A FEELING of nostalgia creeps in every time a memory of the past comes to mind such as times spent at university. Undeniably, these are some of the most cherished moments when walking down memory lane. From taking a stroll with a friend, just sitting in the library, working on a paper, to the panic and pressure during exams, these were considered as the best and most challenging times before adulthood came along.
Giving one even more reason to bask in the memories of their university days, Havaianas collaborated with the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) and its seven-member institutions to create a limited-edition pair. To commemorate this, Sun.Star Cebu asked three Cebuano alumni to share their recollections during their college years and how they continue to keep their school pride and love for their alma mater burning.
Find out which #HavaianasSquad they are proud to belong to.
Miguel Magpale, DLSU
Though he spent most of his formative years in Manila at La Salle Greenhills and De La Salle University (DLSU), Miguel Magpale showed his love for Cebu by returning home to his birthplace in Danao City and serving as a public servant, currently sitting as a member of the Cebu Provincial Board. At the same time, he is managing a college founded by his mother, continuing a lifelong commitment to bring quality education to the underprivileged.
Magpale was one of the lucky ones to get in among 400 aspiring students of Communication Arts as the university bears a strong reputation for its competitive environment and a lineup of successful alumni. With the strength and inspiration from all his experiences in DLSU, he managed to successfully get through challenging times and hardships. His teachers, professors and fellow students all played a significant impact in his life.
Known for its long history of academic excellence and true sportsmanship, every Lasallian takes pride in their school’s mission and values. Watching his first ever UAAP Basketball game, Miguel cheered his heart out and this memory is etched as one of his proudest moments in La Salle. The green face paints, shirts, posters, chants, synchronized crowd wave, the thrilling last two minutes, and the intense mood in the basketball court will always be a major part of Miguel’s university life. Dino Aldeguer and Don Allado were two of the key players who were a force to deal with in his time. In Lasallian practice, "It’s not whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game."
Jaja Chiongbian-Rama, UP Cebu
Georgia “Jaja” Chiongbian-Rama is the founder and managing director of Bigseed PR & Events, a marketing communications company that specializes in public relations, content creation and events while serving as the vice president-treasurer of the family’s George & Peter Lines Inc. She is a wife and mother of two boys and a fur baby.
Although she passed the entrance exams of the three Manila universities she applied to, she was not allowed to leave home at the age of 16. She then decided to take up Business Management at the University of the Philippines (UP)—Cebu as she felt it would be the best fit for her, apart from it being the premier state university.
Her years in UP brought many fond memories—from that first day when a unique student number is assigned to one that UP graduates still memorize up to this day, hanging out at the steps behind the iconic Oblation, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, to wearing Halloween-appropriate costumes during “Crazy Days.” These and making friends with her college barkada—the “UPOthers,” whom she still gets together with, were joys to remember in her freshman days.
An interesting experience for this Iskolar ng Bayan was when they conducted an intensive market research on a product that was not available in the market then but can be seen in shelves today: rubbing alcohol spray. To reach this goal, her team visited barangays in Metro Cebu and conducted door-to-door interviews. On top of these, local cultural immersions and late night paperwork served as a strong foundation for her chosen path.
Franco Soberano, ADMU
Raised by a blue-blooded dad and now the chief operating officer of Cebu Landmasters, a homegrown real estate development firm, Franco Soberano is 100 percent Atenean. He proudly studied in Jesuit-run schools from his nursery to university years. The values that were taught in Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) were what drew him to the school. Being taught to give back to the community and serve others are major principles he is proud to have gained from his years there and something he upholds to this day.
As a dormer in Cervini-Eliazo at the Ateneo Residences Halls, Franco gained over a hundred brothers and sisters with some turning into his best friends until today. He credits the university for who he is today for providing the best balance of character-building, academic excellence and community service which makes him proudest to be a Blue Eagle. His favorite school athlete is LA Tenorio. (PR)