La Salle Philippines Alumni Association

La Salle Philippines Alumni Association Washington DC Chapter - Elects new set of board members!

Please join me in congratulating the new set of board members:

• President - Eileen Nadal COM84 (eileen_nadal@yahoo.com)
• Vice President - Ted Asplillera Elem73, LSGH77 (ted_aspillera@yahoo.com)
• Treasurer - Joey Velilla COM73 (joevelilla@yahoo.com)
• PRO - Alex Araque AB PolSci91 (araque_alexander@yahoo.com)
• Secretary - Kristina Caigas-Estipular BS IEM2001 (estipular@cox.net)

Elections were held during our well attended annual picnic at Burke Lake Park.

First to arrive was Tito Alisuag a Lipa High School alumnus. Soon after, Philippine Cultural Attaché Rico Fos arrived with his family.

I thank all who came and participated in the elections and for those who volunteered to help make this event possible. The kid games volunteers Malu Araque and Wilma Reyes. Thank you Tito Alisuag, Rico Fos, Ron Diokno and Johnny Roque for helping grill the delicious pork bbq prepared by none other than our new president elect Eileen Nadal. Recipe is available with a $100 donation to the association. Special thanks to our COMELEC chair Prospy Hernandez for preparing and canvassing the ballots.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you as President. It has opened doors and led me to meet new friends within our DC community, worldwide and specially at home in Manila.

Our membership increased and new minds with fresh ideas are always welcome. We hope to reach more Lasalians out there in the Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland area.

We contributed to the Bahay Pag-asa project and recently Br. Gus Boquer shared a news release announcing the groundbreaking ceremonies for Bahay Pag-asa in Dasmarinas last May 22. <click here>

Last January 2008 we launched our One La Salle fundraising program and named it Operation Alkansiya. Operation Alkansiya is a 3 year effort where we allow the alumni to contribute small amounts each month (or lump sum if desired) where it adds up to a significant donation at the end of the year. We are set to send out our first donations via Ayala Foundation by second week of December 2008. It is not too late to learn more and participate in this worthy effort. To learn more about One La Salle <click here>. To learn more about Operation Alkansiya <click here>.

We participated in various community fundraisers and events most noteworthy is our recent entry in the Philippine Independence Day Parade in Washington DC. A good size number of alumni participated together with our Hikers and Bikers group. Next year we hope to do even better.

Our camping trip at that Shenandoah Mountains was awesome! We definitely should make this a yearly event.

I wish the new President and her board God’s blessings and continued success. I’m very optimistic that our new group of officers will even be more dynamic and will accomplish more than we ever did. We are enjoying a surge of new members and very exciting projects to come. I heard very encouraging words like active networking, community outreach as well as stronger fellowship among members.

I also wish the members to not be afraid to step up to the plate and swing the bat a few times. Nothing happens when we wait for someone else to do it! We need to all get out of our comfort zone and venture out to the new and unfamiliar. It is normal for us to resist, but guess what … If you don’t, you will be pushed … so might as well do it in your terms!

So there … In my last official email to you as your President … I hope you have found some things worthy as well as pursue things that could use some improvement.

I am now a regular member (with lifetime membership!). I should say that I am proud to be part of this team and I’m proud to be a La Salle Alumni!

Animo La Salle! <click>

Adjo Gonzalez