Homecoming sa Konsulado draws alums from 20 schools, from Ateneo to Adamson
It was a day of parlor games, cheers and camaraderie — minus the white starchy uniforms.Homecoming sa Konsulado saw Filipino American professionals representing about 20 colleges and universities and competing like the esteemed reputation of their schools depended on it.
The event happened on November 9th or the weekend after Typhoon Haiyan swept through the Philippine Visayas. Consul General Mario De Leon, an Ateneo alumnus, expressed joy seeing the community in a lively get-together in honor of their alma maters. He hailed the theme of “Balik samahan, balik Pinoy.” The attendees came from a variety of institutions, such as the Catholic girls school, Assumption, and the regional Mindanao State University.
In the end, it didn’t matter where you graduated, said NYU Dean of Science and UP alumni Dr. Michael Purugganan, who was the keynote speaker. “Philippine education is world-class and can lead to a successful career, locally or internationally,” he stressed.
He said his Philippine education gave him the “competence and credentials to earn the trust and respect of his peers.” Purugganan also has an M.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Botany with a Global Policy minor from the University of Georgia.
The evening ended with a fundraising for typhoon families, and an oath-taking for dual citizenship administered by Consul General de Leon.