UPOU OPA joins UP Alumni Relations Committee Convention 2022

The University of the Philippines System Office of Alumni Relations (UPS-OAR) conducted a 2-day Alumni Relations Committee Convention (ARC 2022) on 9-10 November 2022 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. UP Open University (UPOU) Office of Public Affairs (OPA) Director, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel participated in the convention with Ms. Anna Cañas-Llamas, UPOU Information Officer. 

The first day of the convention was dedicated to a plenary session that tackled the topic “Building on Achievements of ARC Convention 2021.” The hybrid program was opened by Dr. Elena E. Pernia, UP Vice President for Public Affairs, where she welcome all participants especially those who travelled from other CUs. In behalf of Hon. Atty. Reynaldo C. Laserna, Alumni Regent and President, Atty. Domingo Palarca, third Vice President of the UP Alumni Association reported the updates about the UPAA definition of a UP Alumnus, the Accreditation Process and the process of obtaining an Alumni ID. Representatives from various CUs were given the opportunity to raise questions especially in relation to the practices of their units. 

Director Almodiel was able to share OPA’s experience with UPOU alumni members especially about the first ever UPOU Alumni Congress that was held in 2021, and UPOU’s need to strengen its ties more with the alumni since they are based all over the country and the world. 

The Alumni Email Registration Issues and Concerns was discussed by Mr. Nelson Carandang, UPS-OAR Database Section. Afterwards, a roundtable discussion on the solutions was moderated by Associate Professor Rica D. Abad, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs (Alumni Relations).  

The afternoon session was devoted to the presentation of the summary of discussions about UP Alumni Engagement at the ARC Convention 2021 by Mr. Jay Amorato, UPS-OAR Administrative Officer, and the presentation of the UP Alumni Survey Results 2022 was discussed by Mr. Carlo Vince Fernando, UPS-OAR Admin Section. Dr. Wendell P. Capili, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs (Internal Communication and Cultural Programs) served as the moderator in the Validation Forum on the UP Alumni Engagement Handbook. He stated that the handbook must include experiences from Constituent Units.

The second day of the convention was a presentation of the submitted nominees for the “Oblation Awards 2023.” The Directors of the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) presented the nominees per constituent unit (CU) and afterwards, the vetting of nominees.  Director Almodiel presented the four nominees submitted by UPOU. AVP Abad mentioned that the nominees will be deliberated and an awarding will be done early 2023. 

AVP Rica D. Abad served as host and moderator throughout the 2-day event. She also gave the closing remarks, expressing her gratitude for the contribution of all the participants, who are from the Office of Alumni Relations (OARs) and Office of the University Registrar (OURs) of various constituent units; UP High Schools, UP Information Technology Development Center, UP Computer Center, CU IT Departments, and the UP Alumni Association (UPAA).

Written by Phebe May Apostol and Anna Cañas-Llamas

Edited by Myra C. Almodiel