21/01/2025
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Bearing the theme โGrace of Gratitude: Celebrating the Tapestry of Triumphs of the Louisian Alumni,โ Saint Louis University (SLU) Alumni Association spearheaded this yearโs Rambakan Grand Alumni Homecoming at the Main Campus on January 18.
โOn behalf of Saint Louis University, it is my immense honor and joy to welcome you all to this year's alumni homecoming celebration, Rambakan. The word โRambakanโ carries the essence of jubilation of coming together to celebrate our shared heritage and achievements,โ said SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD.
This yearโs Rambakan is composed of three parts, including a โThanksgiving Mass,โ โUnveiling of the Legacy Wall,โ and โFun Activities and School Fairโ which comprised of various events including a dance exercise, opening of booths, welcoming music by the SLU Marching Band, and school fair. Thereafter, the alumni attended the Rambakan Gala & Awards Night at the Venus Parkview Hotel, Kisad Rd.
The festivities commenced with a Eucharistic celebration, presided over by President Rev. Fr. Sales, CICM, PhD, at the SLU Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Parish (SLU - SAGP), gathering alumni and other members of the Louisian community.
In his homily, Fr. Sales, CICM, PhD recognized individuals who continued living out the Louisian values despite having graduated from the institution, applauding the honor they had brought to the university.
โLet us reflect on the inspiring example of two of our alumni, who chose career paths [where] theyโve been dedicating themselves to the marginalized. One of our alumni who was an awardee last year chose to dedicate herself to setting up cooperatives in the remotest barrios of the Cordilleras. Through her tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, this Louisian alumni has empowered local communities to achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability,โ Fr. Sales, CICM, PhD said.
โThese acts of selfless love reflect our value of genuine service, which is serving others with faith, hope, and charityโฆ Your contributions have empowered young Louisians to pursue their dreams and live with purpose, carrying forward the life of Christ in their own unique ways,โ he added.
Following the mass, SLU Alumni Association President Purita โCherrieโ Pacial, CPA, MBA, expressed her gratitude to donors during her opening message of the โLegacy Wallโ program as they fostered a culture of giving, empowering students and graduates to pursue their dreams and to scholars as they embodied hope. She further encouraged collaborative efforts to enable Louisian students and graduates to maintain a legacy of generosity for a brighter future.
โTogether, let us continue building a brighter future for all Lousians by empowering students and graduates to achieve their goals, improve their circumstances, and create a better tomorrow. Let us also maintain our commitment to fostering a legacy of generosity, ensuring that the spirit of Luwishans helping Lousians continues to shine brightly,โ Pacial said.
Triceayn Marie Prestousa, the SLU Alumni Association vice president for Internal and the current director of the SLU Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), illustrated the story of the โLegacy Wallโ program as financial assistance for graduating students of SLU and compared the initiative to a parable.
โIn the Bible, there is the parable of the multiplication of bread and fishes. So, I can say as a metaphor that the Legacy Wall program of the Alumni Association is our very own version of the multiplication of bread and fishโฆ What rained was the empathy, the goodness of each of those persons present during that miracle,โ Prestousa said.
Since its launch in 2023, the scholarship program has received โฑ3.38 million in donations, supporting 676 scholars, as presented by Dr. Faridah Wetherick, SLU Alumni Association Secretary and current SLU School of Advanced Studies (SAS) Dean.
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Following the celebration, the alumni attended the Rambakan 2025 Gala and Awards Night at the Olive Ballroom, Venus Parkview Hotel featuring an opening performance by the SLU Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA), intermission number by SLU-STELA Hivemind, awarding for outstanding Louisian alumni, gala dinner, acknowledgment of jubilarians, and a grand raffle draw.
โOur theme for this yearโs Rambakanโฆ reminds us of the countless blessings we have received throughout our lives. Each of us has woven our unique stories into a magnificent tapestry that reflects our triumphs, challenges, and growth. As we look around this hall, we see a rich tapestry of stories woven from hard work, resilience, and steadfast commitment to excellence,โ Pacial said during her opening remarks.
Following this, President Rev. Fr. Sales, CICM, PhD. emphasized the importance of the universityโs core values being instilled in Louisians.
โOur commitment to our core values remains unwavering. Academic excellence, competence, drives us to push boundaries in education and research. Social involvement compels us to serve our communities with compassion and dedication. Creativity fuels innovation and new ways of thinking while [the] Christian spirit anchors us in faith, love, and service to the Lord, our God. These values are the cornerstone of everything that we do. And they are the legacy we hope to instill to every Louisian who passes through our gates,โ said President Rev. Fr. Sales, CICM, PhD.
The awarding of Outstanding Louisian Alumni included these categories: Christian Spirit, Competence, Social Involvement, and Fr. Theophile Verbist Lifetime Achievement Award.
For the Outstanding Alumni for Christian Spirit Award, Elizabeth B. Publico of the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) and Marcelo S. David of the School of Accounting, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS) were acknowledged under the said category.
While Engr. Nicanor S. Baterina of the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), Dr. Reynaldo N. Cornel of the School of Medicine (SOM), Nancy D. Frigillana-Galban, MDA, MEd, PhD of SAMCIS, Marianato N. Meneses of STELA, and Dr. Josephine C. Milan of School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS) received the Outstanding Alumni for Competence Award.
Further, Susan A. Go of SAMCIS and Engr. Rene O. So of SEA were recognized as the Outstanding Alumni for Social Involvement Award.
Lastly, Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon, CICM of SAS and Nenita V. Trinidad of SAMCIS received the Fr. Theophile Verbist Lifetime Achievement Award.
By Penelope Dela Cruz, Faith Revaรฑo, and Keziah Mae Tingga-an
Photos by Liam Morales, Gem Mangiliman, and Rouize Pancho