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Looking back at cherished memories was never as significant and as pleasing when we do it with our buddies, especially with the ones we shared those memories with.
Smiles, laughters, and reminiscences filled the Juanito Bruno Gymnasium in the morning of December 11, 2015 as the Crimson community through the office of the Alumni Relations Office headed by Prof. Hashim N. Alawi Jr., assisted by Rachelle Marie Landera and the college coordinators launched the University’s 96th Grand Alumni Homecoming with the theme, “Recuerdos… Memorias… Y Alegria!”
A thanksgiving mass, presided by Fr. Mauricio Ulep, CMF, was celebrated before the kickoff parade around WMSU grounds.
This year’s honorees, the Golden Jubilarians (Class of 1965) and the Silver Jubilarians (Class of 1990) were given due recognition during the opening ceremony held at the University Open Field with snappy interns from the College of Criminal Justice Education performing a ceremonial Pass and Review.
In her inspirational message, WMSU President Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho humbly thanked the Golden Jubilarians, especially her former teachers for molding her to what she has become today, for the virtues her former teachers instilled in her mind and for the great values they shared. On the same occasion, WMSU Alumni Association president Ret. PCSUPT Ramon M. Ochotorena gladly announced the putting up of the Casa Alumni in the College of Nursing Grounds. The soft launching of this project was held sometime in July 2015.
On the first day, festive activities include the “market-market” which displayed various commodities like plants and veggies for sale; t-shirt printing; keychain designing and popular Pinoy street foods. A motorcade around the city proper took place in the afternoon and a Fellowship Night ensued in the campus. WMSU alumni showed off their talents during the “Watchamacallit” as they danced to the beat and sang their hearts out.
The awarding for the Grand Alumni basketball and bowling tournament kicked off the event’s second day, December 12, 2015, followed by the Bingo Social held at the WMSU Covered Court during the afternoon, participated by the then Alumni Regent Ret. PCSUPT Ramon M. Ochotorena and his wife, WMSU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, alumni, employees and the student body.
During the evening, a Blackout themed party was conducted in coordination with the University Student Council headed by Student Regent Robert Parcon. Hundreds of students and alumni raved to the beat from 7pm to 9pm at the University’s Juanito Bruno Gymnasium.
December 13, 2015 was meant for the most awaited Testimonial Dinner and coronation of this year’s Ms. WMSUAAI. The search for Ms. WMSUAAI is a fund raising project intended to help raise funds for the construction of the Casa Alumni.
Social Security System Cluster Vice President for Mindanao Atty. Rodrigo B. Filoteo was the gathering’s guest speaker. He recalled his “firsts” during his college days in WMSU. He even emphasized that it was the year Marcos declared Martial Law; it was his first time he witnessed his teachers and other fellow students being apprehended. But on the other hand, it was also in WMSU that he was greatly honored to be the Wing Commander which prepared him to be a good leader. He also shared his treasured memories with the Alumni Regent’s, Ret. PCSUPT Ramon M. Ochotorena Ph.D., mother who led his way to love poetry and the arts.
In her message, University Prexy emphasized that the Alumni should make a difference in the Grand WMSU Alumni’s Centennial celebration. “May I congratulate the class 1965 and batch 1990 for gracing this very memorable event. When we come home, the class may no longer be complete but we still come home because of the memories we shared in this University,” says WMSU Alumnae and WMSU President, Dr. Milabel Emriquez-Ho. (Ella Dee-WMSU,PAO)