CSU 2017 Alumni Homecoming Brings Ripples

May 20, 2017, approximately more than two hundred people attended and joined the 2017 CSU Alumni Homecoming. Some city tourism officers also came by to witness the event.  On May 19, 2017 from 6 to 10 in the morning, the alumni had its first part of alumni bonding through forest bathing, trash picking, waste segregation, poetry reading walk, tree caring and tree hugging with poetry reading under the beautiful huge trees of the CSU Eco-park.

Registration began at 1:00 P. M. followed by the general assembly and election of officers while snacking, and the motorcade. The alumni had a wonderful time recollecting their happy memories, chatting, laughing, simply laying their hair down, and feeling the ambience and scenario of home sweet home. Set in Hawaiian motif and unity colors of green and yellow, candor and warmth were felt and enveloped the whole affair.

CSU President Penaso with CSU First Lady Abigail Noemis T. Penaso with Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Rolando N. Paluga, Vice President for Research and Extension, Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Chief Executive Assistant and former CSU Cabadbaran Campus Alumni Director, Dr. Felix R. Ocarez and Director for Administrative and Auxilliary Services, Dr. Luisito I. Tabada with the CSUAAI officers and host batch received the batches on stage as they walked by the red carpet. Public Information, Alumni and External Affairs Director, Prof. Sonia R. Low took hold of the over-all hosting. Candle lighting, a moment of silence, and song in prayer were made in honor of the departed alumni and other members of the CSU family who passed away.

In his inspirational message, CSU President Penaso highlighted the university’s achievement, its being an ISO certified institution, accreditation status, infrastructure projects, researches, and students’ notable performances in licensure examinations. These and many more were applauded by the alumni. Dr. Penaso also remarked the impressive attendance of the alumni and joked that he also belonged to batch 1992 being a graduate of the same year from Central Mindanao University (CMU).

The PIAEA and the CSUAAI gave due recognition to alumni supporters who are not alumni members and an alumni member who were supportive of the alumni objectives, activities, and projects for the past five years. Awardees were: Dr. Luisito I. Tabada, Dr. Felix R. Ocarez, and Dr. Rolando N. Paluga.

The simply exquisite and prepossessing CSU first lady Madam Abigail Noemis T. Penaso bagged the Face of the night award to her surprise. Madam Penaso epitomizes the saying, “Behind the success of a man is a woman,” one with sense and sensibility, most of all self-contained, and God loving.

Prizes for the most number of participants went to batch 1996; best in t-shirt concept/design was batch 2001, best in tarpaulin concept/design was batch 2002; best in presentation was batch 1992.

Best trash pickers were the couple Victor and Jocelyn Carampatana, batches 1992 and 1990 respectively; best in poetry choric reading were Jaydee Marcos, Alma Villa, Betty Pableo, Alice Bordario, Leah Reyes, Richard Gorme, Victor Pacullo, Glenn Navarra, and Gerry Joey Laurito. Early bird awards went to Aurora Robles and Nerissa Robles who came from Buenavista and Esperanza Agusan del Sur. They arrived at nine in the morning. Nilo Villamor and Evelyn JaoJao were early birds on May 19, arriving at 5: 10 A. M.

Newly elected Caraga State University Alumni Association, Inc. (CSUAAI) President Gerry Joey S. Laurito gave the opening statement; while the newly elected vice president Nilo Y. Villamor did the closing statement.

The CSUAAI and PIAEA also pre-launched the Honorable Elisa Rosales Ochoa Award of Distinction, an illustrious and prestigious award that can be given to any deserving CSUANS who will be able to meet the criteria set forth by the organizers with the heirs of the first congresswoman of the Philippines who will give the award. One of the heirs, Ms. Kristine V. Hidalgo came to deliver a brief talk about the award. On another note, another heir, Enrique V. Hidalgo also attended the forest bathing and other activities on May 19. All four great grandchildren of Honorable Elisa R. Ochoa, Shanda H. Contreras and Elbert V. Hidalgo expressed their support to CSU. They visited CSU in full force last April 2017.

Batch 1992 formally turned over the responsibility for 2018 alumni homecoming hosting to the very enthusiastic batch 1993. Everything went smooth and well, perfection may not be achieved, but camaraderie, friendship and openness were all there, one more thing was the time element. The PIAEA and the CSUAAI tried  to inculcate the value of being on time, “Blessed are those who come on time, for they shall be called responsible people.”

One of the main goals of the alumni is to construct an alumni house, and to finally finish and deliver the book of memento of the CSU alumni homecoming from 2013, the birth year of CSUAAI to 2017; from five years to another five years of its developmental plan.

To quote Robert Louis Stevenson, “Everyone who got where he is, has had to begin where he was.” After all, the “Alumni” is not a “You”, or a “Me” or an “I”. The Alumni is a “We”, “Us”, or “All”. United we serve, and we lift up spirits, our own and that of others.” Alumna and alumnus you are, alumnae and alumni we are all. Together, we care, give, and share. piaea