 |
|
Ready, Set, Go Green for Archers Bash! It seems autumn just began, leaves falling in the last couple of weeks, yet north and west of New York City, snow has already fallen.
Before winter comes full force, though, there's one more event to attend, the Go Green! Archers Bash, on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
Hosted by the De La Salle Alumni Assn.-East Coast (DLSAA-EC), the event is both a reunion in the metro New York area for La Sallians/ La Sallites of all 'batches' and all campuses throughout the Philippines, as well as an evening of camaraderie with colleagues from members of the coalition of the alumni chapters of different schools. These colleges and universities have worked together over the years at projects, such as this year's highly successful Kundirana benefit concert that raised over $10,000 for Bahay Pag-Asa - spearheaded by the Philippine Mission to the UN and the Philippine Consulate with the La Salle Alumni Chapter, and Friends InDeed - as well as the Bandafest/Bandastiks battles of the bands and the annual Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado.
Along with the alumni of Assumption, Ateneo, St. Scholastica's and Holy Spirit, who also joined up with La Sallians at the most well-attended outdoor gathering in years, the annual Picnic at Central Park in July (including president Robert Perez De Tagle and Rosalie Divall, with Coalition of Alumni Assns. head Vivian Cruz), friends from past collaborative work, such as from UP, Maryknoll, UST, San Beda, St. Theresa's and others, are welcome to this celebration of solidarity in the midst of economic challenges.
The organizers are particularly excited at the results of a proactive membership campaign that has netted about 70 new and reactivated members just in the last few months, by "viral marketing": word of mouth, a redesigned signup form and process, presence on Facebook, and constant talking up of La Salle among friends. Of course, not all members get to attend each activity, but the Chapter officers look forward to a critical mass of core active members. These members have come out to network, sharpen their leadership, organizational and project management skills, and support each other in initiatives such as:
- The first ever screening of the PBS documentary "Dancing the Shrimp" about Fil-Am immigrant pioneers to Louisiana, co-organized by the DLSAA-EC with the Filipino American National Historical Society-NJ and the Phil. Consulate in Feb. 2008, representing the cultura aspect of La Salle education (introduced former Taft professor Dr. Teresita Ramirez to the Chapter)
- The Kundirana concert in April, which resulted from six months of planning for the first such event in NYC in 20 years; event and project management specialist Robert P. De Tagle provided planning leadership, hand in hand with event chair Mrs. Virginia Davide and Phil. Consul General in New York Cecile Rebong (this event brought Kundirana alum JP Balucan as well as Taft graduate Pierre Cruz to the Chapter)
- Participation in the PIDC Independence Day NYC Parade of La Salle, the first in about a decade, resulting in about a dozen new members, and visibility for the Chapter; interestingly, Robert was able to get the organizers to blare from the reviewing stand the Go La Salle! cheer from the Silverde (LSGH '79) homecoming CD on the very day that Randy Santiago of that batch performed at the Festival
- Dinner receptions hosted for La Salle Brothers Armin Luistro (March), Gus Boquer (April), Bernie Oca (May), and Raymond Suplido (September), as well as DLSAA President Johnny Valdes (May), each activity bringing out different groups of alumni
- The annual Picnic, at Central Park, which introduced younger alumni such as Carlo Zenarosa, Joel Baclit, and Gina Ojeda to the fold
- Acquaintance events such as the Bowling Mixer in Manhattan, the Dragon Boat Festival and US Open Tennis in Queens (included Paolo Barcarse, Archie Alvarez, Tess Canlas-Mojica, Glenn Chua, Eric So, Gina, Joel, and Carlo)
- Outreach activities, including the Komen Breast Cancer Race/Walk for the Cure at Central Park in September (including Archie and friend Shaina Pineda, who taught at DLS-Z)
- Benefit fundraisers, partnering with Ateneo for the Ateneo Chamber Singers concert & the producer of the I Love Pinoy show in September (led by Carlo Zenarosa with Roy Lim and Robert and past president Ed Lago, Archie and Tess)
- A relaunch of the website in by year-end (Baldwin Budiongan)
- Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado- the first evening (this year, on Dec. 10)is sponsored yearly by members of the Coalition of Alumni Assns. of Phil. Colleges, including La Salle's, and the UN Phil. Cultural Society
- Future professional development seminars planned
- Day of Recollection scheduled for Lent 2009
- Sportsfest/Dream Games with alumni of Ateneo and other schools in spring/summer 2009 (basketball, volleyball, bowling, golf, etc.)
While "Go Green!" refers to La Salle's color, it also defines the green-consciousness of many today among our alumni, such as Jasmine Gendrano-Pritamdasani, whose father's book, "Oscar: A Man of the Forest, Memoirs of a Forester," was launched at the Philippine Center, and will be a door prize at the event. Indeed, the Million Trees campaign of La Salle Philippines parallels that of New York City project of Mayor Bloomberg, as Carlo saw at the Live United Walk on Brooklyn Bridge in September.
The semi-formal event, "stylish but not formal," on Nov. 15 starts at 7:30 pm at Windsor Gardens in Lodi, NJ. For more info, and to RSVP, please email dlsaa.east@gmail.com.
Carpooling arrangements from NYC/Westchester/LI are being coordinated by Archie Alvarez.
So, La Sallians visiting New York post-NYC marathon and post-US presidential elections, please join us and get ready to have fun, meet friends, chill, and Go Green! |
| | DLSAA-East Coast members Robert P. De Tagle, Ramon Legarda, Frank Jimenez, Bob Gutierrez, Ed Lago & Frank Cruz hosted president and past New Yorker Johnny Valdes, NYC, May 2008 |
| | LA SALLE SPELLING! La Sallians for the first time in years at the Phil. Independence Day parade, NYC, June 2008 |
| | La Sallistas at the start of the Philippine Independence Day parade, June 1, 2008, Manhattan, NYC |
| |
|
|
|
|
