Historical Account of the VSU Alumni Association, Inc.
In its earliest days during the BAS, BNAS, and VAC eras, the alumni of the institution expressed a strong desire to maintain their connection with their beloved alma mater and fellow alumni. While some continued to be active members of the university community, others pursued careers in various agencies, and some furthered their studies. The roots of the university’s alumni association trace back over 67 years, with its first president, Climaco Evangelista, taking the helm in 1956. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that a significant milestone was achieved with the establishment of the Alumni Association Incorporated (AAI).
The inaugural board meeting of AAI was convened on September 25, 1992, in the Conference Room of the VLHS Administration Building. During this momentous gathering, key matters were discussed, including the election of alumni officers, the appointment of chairs for different alumni working committees, and the proposal to create an Alumni Association Chapter.
Notably, one of the significant accomplishments during Dr. Jimmy R. Rosillo’s presidency was the approval of a request to repurpose the unfinished rice granary of the High School into the ViSCA Alumni Center. This proposal received the green light from the ViSCA Board of Trustees, and a memorandum of agreement allowed for its operation over a 25-year period, with the possibility of renewal. Engr. Glicerio Mirambel, an alumnus from the Class of 1980, took charge of designing the renovation plan for the rice granary, transforming it into a vibrant alumni center.
Fundraising efforts and solicitation campaigns were launched, reaching out to various ViSCA alumni for contributions toward the construction of the Alumni Center. Unfortunately, only a limited number of alumni responded to this appeal. Consequently, the realization of the proposed alumni center remained elusive during this period.
In response to this challenge, the VAAI Board of Directors crafted a new resolution. They proposed the repurposing of the old administration building, now referred to as the ‘Old Balay Alumni,’ as the Alumni Center. This suggestion was put forth as an alternative to the original plan of utilizing the unfinished high school granary building. The condition was that this transition would occur once the construction of the new administration building was completed. This proposition received a favorable endorsement from the ViSCA president’s advisory committee.
Additionally, during this period, comprehensive guidelines for the issuance of membership cards, now known as Alumni IDs, for ViSCA alumni were developed.
In 1995, a new VAAI Board of Directors, led by President Prof. Efren B. Saz, took charge. During this period, efforts to compile information for the ViSCA Alumni directory continued, and it was eventually published in 1996. The alumni homecoming underwent a significant transformation. It expanded to include a symposium, social events, tours, business job fairs, and business meetings, spanning a three-day program. This practice persisted into the second decade of the ViSCA era.
In later years, campus-based alumni initially hosted the homecoming, with department-based alumni contributing potluck. However, this posed challenges as the event coincided with anniversary activities, making it difficult for in-campus alumni to participate. A pivotal change occurred during Mr. Bernardo Tucmo’s term as President. His batch, College Freshman 1978, became the first to sponsor the annual homecoming, followed by Freshman Batch 1991 in 2015.
Recognizing that younger batches might not be ready to host independently due to family and career commitments, a new hosting approach was proposed. Senior batches would pair with younger ones. Freshman Batch 1976 joined forces with Freshman Batch 1992 for the 2016 homecoming, followed by Freshman Batch 1977 paired with Freshman Batch 1993, and so on. High School Alumni were also integrated into the general homecoming festivities, beginning in 2017.
The Alumni Association Projects
During Dr. Guindolino Gerona’s tenure as president of the association in [year], alumni began supporting scholarships for underprivileged but deserving students. Eventually, this support was channeled through the student scholarship fundraising committee of the college during the ViSCA period. The issuance of the first official receipt upon registration with the BIR also commenced during Dr. Gerona’s time.
It was during Dr. Samuel S. Go’s term as ViSCA President that the alumni association received official approval to use the old administration building at the lower campus as its office. The building underwent renovation, becoming The Balay Alumni or the Alumni Heritage House. It was designed to accommodate alumni visiting the campus and was open to outsiders for lodging, with operations managed by the Alumni Association. Later, the left wing became the Alumni and Community Relations Office, while the right side served as the front desk of the Balay Alumni. The Balay Alumni had its initial managers, Ms. Ginas Villagonzalo and later Prof. Argina Pomida. However, the operation ceased during the pandemic, and currently, there is no designated manager for the Balay Alumni.
Under the leadership of Mr. Bernardo Tucmo as President of the Alumni Association, part of the legacy fund was allocated for the construction of the New Balay Alumni ground floor. Fundraising from alumni activities held during his term in [year] contributed to this project. Mr. Tucmo also initiated the Tabang Mo Kaugmaon Ko Scholarship Program, which supported over twenty scholars, primarily underprivileged but deserving students. Funds were raised from generous alumni donors, alumni homecoming activities, and art exhibits held during VSU Anniversary celebrations in collaboration with Hugpong Sabado Visual Artists and Visual Artists of Baybay City.
Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, who later became the 19th President of the university, served as President of the Association in [year]. During his term, he orchestrated the use of legacy fund and alumni contributions to construct the second floor of the New Balay Alumni. This new facility, located in front of the old Balay Alumni building, is now operational. Dr. Tulin continued to support the scholarship program through fundraising activities during VSU Anniversary Celebrations and remained actively involved in alumni activities.
Currently, Mr. Deogracias Pernitez, the President of the Alumni Association, has outlined plans for the renovation of the old Balay Alumni, currently serving as the Alumni and Community Relations Office. This renovation project is slated for the near future.