University of Santo Thomas Alumni Association of British Columbia
History
History
The University of Santo
Tomas Alumni Association in British Columbia was founded in February 1986 by an
Ad Hoc committee composed of Art Bustria, Engineering '71; Rick De Guzman,
Commerce '63; Fe Flores, Education '53, Jesus Gonzalez, High
School/Engineering,'50; Josefina S. Gonzalez, Engineering '55; Jo Floro,
Science/Chemistry,'54; Jeannette Reyes, Commerce'77; Edwin Palapuz, Faculty, /
Engineering,'74; Gerry Gatchalian, engineering '55; Goni Manalastas, Education
'62; Lydia L. Jimeno, Commerce'64 and Geronimo Jimeno, Engineering '71.
The first set of officers
elected were Josefina S. Gonzalez, President; Rick De Guzman and Art Bustria,
Vice Presidents; Edwin Palapuz, Secretary and Jeannette Reyes, Treasurer. They
were inducted on October 11, 1986 at the Capri Hall, Fraser Street, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada. Ninety (90) members were listed in the roster. First
guest speaker and inducting officer was Francisco Reyes, then dean of UST,
Manila Faculty of Engineering.
USTAABC became a duly
registered non profit organization in July 1987 in the province of British
Columbia , Canada.
At the beginning of USTAABC's
inception, its main objective focused on promoting fellowship, in fostering
camaraderie and in encouraging community service among its members. Over the
years its purposes have expanded to promoting activities that will stimulate
personal and professional development of members and members' families, in
promoting our own Filipino culture in Canadian society and in being
instrumental in obtaining proper accreditation in B.C. the degrees and
credentials obtained from the University of Santo Tomas , Manila. USTAABC
communicates with its members through an official newsletter called
"Alumnews" which was first published in April 1988. Author of the
name of this newsletter is Joselito Zapanta, Architecture'68. The first USTAABC
logo was officially adopted in June 1990, however this was modified and
officially changed into a new one in 1998 which is now in current use. In the
same year 1998, the Scholarship Project which was initiated in 1987 was pursued
into high gear and the first scholar was granted Cash entitlement in the person
of Francis Reyes Nixon who is now in his senior year at the University of
British Columbia, Faculty of Arts.
The 90's saw significant
increase in the number of members recruited for membership. To date, at the
turn of the decade and beginning of the new millennium, we have approximately
300 members and growing.
Over the past 15 years,
USTAABC has grown in number, has increased its community involvement and
achieved a heightened stature as a strong association committed to pursue its
mission and objectives its founders have envisioned.
As we enter the new
millennium, there is so much promise and potential for growth in terms of
community service, networking brought about by information technology and
expansion of services this association could render this province, British
Columbia.
View Page 1 (2.51 MB) and Page 2 (28 kB) of the July 2002 issue of our quarterly newsletter (Microsoft Word)
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