A Message from Our Outgoing President
By Jomari Mercado
UP INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
2023 – Reconnecting to Achieve Greater Heights
The gradual return to “normalcy” has resulted in busy and tight schedules for most people. As a result, the UPIEAA focused on three major areas this year to maximize impact to the advocacies it chooses to serve.
Helping the student community
During the past Academic Year 2022-2023, the UPIEAA sponsored six (6) grantees – five (5) sophomores and one (1) junior. If they continue with their conscientious studies, these six (6) grantees are expected to graduate with Latin honors in 2-3 years’ time.
“Having experienced being part of this program, I have witnessed your incredible, worthwhile, and abundant guidance leading to my holistic growth and development. Not only were you able to assist me and my family’s financial needs, but you have also inspired me to persistently pursue my passions, especially my education. ” – Angelo Antonio Dalusong, AchIEvers Scholar
This coming academic year, UPIEAA will be able to offer as many as ten (10) scholarship grants due to the strong financial support received from its alumni.
Reaching out to the alumni
Towards the end of 2021, a group of UPIE alumni came together to support a candidate for national elections. This group started to grow and soon, became a community called 1UPIE Community. Post elections, the group decided to keep the spirit alive and maintain the camaraderie that was fostered by that common goal. Today, there are over 230 members in the group.
As restrictions eased up, the 1UPIE community decided to get together so that they can see each other face to face. A reunion dinner-dance was held with over 100 in attendance. The UPIEAA also took this as an opportunity to get the 1UPIE involved in its initiatives and gain more alumni support. Additionally, programs that the group can support were also suggested.
The dinner was so successful that a demand for a second event resulted in a second dinner-dance, further enhancing the relationships being developed. A common sentiment led to more UPIE alumni getting involved in the alumni activities.
Moving forward, the UPIEAA and 1UPIE Community will continue to work closely together to help not only the UPIE students, faculty and staff, but to participate in nation-building as well.
Giving back and getting involved
The UP Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research finally found a home with the new IE/ME Building located at the rear of the Melchor Hall.
The Golden Pillars Project was launched during the IE Department’s 50th anniversary in 2021. The project enjoins all UP IE alumni to connect, get involved and give back, to help equip seven new IE laboratories and classrooms, support three new professorial chairs, and finance faculty development and enhanced learning equipment. The project aims to further elevate the educational capacities and expertise of the department, to make it more capable to respond to the ever-changing needs of the industry and society.
A bright future ahead
It is with great confidence that I pass on the torch to lead the UPIEAA to Benjie Azada, who assumes the role as President this year. I call on all our alumni to support Benjie and the new Board of Directors. The past year has shown that getting the alumni together for a common cause has resulted in reconnecting and building the camaraderie. Much more needs to be done but the active support of the UPIE alumni provides much optimism for a bright future ahead for the UPIE community!
About the Author:
Jomari (UPIE Batch 1980) has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and consulting from various industries, spanning finance, insurance and telecommunications both in the Philippines and ASEAN/South Asia region, where he held several leadership positions, and 12 years of experience in the IT and Business Process Management industry.
He is a consultant, specializing in sales, marketing and customer relations. He is a certified Executive Coach.
Share this page:
