November 5, 2009 — Selenna Franco-Cefre was unanimously elected as the new president of the Univeristy of the Philippines Alumni Association of Northtern California Berkeley Chapter last Saturday during the general assembly / halloween party held at the residence of outgoing president Alexis Zulueta in Danville, CA. Selenna is a 1984 B.S. Business Administration & Accountancy alumna and was last year’s 1st Vice President. Selena brings to our association her impressive leadership experience, among them being previous president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accontants – USA, Inc. Selenna was actually elected in absentia since she was indisposed with fever. Selenna had earlier graciously accepted her nomination to the top position and just as graciously accepted the mantle of leadership for the first foreign-based U.P. alumni chapter in the world.
Also unanimously elected along with Selenna were the following: Daisy Rodriguez B.S. Nursing’69 MS’71 as 1st Vice-President; Pacifico (Quinito) Joaquin B.S. Engineering as 2nd Vice-President; Dee Faraon B.S. Physics’97 as Secretary; Mira Linsey as Assistant Secretary; Diosy Rey B.S. Business Administration’73 as Treasurer; and Cherry S. Utleg B.S. Chemical Engineering’63 as Auditor. Outgoing President Alexis Zulueta automatically sits on the board as Parliamentarian.
As usual, the alumni enjoyed a sumptuous pot luck feast that featured Alexis’ famed arroz valenciana and callos, Cherry Utleg’s baked ham, Ceny Duldulao’s ginataan and Andette Las Pinas’ broiled fish, among others.
Since the afternoon assembly was held on the eve of Holloween, many alumni in attendance complied with Alexis’ invitation to attend the event wearing costumes. The festive atmosphere led to an impromptu mini-concert by Henry Torres and the spouses George and Gladys Hernandez, who obliged the alumni gathering with their rendition of broadway songs. It certainly signalled a good start for the new set of officers! Congratulations!
