The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles held its gala and awards night on March 18, 2023, at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel.

“Our gala is traditionally celebrated every two years. It usually takes place from the first to the third month after the changing of the guard, so to speak. This is when the baton is passed from the previous two-year term to the new board on the first day of July. However, for our term, I wanted to ensure that our board members had been inducted so that its officers and Board of Directors can function officially in their first month. Thus, instead of the usual large and formal induction gala held in a hotel, we had a smaller and more intimate induction event hosted by our very own alumnus, ConGen Ed Badajos, at his lovely residence . . . It is interesting that tonight, while we are inducting five of our new board members, the main purpose of our gala is to honor members of our FilAm community and UP alumni, as well as raise funds for UPAAGLA. I refer to it as ‘The Oblations’: our version of The Oscars,” stated President Evelyn Andamo during her opening remarks.

Evelyn is the President of Ace HealthCare International and the President/CEO of the Nicolas-Genoveva Machan Foundation, which is based in Carson, California.

The primary objective of the 12-year-old organization is to provide community-based long-term care and culturally sensitive quality healthcare and human services support to uninsured and underserved residents of Southern California. It will also include Filipino American health, education, information and research.

Besides welcoming dignitaries who received awards, Evelyn also acknowledged former Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson (the home of the author’s company Westin Enterprises, Inc., DBA Carson Adult Day Healthcare Center); Field Representative Jun Aglipay of the Office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson; as well as Gala Sponsors, UP Alumni, families, and friends. “This evening is made special by your presence,” she said.

Evelyn continued with her remarks.

“Immediately after our board induction, we held a virtual retreat. Once again, thanks to our board members, we had a most fruitful brainstorming retreat that helped us establish our goals and objectives for achieving our UPAAGLA vision: To enlighten our alumni in the Greater Los Angeles Area and beyond, [encouraging them] to share their current resources, talents, and efforts to their Alma Mater, cognizant that with the gifts they have received come the responsibility to give back and support the university as a whole.

“With this vision in mind, the platform focused on ensuring that our endowment funds would have ROIs, allowing the use of interest to meet UPAAGLA’s gift-giving needs in the future, without touching the capital. We hope that tonight’s event will contribute to increasing that capital.

“Our board has created an Endowment Fund Committee to oversee and manage the fund, surveying our options and providing recommendations. Other fundraising projects were on the wings, such as the creation of Circle of Friends and the initiative to designate UPAAGLA as a beneficiary of Wills and Trust Funds. The Circle of Friends is akin to the fundraising methods used by universities, which involve continuous fundraising rather than relying solely on events or solicited donations when funds were needed.

“Other projects not focused on fundraising are addressed to meet our mission of providing camaraderie and lifelong relationships among our UP alumni. The mentorship program and the inclusion of our members in our UPAAGLA committees are two of the projects for this term. Currently, we are in the process of creating a database to make these projects operational.

“In summary, amidst the unprecedented and most challenging COVID-19 pandemic, our board has incrementally worked towards achieving our 2021-2023 goals and objectives. It was truly an onward and upward journey, despite all the challenges of the pandemic. Let us add to this journey tonight’s festivity.”

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to Dr. Gemma Teresa Narisma, and Leandro B. Lecaros received the Alumni Family Recognition Award.

Closing remarks were delivered by President-elect for the term 2023-2025, Eric Panuncialman.