Leni Robredo keynotes 2023

reunion and convention of UP alumni in America

ATTORNEY Maria Leonor

“Leni” Robredo, former vice president of the Philippines and chairperson and president of Angat Buhay, will be the keynote speaker of the 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention (GRC), organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA).

This year’s theme of “Engage, Empower, Excel” will also highlight other stellar speakers, a parade of jubilarians and the presentation of Oblation Awards to Distinguished UP Alumni. The UPAAA GRC will take place on October 19-22, 2023, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Atty. Robredo is a Filipino lawyer and politician, who graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Eco- nomics in 1986. She was elected as the 14th vice president of the Philippines in 2016. She also has held different foreign, national, and local positions in the Philippines.

On July 1, 2022, Atty. Robredo founded and launched Angat Buhay Foundation as a nonprofit and non-governmental organization based in the Philippines. The foundation aims to continue the anti-poverty and pandemic response programs started during her term as vice president. Angat buhay is a Tagalog term meaning “improve life’s condition or lift life.” The foundation is focused on four key areas: health, education, food security and disaster risk response.

UPAAA president and GRC overall chair Dr. Jun David stated that “we are so excited about this year’s event. We received an overwhelming support from our sponsors, speakers both here in the U.S. and overseas, and the commitment of UPAAA board members.”

The Biennial GRC is organized for the purposes of networking, fellowship, knowledge exchange, and fundraising for UPAAA’s flagship initiative, the Scholarship Program. This year’s event sponsors include Megaworld International (Platinum) and Philippine National Bank New York (Silver). Media sponsors include Asian Journal, One Philippines Texas, and Chicago VIA Times.

To register, sponsor and participate as jubilarians, please check the following link: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/up-alumni-associationin-america-grand-reunion-andconvention-2023-registration342022447347?aff=ebdssbdests earch.

IN this episode, leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel and the Citizen Pinoy team go to Manila to answer important immigration inquiries from Kapamilya in the homeland. Aileen has a son with a disability, and he is now 16 years old.

She wants to know if there is any chance of expediting her petition which her mother filed in 2015.

Jinky’s sister petitioned her in 2005. She received a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) in 2009. Since then, Jinky has not received any updates. What can she do to find out what is going on?

Donna got her green card in 1993 but immediately returned to the Philippines. The last time she was in the U.S. was in 1995. She wants to know what will hapPAGE 10

WITh its pilot episode on July 1, TVJ’s new noontime show

“E.A.T.” reportedly claimed the highest average program rating among the local noontime shows that include “It’s Showtime” and “Eat Bulaga.”

The TV ratings were released by TV5 network through its so- cial media pages last Sunday, July 2 , based on data from market research firm AGB Nielsen.

According to the Kapatid network, “E.A.T.” garnered 8.4% average program rating versus “Eat Bulaga’s” 2.62% and “It’s Showtime’s” total of 3.94%— 2.39% on GMA’s GTV channel, 1.28% on A2Z and 0.27 on Kapamilya Channel.

“E.A.T.” also claimed the fifth spot on the list of top 10 TV programs with the highest ratings on July 1, as per data from Nielsen Audience Measurement, released by GMA Network through its Instagram page.

The pilot episode of “E.A.T.” marked the return of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon (TVJ) PAGE 11

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

SENIORS need less sleep