The UP Los Baños Alumni Center building, located at Domingo Lantican Avenue, can be considered a memorial to Former Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez, who was the driving force behind raising funds for its construction.

Conceived in 1975 and formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 28, 1975, between the University, led then by Chancellor Abelardo G. Samonte, and the presidents of the UP College of Agriculture Alumni Association (UPCAAA) and College of Forestry Alumni Association, respectively, the Alumni Center was constructed based on the plans mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Stated in the MOU was the agreement for the University to provide the site for the center, as well as to cover half of the total construction cost. Based on this condition, the University has identified the site location where the residence of the late Bienvenido Gonzalez, the first agriculture alumnus to become dean and UP president, used to be. The University, furthermore, covered half of the construction cost for the initial phase of the project.

On October 10, 1977, the Alumni Center was inaugurated, with UPCAAA serving as the center’s administrator. Office spaces were rented out to various organizations, but one of the major occupants of the building was the then Office of Alumni Affairs (now Office of Alumni Relations), which also served as the secretariat of the UPLBAA until 1996.

When the building was donated to the UPLB, it also served as offices for various units, such as the Office of Student Affairs (after the Student Union building was burned down), the UP Open University, and offices related to alumni affairs, such as the UPCAAA.

UPLB saw the need to renovate the Alumni Center. Thus, on February 4, 2010, UPLB awarded the project “Improvement of Alumni Center building (Ground Floor and Basement) Phase 1” to the contractor E.B.A Construction through public bidding, with a contract price of PhP9,165,028.77.

The Center is composed of office rooms, currently occupied by the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) and the UPLB Alumni Association, Inc., seven hostel rooms available for rent, and a conference room.

The UPLB Alumni Center, which had been rehabilitated, was blessed on January 18, 2011, before it was occupied by the staff of OAR. The inauguration of the Center was held on March 7, 2011, in conjunction with the 102nd Foundation Day celebration of UPLB.

Renaming of the Alumni Center to Nelia T. Gonzalez Hall

Regent Gonzalez’s work as president of the alumni association of the College of Agriculture in the 1970s, as well as her efforts in establishing a federation of all college alumni associations known as UPLB Alumni Association (UPLBAA) in 1982, where she was elected as its first president, were exemplary.

She played a key role in the construction of the impressive Carillon Tower in Los Baños, known as the Rizal Centenary Carillon, which was inaugurated by President Fidel V. Ramos on August 23, 1997. Likewise, she also led the inauguration of “Ani,” a modern and robust interpretation of UP’s first 100 years, by artist Sandra Torrijos on January 17, 2010, in UPLB.

The love that Regent Gonzalez has for her alma mater cannot be quantified. She is a selfless and vibrant leader, organizer, and fundraiser for numerous civic, charitable, religious, educational, and philanthropic organizations. Foremost among these was her role as one of the Council of Advisers of UPLBAA.

Her engagements in social causes and philanthropy are not only very numerous and long-running, but they are also incredibly varied, reflecting her broad and comprehensive interests and life commitments.

Regent Gonzalez, as a social entrepreneur, combines many roles: manager, technologist, businesswoman, technocrat, and administrator. But her influence and impact on society lie in her being all of these and more. In addition to her role as an agriculturist, she is also a friend, dedicated alumna, and public servant. Perhaps what is most remarkable of all is that Nelia T. Gonzalez carries her role with exquisite grace and charm. She is truly a woman of substance.

The Ad Hoc Committee for the Renaming of the Alumni Center Building, chaired by Alumni Relations Director Eileen Lorena M. Mamino, proposes renaming the UPLB Alumni Center to the Nelia T. Gonzalez Hall. This proposal is based on UP Naming Rights Policy, which recognizes “persons who have supported the University through either distinguished efforts or substantial financial endowment .” The Committee was formed on June 21, 2022, with the prodding of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr. Earlier this year, the renaming of the UPLB Alumni Center to Nelia T. Gonzalez Hall was approved during its 1378th Board of Regents Meeting held on February 23.

The year 2023 marks the 41st foundation year of the UPLBAA, providing an opportune moment to commemorate the memory and legacy of its founding president, Nelia T. Gonzalez. She effectively harnessed the strength of the alumni to support the University and mobilize them towards a common cause.

Last June 16, 2023, an unveiling ceremony was held at the Alumni Center to honor and commemorate the legacy of Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez.

Present during the ceremony were Senator Cynthia Villar, National Scientist Emil Javier, National Scientist Dolores Ramirez, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, and former UP President Atty. Danilo Concepcion and his wife, Atty. Gaby Concepcion, former UPLB Chancellors Dr. Ruben Villareal, Dr. Luis Velasco, and Dr. Fernando Sanchez Jr., along with around 150 faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez, attended the affair.

Future-proofing the building

In 2021, the project “Rehabilitation of Student-Industry-Alumni Hall” was approved with a budget of PhP12 million. The project will support the various activities of the current UPLB administration’s goal of building a future-proof University.