UST Rector visits Thomasian Alumni in the U.S.
Thomasian doctors based in the United States of America converged in full force for the 18th USTMAAA Annual Grand Reunion and Medical Convention from May 27 to 30, 2010 at the Marriott Chicago Downtown. Making this year’s reunion one of the most highly attended events of the USTMAAA, the organizers saw more than 800 Thomasian doctors participating in the affair. The four-day reunion and convention showcased a Jubilarian Dinner and Dance Night, a Gala Night Dinner, and a Continuing Medical Education Convention with the theme, “Innovative Approaches and Strategies”. Overseeing the reunion and medical convention was Dr. Dionisio Yorro who served as Over-all Chair and CME Director. Another highlight of the event was the transfer of responsibilities from Dr. Eduardo Cabigao, outgoing USTMAAA President to Dr. Antonio Buendia, USTMAAA President-elect and Dr. Zita Balbin-Yorro, outgoing USTMAAA Foundation President to Dr. F.C. Dante Gapultos, Jr., USTMAAA Foundation President-elect.
The University of Santo Tomas showed solidarity to the occasion through the presence of UST Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. who was joined by Faculty of Medicine and Surgery dean Dr. Graciela Gonzaga and regent Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P., Dr. Pilar Romero, Assistant to the Rector for Administration, and Michael Angelo Malicsi, Director for Alumni Relations. The UST contingent, led by Fr. de la Rosa, provided updates on developments in the University and the Hospital as well as on the Quadricentennial celebrations and projects including the Simbahayan 400 during the Town Hall Meeting on May 29, 2010. A pre-registration for the Quadricentennial highlights on January 27 and 28, 2011 and information booth were also made available to the medical alumni. The affair also provided an opportunity for the University to agree to explore the possibility of formalizing a partnership with the UCLA School of Public Health.
Fr. de la Rosa met with the officers and members of the USTMAAA and the USTMAAA Foundation to personally acknowledge them for their pledge of USD 1 million for the construction of the Thomasian Alumni Center (TAC). In his homily during the Thanksgiving Sunday Mass and Healing Service, Fr. de la Rosa underscored that the US-based Medicine alumni “have never practically left UST despite years of residing abroad because they have constantly made their presence felt – in both grand and humble manner – through their admirable show of generosity”. The USTMAAA is just USD 200,000 shy from the USD 1 million pledge made in 2007. USTMAAA Foundation Executive Director Dr. Stella Evangelista, describing the pledge as USTMAAA’s greatest gift and legacy to UST, turned over a check amounting to USD 375,000 to Fr. de la Rosa. She renewed USTMAAA’s commitment to complete the pledge once the construction begins. Several medical alumni groups and individuals also made pledges and contributions to the TAC, the most remarkable of which was from Class 1962 led by Dr. Anselmo Unite. The class turned over a check amounting to USD 138,000 which was solicited by Dr. Unite from his classmates in just a span of three weeks. Moreover, the Nursing Class of 1969, through Ms. Anabelle Cosas, donated USD 1,000 for the TAC.
In a related development, Fr. de la Rosa met with another group of medical alumni in Southern California on May 24, 2010, prior to attending the USTMAAA reunion and convention in Chicago. Some members of the UST Medical Alumni Association in Southern California (USTMAAASC) led by Dr. Noli Soza gathered to receive updates on the Quadricentennial celebrations, projects, and programs. A few Engineering, Commerce, and High School alumni based in the United States also joined the gathering which was held at the Rio Hondo Medical Group, a multi-specialty medical group co-founded by Dr. Soza, in Whittier, California. The gathering was capped off with a donation made by Dr. Soza and wife Mrs. Nena Soza, and Dr. Illuminada Torres-Diego and husband Mr. Amado Diego in the amount of USD 5,000 each for the TAC. Fr. de la Rosa also appeared on Kababayan L.A. where he promoted the Quadricentennial Activities and Highlights specifically the Grand Program on January 27, 2011 and the Thanksgiving Mass and Grand Dinner on January 28, 2011. Kababayan L.A. is a Filipino-American channel that has wide viewership in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Fr. de la Rosa’s appearance was made possible by UST Artlets alumni Mr. and Mrs. Ruben and Janet Nepales, the only Filipino members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Source: Thomasian Sunscope published by the UST Office for Alumni Relations