University of Notre Dame - Philippines

PORTADA

UNIVERSITY OF

NOTRE DAME PHILIPPINES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 STUDENT PROFILES

10 ALUMNI PROFILES

NOTRE DAME | PHILIPPINES

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STUDENT PROFILES

Mika Inoue

Royce Chan

Raphael Roque

Margarita Diego

Katrina Orteza

Reuben Antonio

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STUDENT PROFILES

I chose to come to Notre Dame because, aside from its world-class academics, I was attracted to its strong sense of community and school spirit. Everyone I spoke to, whether a former or current student, was always so friendly and seemed to genuinely love the school. Knowing that I would never find a community like that anywhere else, it was easy to see what a perfect fit Notre Dame would be.

MIKA INOUE MANILA, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2021 ECONOMICS AND APPLIED AND COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

I am involved with the First Aid Service Team (FAST), Adopt-A-Family Christmas Initiative, and the Asian-American Association. I also volunteer at the Early Childhood Development Center. This summer I was also granted the opportunity to go to Frankfort, Kentucky, to work as a substitute teacher at a school for kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns.

My best experience so far was a midnight trip to the Grotto. During exams last semester, my friend and I were incredibly stressed out by our chemistry test. We were in the library until late in the evening, and on our way back, instead of heading straight for our residence hall, we decided to go to the Grotto to pray. In the end, despite all the stress, when I lit my candle, I finally felt calm and relaxed. This is the magic of Notre Dame: you always know that you have a support network to count on, that will encourage you and help you grow.

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STUDENT PROFILES

I chose Notre Dame because of its academic prestige and its unparalleled history and traditions. I thought that Notre Dame’s world-class faculty and resources would provide me with a rich learning experience and help me accomplish my professional ambitions. I also found that Notre Dame has a very diverse student body and is very welcoming to students of all backgrounds, something that I believe is essential for a fulfilling undergraduate experience.

ROYCE CHAN MANILA, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2021 FINANCE

At Notre Dame, I have focused my time on service activities. Every week, for example, I visit the Center for the Homeless and plan activities for the kids. I have also participated in several fundraisers for the Center for the Homeless, such as my residence hall’s annual caroling activity. The rest of my time, I enjoy planning events for the Filipino-American Student Organization (FASO), playing intramural sports, and attending the various Notre Dame sporting events going on year-round, especially during football season.

My favorite experience at Notre Dame has been the football games. I found that they really highlight the family aspect of Notre Dame. Although I knew nothing about football coming in, I eventually became a fanatic. There was something magical about 80,000 people cheering for the Irish and embracing each other to sing the alma mater after the game. Week after week, these games remind me of the strong and supportive community that we have at Notre Dame.

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STUDENT PROFILES

I came over to the United States to check whether I would want to apply to the colleges here or not. The one university that really convinced me to study abroad was Notre Dame. When I came here, I absolutely loved the place. It just had the perfect balance between academics, sports, and social life. I also immediately noticed that Notre Dame has a strong sense of community that makes the undergraduate experience much more fulfilling.

RAPHAEL ROQUE MALABON, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2021 MANAGEMENT CONSULTING

I am part of the Filipino-American Student Organization (FASO), where I participate in a myriad of events and feel at home with my fellow Filipinos.

I also participated in the interhall baseball competition, where I got to bond with other members of my residence hall and get back in touch with the competitive spirit that I had in high school. Extracurriculars are a great way to interact with other students and get immersed in the Notre Dame community.

My favorite experience was the North vs. South Quad snowball fight. On the first night that it snows in Notre Dame, everyone gathers in South Quad for the giant snowball fight. This change of scenery really helped me get away for a while from school work, and enjoy the other things that make Notre Dame special. This experience reminded me that Notre Dame isn’t all about academics; it is about family and creating memories and friendships that will transcend the four years of college.

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STUDENT PROFILES

I chose Notre Dame for several reasons. First, its strong Catholic identity would enable me to continue to pursue my faith away from home. Second, Notre Dame provides a well-rounded education that enables students to pursue their passions–in my case, public policy and serving my country.

Lastly, I knew that its supportive community would make me feel at home, even thousands of miles away from my family.

MARGARITA DIEGO MANILA, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2020 ECONOMICS

I have been involved in many different extracurriculars at Notre Dame that have allowed me to grow personally and professionally. As part of the student government, I got to collaborate with a talented group of students on developing proposals to improve the student life. I am also an intern with international admissions, where I help plan events and projects and support the staff with the outreach to admitted students. I am working to make more Pinoys come and witness this wonderful community!

My favorite experiences have revolved around traveling the world with Notre Dame. Thanks to the continued investment and support of the University, I have been flown across the world to Cambodia to conduct research and missionary work in Phnom Penh and will be heading to the U.K. next year to spend the entirety of my junior year in Oxford. In addition to that, I am looking forward to flying back home to the Philippines for the summer to study and work on issues of female health care and maternal mortality with the unfailing and committed support of the University of Notre Dame.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MINOR

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STUDENT PROFILES

I chose to study at Notre Dame for many reasons. First, Notre Dame has a great learning environment, where professors are passionate about what they are teaching, and where students continually encourage one another. Second, Notre Dame has a great sense of school spirit because of how the community is so involved in various athletic events. Lastly, Notre Dame’s excellence in theology would enable me to gain a deeper understanding of world religions.

KATRINA ORTEZA MANILA, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2019 NEUROSCIENCE

During my junior year, I became co-president of the Filipino-American Student Organization (FASO), where I helped organize the annual Filipino cultural show, Fiestang Filipino, and started fundraisers to help support Filipino charities. Additionally, I am a research assistant in the Cognition, Emotion, and Emotional Disorders Lab directed by Dr. Lira Yoon, where I worked as one of the main experimenters of a Department of Defense-sponsored project that observed cognitive factors and stress responses in anger and aggression.

My favorite experience on campus has been taking Italian and Latin language classes. I found them particularly enjoyable because the professors were extremely passionate and cared deeply about the students’ learning experience; they created a dynamic environment where students collaborated and learned from one another. These types of electives allow students to get out of their core curriculums and have a more well-rounded undergraduate experience.

AND THEOLOGY

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STUDENT PROFILES

I chose Notre Dame because it would provide me with a rich and unique undergraduate experience. I thought that Notre Dame had a good balance of academics, extracurricular opportunities, and school spirit that would really allow me to grow during my time here.

REUBEN ANTONIO MANILA, PHILIPPINES CLASS OF 2020

Ever since I got to Notre Dame, I have tried to get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. For one, I play piano for the Broadway musical theatre club PEMCo. Last year, we put on three performances of Grease, all of which sold out immediately. Being part of that show has been one of the greatest parts of my Notre Dame experience, as it allowed me to find something that I was really passionate about and make new friends along the way.

This year, I am excited about studying abroad at Notre Dame’s program at the University of Sydney! I am very excited about making new friends and getting to explore a different part of the world. So far, my Notre Dame experience has been absolutely amazing, and I look forward to making new and better memories here in the next few years.

BIOLOGY

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ALUMNI PROFILES

LINDSEY LIM

DOMINIC GALICIA

KELSEY TAN

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LINDSEY LIM CLASS OF 2007

FINANCE, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND CHINESE

ALUMNI PROFILES

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

WORK EXPERIENCE

I have moved around quite a bit since graduating from Notre Dame, mostly in the finance industry. I started out as a financial analyst at Citibank in New York. I then moved to the Philippines with the International and Shared Prosperity of the World Bank, where I evaluated investments in private organizations, such as banks and manufacturing companies, to accelerate economic growth in China and the Philippines. After that, I have done a Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, worked in consulting, and co-founded a start-up for admissions advice to international students. I am currently back at the World Bank working on Financial Inclusion projects.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS At Notre Dame I was fortunate to be part of the International Scholars Program for the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, where I had the opportunity to conduct research on international trade agreements.

I also tutored weekly at the Juvenile Delinquency Center, was part of the Women’s Liturgical Choir, and studied abroad in London for a semester. After my junior year, I did an internship at EY’s Strategic Growth division.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NOTRE DAME

My favorite thing about Notre Dame is the emphasis that is placed on social responsibility. Notre Dame pushes you to grow not only as a student and professional, but also as a person. You really learn to appreciate the importance of giving back to your community and helping those around you. During my professional experience, I have realized that no other schools instills this value like Notre Dame.

HOW NOTRE DAME CHANGED ME

Notre Dame broadened my perspective and gave me a platform to explore new areas and seek new challenges. By offering me so many opportunities to try new things–from research in international trade to studying in London or interning at EY–and become a more well-rounded individual. Notre Dame also inspired me to seek a career where I can make an impact on the community.

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DOMINIC GALICIA CLASS OF 1988 ARCHITECTURE

ALUMNI PROFILES

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

WORK EXPERIENCE

I worked at various architecture firms in New York for 10 years after graduation, before returning to Manila in 1998. I had always wanted to return to the Philippines and set up my own office here. The early years of Dominic Galicia Architects were challenging ones, considering the economic climate then. As I look back now, I must say that difficult years are the best to start an architectural practice, because the roots you plant are sturdy ones. Today we are grateful for our broad range of projects, from churches to schools, hotels, and car plants. Five years ago, we won a short-listed competition to design the Philippines’ National Museum of Natural History, which opens to the public later this year.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS As an architecture major, I was mainly focused on classes and architecture-related activities; I do know, however, that there were countless extracurricular activities on campus. I was on the editorial board of Juggler, the campus literary magazine. In my fourth and fifth years, one activity I enjoyed was that an hour or so before the Rockne Gymnasium would close, four of us from the School of Architecture would play squash until closing time.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NOTRE DAME

My favorite thing about Notre Dame was spending my fourth year in Rome as part of the architecture program. This experience was a great way to explore a different culture and to learn fundamentals of architecture that still guide my work and decisions to this date. It also gave me the opportunity to bond and collaborate with my Notre Dame peers in a new and exciting setting.

HOW NOTRE DAME CHANGED ME

It was at Notre Dame that I decided to become an architect. I was all set to join the Program of Liberal Studies, also known as the Great Books program, but an Introduction to Architecture course in the first semester of my first year changed that. Not a day goes by that I do not remember the great professors that taught me in Notre Dame’s School of Architecture, such as Gloria Sama, Francesco Montana, Stephen Hurtt, and Kenneth Featherstone.

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KELSEY TAN CLASS OF 2014

ALUMNI PROFILES

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SAN JUAN, PHILIPPINES

WORK EXPERIENCE

After graduating from Notre Dame, I went straight to medical school.

I am currently a fourth-year student at the University of East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (UERMMC) doing my clerkship and will be graduating in June. I have recently been matched to a private hospital for my internship and will be taking my licensure exam next year. I usually spend my spare time helping with my family’s business in construction.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS

At Notre Dame, I was mostly involved in cultural clubs such as the Asian American Association (AAA) and Filipino-American Student Organization (FASO). Planning and participating in events in these clubs helped me meet new people and adjust to life in the United States. I spent my summers at Notre Dame doing several different internships; the most memorable one was helping set up a paint factory that is still running to this date.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NOTRE DAME

My favorite thing about Notre Dame was the supportive environment.

Everywhere I went–from the classrooms to the dining hall or the quad–I felt that I had friends to talk to and share experiences with. This supportive community provided me with entertaining activities, such as trips or outings, and allowed me to thrive academically.

HOW NOTRE DAME CHANGED ME

Notre Dame made me more open-minded. Before Notre Dame, I grew up in a bubble; I had always had the same group of friends and classmates, and had no reason to leave my comfort zone. At Notre Dame, I met a diverse group of people–from students to faculty and staff–that expanded my worldview and motivated me to seek new, challenging opportunities. In addition to the classroom experience, Notre Dame gave me the opportunity to learn from those around me.

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