CY 2025 3rd Board Meeting Highlights

For the third and final time this year, the UPAA-W held its board meeting on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the Poplar Creek Town Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  Directors Ike Pahm, Dr. Volette Singson, Roselle Rogers, Rebecca Toledo, Beaver Flores, Trina Bando and Ito Conti were present.  Dr. Fe Visaya, Jojo and Gerry Ramos, Cream Pepito, Dr. Oscar Toledo, Christine and Tom Hey also attended the meeting.  We would like to thank Dr. Toledo, Becky and Dr. Singson for hosting a sumptuous lunch for all of us.

The following are the highlights of our meeting:

• 2025 UPAA-W Guansing Regala Scholarship Award – Christopher Teggatz, Jr., who is from Madison, Wisconsin, is the recipient of the $1,000 award based on his outstanding academic record and financial need.  He is currently a freshman student at UW-Madison.

• UPAA-W Scholarship Award (for 2 senior graduating students) – Last May 2025, Julmar Parages (BA Political Science, UP Cebu) and Marielle Jade Gullipardo (BA Political Science, UP Manila) graduated Magna Cum Laude.  For the 1^st semester of SY 2025-26, we have two (2) new scholars, namely:  Aira Gayle Pugeda, a 4^th year BA Behavioral Science student in UP Manila, and Jessa Fate Vallente, a 4^th year B Physical Education student in UP Diliman.

• 2025 UP Alumni Association (UPAA) Outstanding Award – On August 16, 2025, the UPAA honored exceptional individuals, groups and families during the prestigious alumni awards ceremony at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Diliman, Quezon City.  This was attended by about 670 people.  UPAA-W received the Outstanding Group Award, and Gerry Ramos was conferred the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Empowerment.

• UPAA-W Scholarship Award (for 2 freshman students) – On August 22, 2025, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between UPAA-W and UP (represented by UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan) for the establishment of a new UPAA-W Scholarship was finally signed in Diliman, Quezon City.  This will award two (2) scholarship grants to two (2) academically deserving freshman students from any UP system-wide schools effective first semester of SY 2025-26.  The application deadline was last September 14, 2025.  The Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG) is currently reviewing the applications of the students.

• UPAA-W Estrella Espejo Memorial Scholarship Award – On the same day, we signed another MOA with UP (represented by President Angelo Jimenez) for the establishment of the UPWW-W Estrella Espejo Memorial Scholarship Award.  This will award three (3) scholarship grants every four (4) years to academically deserving students from any UP system-wide campus starting first semester of SY 2025-26, or for a total of nine (9) students in twelve (12) years.  The OSG is also reviewing all the applications that were submitted before the September 14, 2025, deadline.

• Virtual Conversations with University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) Outstanding Group and Alumni Award – On Friday, September 5, 2025 at 9 pm, Gerry Ramos, and Deanna Cruz and Cream Pepito (representing UPAA-W) participated at this very successful event, which was hosted by Dot Llariza-Tome. 

• University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Board Meetings – Ito attended via Zoom the UPAA board meetings on August 5 and September 16, 2025.  He gave a report on all the UPAA-W activities.

• Asian Moon Festival and Business Excellence Celebration – Upon their invitation, we will perform the Ifugao dance at the festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Waukesha, Wisconsin. 

• 2025 University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) Outstanding Group and Alumni Award – The UPAAA will honor excellent individuals and groups at the 23^rd Grand Reunion and Convention on October 17 – 18, 2025 in Houston, Texas.  UPAA-W will be recognized as the Outstanding Alumni Group, and Gerry Ramos will receive an award for Outstanding Alumni in Architecture and Community Service.

• Sining ng Panahon – We will be collaborating with different organizations for the Sining ng Panahon to celebrate the Filipino American History Month.  This will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 1 – 5 pm at the Mount Mary University.

• Feed the Hungry – We will cook chicken adobo, rice and pancit, and serve at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 11:15 am – 12:45 pm.  We received a very generous $500 donation from Global Inspirations.

• 2025 Holiday Folk Fair International – We will oversee the Filipino booth at the holiday folk fair on November 21 – 23, 2025 at the State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wisconsin.  We will be needing volunteers for this activity.

• Christmas Party – Our Christmas party will be on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Philippine Center in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

• UP Diliman Eatskolar – In response to the present food insecurity problem in UP Diliman, the UPAA-W Board voted to donate $500 to the Eatskolar program and appealed for support from our members and friends.  We raised an additional amount of $2,500 from individual donors.  We will remit the total amount of $3,000 to UP.  Since this is a continuing need, we welcome your tax-deductible donations to this program.

• Election of new directors for the term 2026-28 – Ike and Lucy will no longer seek reelection as UPAA-W director. 

• UPAA-W Outstanding Service Award – For his exemplary work as former President, and current Director, Chair of the Investment Committee, and Chair of the Technology and Website Committee, Ike Pahm has been unanimously voted by the board to receive the Outstanding Service Award this year.

Maraming salamat, and hope to see you in all our forthcoming activities!