Director belies member’s allegations vs UPAA

This is in response to a letter by Angge Soriano that unfairly put the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) in a bad light. (Inquirer, 4/21/12)

Soriano alleged that not too many UP alumni know about the ongoing election for new directors of the UPAA. The truth is, as early as last January, news about the UPAA elections, including the schedule of key election events, had been published in all the major dailies and the UPAA website.

Soriano also claimed that the 2006 and 2009 elections were not transparent, that there was no tallying of votes and no proof that ballots were sent to lifetime members. This is a blatant falsity. Ballots were sent to lifetime members and tallying was conducted even if a unity ticket was formed among the contending parties.

Next, she complained that in the ongoing 2012 elections, the general membership was not consulted as to the choice of the members of the UPAA Election Committee (Comelec). This is as it should be—the bylaws of UPAA lodges upon its Board of Directors the power to choose who will compose the Comelec. This year, it is chaired by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Josue N. Bellosillo, whose integrity and probity were the very reasons for his selection.

The two other members are well-known UP professors and administrators.

Soriano further alleged that minutes of Comelec meetings, as well as the updated list of members of UPAA in good standing, are not available to members. She also claimed that requests for extension of the nomination period were not granted.

The minutes of Comelec meetings are not in the custody of the UPAA because our  bylaws specifically mandate that it should operate as an independent committee. And no final list of members in good standing can be produced at this time because UP alumni may pay their membership dues and qualify as voters until the end of the election period in late May. A list of current members in good standing is always available at the UPAA office. Their addresses, however, are kept confidential for their personal security. Requests for extension of the nomination period were not granted because the Comelec did not find any cogent reason to extend it.

Finally, Soriano hinted at some kind of conspiracy by saying that only a few know what is going on in the UPAA. Firstly, many of UPAA directors are themselves presidents of large campus-based alumni associations. Also, the presidents of some 15 other alumni chapters in Metro Manila and Los Baños attend the monthly UPAA board meetings as ex-officio members.

The elected UPAA directors who govern the association render services totally free of charge, often using their own funds. What earthly reason could they have to keep to themselves what is going on in the UPAA?

It is unfortunate that Soriano, who seems so concerned about UP alumni, did not run for a seat in the UPAA board during the current elections.

—ROMEO H. GECOLEA, PhD,

executive director,

UP Alumni Association,

upalum@yahoo.com.ph