"UP naming mahal, pamantasang hirang
Ang tinig namin, sana'y inyong diringgin
Malayong lupain, amin mang marating
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin."

And so the University of the Philippines anthem goes.

How these lines and lyrics ring so faithfully true and apt especially for us countless of UP alumni who have gone to work and live in foreign lands! The passion and pride of being from the Philippines' premiere university -- where leaders are bred and nationalism and intellectualism are fed for greatness -- forever burn in the hearts of every UP alumnus. In many cities and countries around the world where there is a multitude of UP alumni, like Los Angeles and Australia, there exists a local chapter of the UP Alumni Association for that particular place. It is one way for UP alumni to keep in touch with each other, get reacquainted with old UP friends, get to know new ones (the old and young alike) and continue the excellent traditions and culture of our beloved alma mater -- such as leadership, service to others and patriotism -- while they are abroad.

It is with the same passion and pride that several UP alumni working and residing here in the United Arab Emirates have decided to create our own chapter. On July 31, 2004, the first ever general meeting for the creation of a University of the Philippines Alumni Association-United Arab Emirates (UPAA-UAE) Chapter was held at the Chowking Restaurant in Al Ghurair City; a casual dinner-meeting headed and organized by Ms Lucille Ong (BS HRA, '76, UP Diliman), Mrs. Cecille Ceniza-Rasul (BS Econ, '81, UP Diliman) and Mike Ortega (BA MassComm, '77) among other UP alumni who have been here in the UAE from the time it was mostly a good stretch of sand up to its present status as a world-class bustling metropolis.

In view of the fact that through the years, the number of UP alumni expatriates here has grown, these active UP alumni Filipino community leaders sensed it was high time to form a club or association wherein UP alumni could meet fellow UP alumni, become an extension of the great UP system and perhaps a way for each one to reminisce and share stories of their good old college days. Although the idea of putting up a UPAA chapter in the UAE had already been conceptualized and planned several years ago, the plan was subsequently kept on the shelf for awhile due to different reasons. But now, with the wonderful and incomparable help of modern technology, the UP alumni were informed about the semi-reunion event through e-mail, Internet e-groups, voice calls and SMS via mobile phones. Of course, others heard about the upcoming meeting through the old-fashioned yet very reliable word of mouth.

It was a momentous call from UP, our dear alma mater and beloved mother of learning, to be part of her again even if lands and seas separate us from her. As her ever-loyal and proud children, we responded enthusiastically. It felt like going to UP for the first day of school again.
It was a fun and momentous gathering, well attended by over 30 UP graduates from various UP locations and of different degrees, courses, batches and ages (the oldest is Batch 1965 whereas the youngest is Batch 2001) and from different emirates. As a mini-homecoming of sorts, smiles permeated the venue as heartfelt salutations were passed on from one person to another. Since most of us were strangers to each other or knew each other only by faces, we were all requested to stand up, state our full name, course, degree and the year we graduated. But the best part in each one's introduction was reciting our student number, which made everyone laugh for while majority of the older people effortlessly and casually uttered theirs, some of the young ones grappled in remembering their student numbers.

The three main UP campuses -- Diliman, Los Baños and Manila -- were represented as were the different colleges and disciplines. In the humanities and arts, there were alumni from the College of Fine Arts, Mass Communication and Music. In business and alike, there were representatives from the College of Business Administration, Economics and Tourism. In the sciences several people were from the College of Engineering, Architecture, Fisheries and Geology. Many of the attendees are working in the private sector of the UAE in various fields such as journalism, computer graphics, construction, airline industry and tourism while some alumni work for the government or public institutions such as hospitals, the Philippine Embassy, and schools. Equipped with a UP education, self-determination and solid work experiences, the UP alumni in the UAE can boast of being remarkable professionals in their chosen fields and are highly-respected not only in their respective companies but in the Filipino community as well.

The UP alumni who attended the event are the following (graduates from 1965 to 2003): UP Diliman -- Jess Galang (BS Geology, '65); Hector Morada (BS BA, '70); Tess Sto. Tomas (BS BA, '73); Marietta Morada (BS Math, '75); Elizabeth Ong-Lasagna (BS Fisheries, '76); Lucille Ong (BS HRA, '76, UP Diliman); Jose Mikhael Ortega (BA MassComm, '77); Cecille Ceniza-Rasul (BS Econ, '81); Raymundo Dy-Liaaco (BS Eng, '81); Marievic Ebetuer-Kurfurst (BS Tourism, '82); Tinette Pudda (BA Masscomm, '83); Anton Tajanlangit (B Music '84); Christina Barrientos (BS Tourism, '84); Daisy Mateo Dy-Liaaco (B Fine Arts, '86); Amroussi Rasul (MBA Econ, '90); Jay Hilotin (BA MassComm, '92); Ronnel Apil (BS Chem, '94); Janice Ong (BS PolSci, '96); Quay Evano (B Fine Arts, '96); Franklin Lacuzong (BA Archi, '98); Vale Tinio (BA Archi, '98); Malaya Fabros (BA Archi, '01); Redentor Ventura (BA Archi, '01); Orbel Reas, Jr (BS Chem Eng, '03); Marilyn Egdani (BA DevComm). UP Los Baños -- Danilo De Perio (BS Agri Eng, '83); Galo Calizo (BA DVM, '90); Ria Mendoza (BA DevComm, '97). UP Manila -- Nova Sto. Tomas (DDM, '01).

An interim board of 10 members was chosen to finalize the association's chapter constitution within two weeks for the approval of the whole group. Everyone was also asked to go through the draft by downloading it from their e-mail or from the association's e-group site. This will then be sent to UPAA Diliman, the head chapter, for the group's recognition and formalization. Members of the interim board who were chosen or volunteered are Hector Morada, Anton Tajanlangit, Galo Calizo, Vale Tinio, Tinette Pudda, Mike Ortega, Cecille Rasul, Dan De Perio, Jes Galang, Nova Sto. Tomas, Janice Ong and Jay Hilotin.

During the buffet dinner, the group also discussed other things like setting up a website in the future, proposed frequency of meetings, birthday celebrations, potential projects and making the association bigger by searching for other UP alumni in the UAE and bringing them to the group. However, what's most important, everyone agreed, is for the UPAA-UAE to become a duly recognized UPAA chapter and for it to thrive and survive in the coming years.

(For the other UP alumni living in the UAE who have not been contacted and who would like to join, you can subscribe to UPsaUAE@yahoogroup.com or e-mail the author of this article at quayevano@yahoo.com.)

At the end of the meeting, full from the food but more so from the wonderful emotions and joyful conversations reigning all night, everyone warmly smiled and posed for a group photo, a historic souvenir of better things to come. The room venue was like a noisy classroom as each UP alumnus said goodnight to a fellow UP schoolmate but everyone was excited and looking forward to the group's next get-together. Strangers when we came, friends when we left. That is the magical tie that binds one UP alumnus to another. Definitely, UPAA-UAE will be UP bonding at its best.

Yes, "UP Naming Mahal" whatever far lands we go to, our love, dedication, devotion, and passion for you -- our cherished and beloved alma mater -- will never change and will resonate in our hearts, minds and souls wherever we are. Your spirit is always with us. That's what makes one a true UPian.

Mabuhay ka, UP naming mahal!