Celebrating Excellence and Service: Highlights from the 23rd UPAAA Grand Reunion & Convention in Houston

On October 17–18, 2025, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) held its 23rd Biennial Grand Reunion & Convention at The Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston, Texas. The event brought together UP alumni and friends for a meaningful weekend of fellowship, knowledge exchange, and fundraising in support of UPAAA’s flagship initiative—the Scholarship Program.

Distinguished guests included Philippine Consul General in Houston Gunther Emil Sales, UP Vice-President for Public Affairs Marian Coquia-Regidor, UPAA President Robert Aranton, and Vice-President Fernando Sanchez, Jr.

Day 1 Highlights:
Dr. Winston Umali, UPAAA National President, warmly welcomed attendees. The day featured a series of lectures by accomplished UP alumni who have excelled in their respective fields. The evening concluded with the Jubilarian Celebration Dinner and Dancing—a joyful tribute to milestone alumni.

Day 2 Highlights:

President Robert Aranton delivered a powerful keynote titled “A Legacy of Honor, Excellence and Service.” He shared UPAA’s transformative initiatives during his term, emphasizing how the organization continues to uplift students, alumni, and communities:

• Digital Engagement: Revitalized the UPAA website to foster vibrant conversations across time zones.
• Career Support: Established the Job Placement Office (JPO) at Ang Bahay ng Alumni—bridging diplomas to paychecks through mentorship, workshops, and career-readiness webinars.
• Student Welfare: Supported programs like Lingap Hapunan and EatSkolars to combat student hunger, installed drinking fountains for campus health, and expanded scholarship reach to UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, and UP Mindanao.
• Healthcare Access: Opened the Botika ng Alumni and partnered with health institutions to offer discounted medicines for alumni families.
• Inclusive Education: Collaborated with UP Open University, BuCor, MECO, and PEZA to bring higher learning to underserved sectors—including persons deprived of liberty and overseas professionals.
• Community Outreach: Delivered school kits and solar lamps to communities, emphasizing listening before acting and building solidarity through compassion.
• Fundraising & Events: Mobilized resources through the UPAA President’s Golf Cup and the Freedom Run, which saw 3,000 runners defy heavy rain in a show of unity and purpose.

President Aranton reminded everyone that the strength of UP lies not only in its students’ brilliance but in the alumni’s enduring commitment to turn learning into work that lifts lives.

Gala and Awards Night:
The evening celebrated the 2025–2026 UPAAA Outstanding Alumni Awardees—15 exceptional individuals and 2 distinguished alumni groups.

Consul General Gunther Sales reminded UP alumni that the university’s motto—Honor, Excellence, and Service—calls for more than just achievement. He emphasized the importance of “praxis,” turning values into action for the greater good. As he shared:

“Honor gives us integrity. Excellence gives us mastery. But Service gives these both direction and purpose. The new triad captures what many of us already know by experience—that education finds its fullest expression not in what we achieve, but in what we enable others to achieve through our work. And this brings me to a word we all should hold close: praxis. Praxis is the moment when thought becomes action—when what we know, value, and believe takes shape in what we actually do. UP’s addition of ‘Service’ to its motto is, in essence, a call for praxis—to ensure that honor and excellence never remain abstract ideals, but lived realities in the way we treat others, lead our institutions, and contribute to our nation. Let every act of leadership, mentorship, and compassion be a form of praxis—a living proof that what we learned was not for ourselves alone, but for the greater good.”

Romulo Gerardo “Gerry” Ramos received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in Architecture and Community Service, along with a 12-inch bronze UP Oblation Statuette and Certificate. A respected architect and community leader in Wisconsin, Gerry is the Principal of Ramos and Associates and the long-serving volunteer Executive Director of the Philippine Cultural and Civic Center Foundation. His work in youth literacy and cultural education continues to uplift Filipino-American communities.

UPAA-Wisconsin (UPAA-W) was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Group Award for its remarkable contributions to cultural preservation, academic excellence, and community service. This marks UPAA-W’s second time receiving the award, having first been recognized in 2017. For over 51 years, UPAA-W has:

• Established scholarships in Wisconsin and across the UP system.
• Funded two professorial chairs at UP Diliman.
• Launched programs like Value Our Heritage and Feed the Hungry.
• Participated in the Holiday Folk Fair and medical missions to the Philippines.

Ito Conti, UPAA-W President, accepted the 15-inch bronze UP Oblation Statuette and Certificate on behalf of UPAA-W, joined by Jojo Ramos and Dr. Rem Baylon.

Congratulations, Gerry, on your well-deserved recognition!

Mabuhay ang UPAA-W for this outstanding achievement!