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UP-CIFAL marks 10th year, holds first alumni homecoming

| Written by Percy Dahe

UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Michelle Palumbarit delivers the opening message.
Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO

 

The University of the Philippines-Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders Philippines held Tanglaw, its 10th anniversary and first alumni homecoming, June 6 at the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization-Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology, UP Diliman. 

 

UP President Angelo Jimenez, in a video message, pointed out that alumni contributions to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies reflect UP’s long upheld principle of serving the Filipino nation and humanity. “Knowledge finds its highest purpose when it is placed in the service of the people.”

 

Former UP-CIFAL Philippines Director and UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance Professorial Lecturer Edna Estifania Co delivered the keynote, reflecting on the initiatives during her term and emphasizing the value of collaboration in advancing innovation. “Collaboration is not only innovation. It is a step up to knowledge building, the virtue of tolerance, and of respect.” 

 

UP President Angelo Jimenez, in a video message, says the gathering is both a celebration and a reaffirmation of purpose.
Screenshot from Andreana Gabrielle David, Communication Officer, UP-CIFAL Philippines.
Former UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Edna Estifania Co poses a reminder, “Let’s look again and face up to the challenges.”
Photos by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO

 

The event featured a panel discussion on bridging theory and practice for real-world impact, moderated by UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Michelle Palumbarit. Panelists included CEO and co-founder of KaLe Incorporated Karl Frederick Arriola; Foreign Service Officer Catherine Alpay of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Technical Assistant Patricia Paula Seriritan of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office; Kalapian ng mga Kaibigan ng Kaunlaran-Bayan ng Hagonoy Incorporated President Angel Cruz Jr.; and Genesys Global Lead for Privacy and Security Christian Bryan Yaptangco. 

 

The panelists, beginning second from left: CEO and co-founder of KaLe Incorporated Karl Frederick Arriola; Foreign Service Officer Catherine Alpay of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Technical Assistant Patricia Paula Seriritan of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office; and Genesys Global Lead for Privacy and Security Christian Bryan Yaptangco. In the background is Kalapian ng mga Kaibigan ng Kaunlaran-Bayan ng Hagonoy Incorporated President Angel Cruz Jr, who joined online. UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Michelle Palumbarit (leftmost) moderated the discussion.
Photos by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO
UN Institute for Training and Research’s Division for People and Social Inclusion Director Alex Mejia, closes the program through a video message.
Screenshot from Andreana Gabrielle David, Communication Officer, UP-CIFAL Philippines.

 

An open forum allowed onsite and online attendees to engage with the speakers. 

 

Two new initiatives were also announced: the first edition of the Alumni Newsletter, a community-dedicated space to celebrate alumni achievements and stories, focusing on water governance, global migration, and digital governance and cybersecurity; and the Learning Management System for the Professional Courses, a centralized platform to access course materials.