ShareThisOn Saturday night, April 2, 2011, the UP Nursing Alumni together with their relatives and friends gathered at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel for the Inaugural Ball, which was in celebration of the inauguration of the new set of officers of the University of Philippines Nursing Alumni Association of the Midwest (UPNAAM). Presented with an opportunity, the event also doubled as a fund-raiser to provide funding for the association’s humanitarian projects, foremost of which is providing the Philippine General Hospital with new hospital beds, wheelchairs and other hospital equipment.
The UPNAAM Officers. L-R: Ludy Bustamante, Sonia Butacan, Terry Laxamana, Elvie Diaz, Ma. Rizalina Averilla, Sol Lomblad, Josie Kellogg, Rogelia Ramiro, Myrna Aguila, Jean Paredes-Tablizo, Resi San Vicente, Amy Enverga, Pacita Jain, Ma. Corazon Silva-Odes, Letty Jimenez and Salve Sulit.
Jean Paredes-Tablizo receiving the Most Outstanding Golden Jubilarian Award from Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and Judge Israel Desierto with John Tablizo
Making up the list of the new set of officers are the following:
President – Jean Paredes-Tablizo
Vice President – Sonia Butacan
Recording Secretary – Terry Laxamana
Corresponding Secretary – Elvie Diaz
Treasurer – Ma. Rizalina Averilla
Assistant Treasurer – Ma. Sol Lomblad
Auditor – Josie Bustamante Kellogg
PRO – Cristina Montero
PRO – Rogelia Ramiro
Board of Directors:
Myrna Aguila
Ludy Bustamante
Amy Enverga
Pacita Jain
Letty Jimenez
Ma. Corazon Silva-Odes
Resi San Vicente
Salve Sulit
Cornelio Obordo, IPP
In true UP spirit, the theme of the evening was “A renewed commitment to continue upholding the UP Tradition of Excellence through the years….”. Alumni, associates and guests, who were greeted with a lively music, came in their finest inaugural ball attire. Right at the very start, the dance floor immediately became crowded with people showing off their best swing moves. To the delight of the guests, the entertainers added class and fun to the evening with their wonderful, lively, funny and catchy performances. Indeed, the night was filled with music and dancing on top of the meaningful and inspirational messages.
The keynote speech was delivered by the Honorable Judge Israel Abaya Desierto, the first Filipino American judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. He delved on the topic of political empowerment as a way for Filipino Americans to bring to fruition the American Dream. Moreover, the Consul General gave a meaningful and inspirational message challenging Filipino Americans particularly the successful nurses to be compassionate and sensitive to the needs of Filipinos back home who are in dire need of help. In response to this, Jean Paredes-Tablizo, UPNAAM President, pledged to embark on worthy humanitarian projects for her less-fortunate fellow Filipinos.
As a highlight, the event paid tribute to deserving alumni by awarding the following: the Florence Nightgale Award to Resitacion San Vicente, the Most Outstanding Golden Jubilarian Award to Jean Paredes-Tablizo and the Excellence in Leadership Award to Cornelio SJ. Obordo, immediate past president.
Pacita Jain, the Chairperson of the Inaugrual Ball, said: “All of the alumni and associates who attended shared the sentiments of pride for UPNAAM, an organization that is so enthusiastic, vibrant and talented; most importantly, the sentiments of optimism for a bright future under UPNAAM’s new president, Jean Paredes-Tablizo.”