And they went back to where it all began
Cubao
2011-04-13 23:34:16

Anna Cyrl Patricia Santos
Last February 12, 2011 National College of Business and Arts held its first Alumni Home Coming on Cubao campus.Different batches from 1968 to 2011 came to commemorate the foundation of the college with a theme, "Going back to where it all began". It was a very successful.Alumni from different batches attended the event.

It was October of 2010 when the Alumni Association was formed and their first activity was the Alumni Home Coming. Mr. Felicisimo "Buddy" Guzman Jr. spearheaded the committee that organized the event. He was also elected as the president of the Alumni organization after Mr. A. Bejer.

Different batches were present at the event. Mr. Guzman said "Facebook" was a great help when we were looking for NCBA Graduates." He also said that there were established alumni groups that helped them contact other alumni from different batches and his contact with his past students in NCBA Manila was also a great help. They also had advertisements through a radio station announcing the Alumni Homecoming.

"It was a collective effort with other departments, namely IS and LA, and with the staff of the NCBA system" Mr. Guzman said when asked about the preparation. He also said that the college was very supportive, even the administration. The fund used for the event was from the previously collected alumni fee that graduating students paid for for from all branches. He also added that on the succeeding years, students would have to pay to the Alumni Organization before they graduate.

Mr. Guzman was the over-all director of the event. Mr. Aries Llapitan was the floor director; he also directed the marching of banners by students from the Liberal Arts Department. The event was hosted by Mr. Marvin Cruz, a previous professor and administrator at NCBA-Cubao.

Welcome remarks were given by Mr. Guzman while an inspirational talk was given by Mr. Cesar Meñez, President of NCBA System. The program ended but the night did not, a band played music all night long giving away to song dedication and request of the alumni.

According to a graduating student, Ms. Diana Dando, the event was a blast and they wish that more events like the alumni homecoming could be made so that they could continue to be in contact with their Alma Mater.

Mr. Guzman also shared the other plans that the alumni organization has for their members like health assistance and check up, legal assistance, and alumni inter-batch sports fest. There are no dates yet but the alumni could count on these in the future.