where we are on the same page on why it makes sense to not just be an active member but an engaged member of UPAABC. We will celebrate their success and recognize them the best we can
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO UP
As someone who UP has shaped, what personal experiences or lessons from your time there do you hope to bring into your leadership role, and how do they inspire how you engage with the alum community?
The role of President of the UPAABC Board brings me back to my student movement years in UP Baguio. We served as Student Council Chairperson at a time where the UP Baguio community was strongly fighting for our Autonomous Status and to be recognized as a distinct unit in the UP System. We were a part of the movement, and we have seen that no contribution is big or small when the cause you believe in impacts the future generation of leaders. Our sense of dedication to support newcomers to Canada and help them in their settlement and integration speaks volumes of the training we had as Iskolar ng Bayan. The UPAABC community now plays a great role in shaping the Filipino Community here in British Columbia. As someone who will be leading the Board and UPAABC in the next two years, we are strong because of the foundations built by our pioneers in the association, they remain our pillars and strength. Our past presidents and past board officers- we thank them for paving the way for us and for continuing in their support. Our membership you make us strong in moving onwards and upwards- Honor Excellence and Service. Mabuhay ang Iskolar ng Bayan- Padayon!
The role of President of the UPAABC Board brings me back to my student movement years in UP Baguio. We served as Student Council Chairperson at a time where the UP Baguio community was strongly fighting for our Autonomous Status and to be recognized as a distinct unit in the UP System. We were a part of the movement, and we have seen that no contribution is big or small when the cause you believe in impacts the future generation of leaders. Our sense of dedication to support newcomers to Canada and help them in their settlement and integration speaks volumes of the training we had as Iskolar ng Bayan. The UPAABC community now plays a great role in shaping the Filipino Community here in British Columbia. As someone who will be leading the Board and UPAABC in the next two years, we are strong because of the foundations built by our pioneers in the association, they remain our pillars and strength. Our past presidents and past board officers- we thank them for paving the way for us and for continuing in their support. Our membership you make us strong in moving onwards and upwards- Honor Excellence and Service. Mabuhay ang Iskolar ng Bayan- Padayon!
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