Peer Recognition, Cookie Aytona, Bede Torralba’72

PEER RECOGNITION “we lead from East to West”

Anita “Cookie” Aytona is UPAABC President for 2021-22

Cookie Aytona

UPAABC has had a fruitful partnership with the Philippines Consulate in Vancouver, BC in promoting the arts and our national identity.

Anita “Cookie” Aytona was elected President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of British Columbia (UPAABC) for 2021 and 2022. British Columbia is a province of Canada, situated in its West Coast.

Cookie is the wife of Alphan Florante “Tony” Aytona ’68 and sister of Jimmy Javier’75B.

She finished her undergraduate studies and masters degree in Math Teaching in UP Diliman. Cookie currently teaches grade 12 Math at Holy Cross High School.

UPAABC aims to expand its scholarship program in Diliman from 5 to 10 beneficiaries. Likewise, it will organize virtual events that promote camaraderie and learning among its members. UPAABC has had a fruitful partnership with the Philippines Consulate in Vancouver in promoting the arts and our national identity. τα Cookie & Tony Aytona’68 at the Gala Event for the Philippines Independence Day in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

BEDE TORRALBA’72: President, UPAA NEW JERSEY for 2021-22

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of New Jersey Chapter, Inc. (UPAANJ) elected Bede Torralba’72 as President for 2021 and 2022. Bede previously served as its Vice President. UPAANJ is a non-profit, 501-(c)(3) organization incorporated in New Jersey. Its primary goal is to promote closer ties among UP alumni and its Alma Mater. The objectives of the organization are to encourage all UP alumni to join and group themselves into a cohesive organization, to work for the preservation of the UP system as the center of academic freedom, to maintain open communication between UP and its alumni in New Jersey, to establish programs for the advancement of intellectual, cultural, social, and economic pursuits of the UP alumni, and to work independently or in collaboration with other community groups or organizations on charitable, educational, social, or cultural projects for the benefit of the greater community in which this organization resides. Covid-19 did not deter this organization from hosting events remotely via Zoom meetings. In collaboration with UPAA in America (UPAAA), they organized a Pre-New Year’s Eve Party in December 2020 and hosted a Zoom 101 Tutorial in January 2021. In February, UPAANJ cosponsored the UP Naming Mahal: A Valentine Special with UPAAA that featured love songs by talented UP alumni artists, highlighted by National Artist, Professor Ryan Cayabyab. The event was a success, with attendees already asking to be invited to the next event. Tau Alpha East Brods passed the hat (remotely of course) and raised $500.00 to be donated to the scholarship programs of both alumni associations. The donation was announced by the emcee as coming from Tau Alpha Fraternity which generated “wow” reactions from the participants and sincere thanks from the organizers. In March 2021, UPAANJ and UPAAA will again co-sponsor a technical presentation on Google apps and Eventbrite on Zoom. Internal and external projects are being planned to implement the organization’s objectives and participate in community projects and events to promote UPAANJ and UP. τα