Golf tiff caps UE global reunion in US

MANILA, Philippines - US-based children and grandchildren of the legendary basketball coach Baby Dalupan and those of his sister Conchita Dalupan-Sebastian are some of the sponsors of the UE alumni golf tournament, one of the activities lined up for the UE Global Reunion, in the US.

The first UE alumni event celebrated outside the Philippines is ongoing until June 6 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where thousands of UE graduates, past and present UE officials, faculty, employees and students comprising UE family delegations from Australia, Canada, various countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Philippines and USA converge to celebrate and make this global reunion another grand UE alumni milestone.

Coach Baby’s father, the late Dr. Francisco T. Dalupan Sr. who along with four other entrepreneurs, founded and built the UE from a two-room review school of 110 students to become a mega-university. Dr. Dalupan Sr. was the first UE president and chairman of the board of trustees, championing the masses’ easy access to education.

Renowned for his coaching prowess, Baby Dalupan successfully steered the UE Red Warriors to 11 titles in the UAAP. These included seven straight wins, the longest UAAP championship streak, as well as six inter-collegiate titles.

He was the UE physical education director from 1967-1987 and mentored several PBA franchise teams to championship titles, including a grand slam finish.

Red Warriors basketball team manager Jesus Tanchanco, Sr., who is also UE marketing department executive director and alumni adviser, said the Dalupan clan in the US, led by daughters Consuelo and Estela, graced the reunion’s welcome dinner on June 4 and Gala Night on June 5 while the children and grand children are co-sponsors of the reunion’s golf tournament on June 6.

ICT solutions provider Stradcom president and CEO Cesar T. Quiambao chaired the UE Global Reunion Philippine delegation steering committee. The reunion’s host is the UE Association of America, led by its president, Santos “Jun” Capistrano and UE Global Reunion overall chair Oscar Jornacion.

Some prominent UE alumni participating in this global reunion include business leaders Ernesto Cokiong, Antonio Cua and Anthony Que; Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, former Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Rodolfo Palattao, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro, Gen. Dioscoro Yoro, Gen. Enrique Atanacio, former SSS president/CEO Corazon Dela Paz-Bernardo and US Military Attaché Lt. Col. Ferdinand Llantero.

UE chairman-CEO Lucio Tan and president Ester Garcia, who lead some UE officials in attendance, will deliver inspirational messages to congratulate and rally UE alumni around the world.