UP Carillon 2022

Featured Alumni Chapter in the Philippines
The UPCPAAI Passionately Serving
at All Times
By Dean Bienvenido S. Balotro
The UP College of Pharmacy Alumni Association
Inc. (UPCPAAI) is the alumni chapter of the UP
College of Pharmacy (UPCP). Immediately after
its incorporation in March 2019, the UPCPAAI
organized the Alumni Homecoming on June 15,
2019, which was held at CP’s Don Emilio T. Yap
Auditorium with the theme “#Bagong Simula.”
The idea of new beginnings was conceptualized
in line with the registration of the association
in the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). During the homecoming, the new alumni
logo was also inaugurated. The UPCPAAI Board
of Directors and UPCP faculty joined the UP
Alumni Association (UPAA) General Alumni
Homecoming on August 24, 2019 and the UP
Manila Alumni Association (UPMAA) Alumni
Homecoming on December 14, 2019, which were
held at the UP Manila Museum of a History of
Ideas. In line with its objectives, the UPCPAAI
has always been supportive of the programs and
projects of the UPAA and the UPMAA.
Because of the pandemic, the general membership
meetings and alumni homecoming of 2020 and
2021 turned virtual using the online platforms.
The UPCPAAI had its virtual general membership
meeting and alumni homecomings on June 27,
2020 and June , 26, 2021. The UPMAA held its
virtual grand alumni homecoming on October
24, 2020, this was jointly hosted by the UPCPAAI
and the UP Dental Alumni Association, Inc., with
the theme “Padayon, Pagbangon sa Hamon ng
Bagong Panahon.”
UPCPAAI Donations
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic did
not dampen the spirit of the UPCPAAI to serve.
Virtual General Membership Meeting (via Zoom)
20 UP Carillon
Instead, it sparked the passion of the UPCP
alumni to help those who were in dire need by
supporting the UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan
Na! Operations Center through donations of
face masks, gloves, and disposable gowns for
the PGH frontliners. The UPCPAAI donated
alcohol requested by the PGH Pharmacy and
gave thermometers and an oven to the National
Institutes of Health that was used on the
validation tests of the UPM COVID-19 diagnostic
kit. The UPCPAAI also helped fund the project
initiated by the UPCP faculty, “Agapay Para sa
Bayaning Tunay,” a vegetable drive for PGH and
UP Manila support personnel, particularly the
utiity personnel and security guards.
During the 2020 virtual general membership
meeting and alumni homecoming, funds were
raised to support the UPCP Gives 1 (Iskompyuter
project). As a result, 15 UPCP students received
100 percent financial assistance for laptops. The
2020 Silver Jubilarian Class 1995 donated tablets,
flash drives, and internet allowances.
To cap its activities for 2020, the UPCPAAI
endorsed alumni support for the UPCP’s
Telepharmacy service that provides online
medication information and counselling to the
general public. During the 2021 virtual general
membership meeting and alumni homecoming,
funds were raised for the UPCP Gives 2 and
for the project to renovate the UPCP library
into student and staff lounges once the CP
library had moved to the new UPM main library
building upon its completion. It was also in the
2021 event that the UPCPAAI awarded a number
of alumni for their outstanding performance in
their respective fields.
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