The Kellogg School's Filipino community had a chance to strengthen bonds when Dennis Valdes '90 (far left) flew in from Manila to take the New Directions in Management course at the Allen Center in October. Valdes was joined by, from left, current students Brian Alandy Dy and Greg Macaltao and School of Law student Albert Yu Chang.

Some 29 Kellogg School alumni and guests attended an early Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by the Northwestern-Kellogg Alumni Club of the Philippines at the home of Chicky Suarez Quintos '86. The evening began with a mass celebrated by the Rev. Tony Lazaro of Santuario de San Antonio parish. Dinner buffet by Casa Armas (of Laura Lim '96) promptly followed. Delicious turkeys were outsourced by Bunny Fabella '86 and Dave Valdes '92. Two cochinillo (roasted suckling pig) further spiced up the dinner spread.

Alumni club presidents from Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, Virginia-Darden, Wharton-Penn and host Northwestern-Kellogg joined the evening's celebration. Guests were pleasantly surprised at the huge crowd and encouraged the Northwestern alumni club to organize an annual interclub Thanksgiving dinner.

The new officers of the Kellogg Alumni Club of the Philippines recently held their first board meeting. Seated, from left, David Balangue '77, Dr. Dina Campos '89, David Valdes '92 (incoming president) and Chicky Suarez-Quintos '86. Standing, from left, Jojo Poe '99, AP Bartolome '99 (vice president), Melchor Guerrero '93 (treasurer), Christopher Lim '98 (corporate secretary) and David Chua KH-02. Not pictured, Czar Yatco '55, Dennis Valdes '90, Jay Silayan '93, Jay Fonacier '03 and Pia Echauz-Chua '04 (external affairs).

Globe Platinum co-sponsored the party, raffling off a Siemens SX1 mobile phone and premium tickets to a Hanson Brothers concert. The highlight of the evening was the Lifetime Service Award given to Cesar "Czar" G. Yatco '55 for his "exemplary commitment and lifelong dedication to keeping the Northwestern and Kellogg alumni community in the Philippines strong and vibrant through fellowship and camaraderie."

In other news, David O. Valdes '92 was recently voted club president. Other directors are Aurelio Paolo Bartolome '99, Christopher Lim '98, Melchor Guerrero '93, Sophia Echauz-Chua '04, Chicky Suarez-Quintos '86, Dina de Jesus-Campos, Laura Lim '96, David Balangue '77, Dennis Valdes '90, Jay Silayan '94, Jay Fonacier '03, David Chua KH-02, Jojo Poe '99 and Czar Yatco '55.

Members of the club were present when Cesar A.V. Purisima '83 recently took his oath of office as finance secretary of the Republic of the Philippines. Immediately prior to handling the finance department, Cesar was trade and industry secretary. In her brief remarks, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo aptly described Purisima and her other appointees as "highly qualified" and "patriots" for taking on these difficult and challenging assignments in her cabinet. 

Members of the Kellogg Alumni Club of the Philillines were on hand to witness Cesar A.V. Purisima's (center) '03 swearing in as finance secretary.

Northwestern-Kellogg alumni led by Isabel Juan '79 and Toti Juan '58 trooped to Malacanan palace to witness the oath-taking. Other alumni present included classmates Tony Jacinto '83 (with wife Oli), Joel Limjap '83, Paeng Javellana '82, Ernest Cu '84 (with wife Arlene), Lorenzo Tan '87, Jovi Bengzon '88, Francis Laurel '72, Dave Balangue '77 and Jojo Poe '99.