An alumni homecoming featuring a program that honored former Development Academy of the Philippines stalwart and outgoing Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson was one of the highlights of the Academy’s 43rd anniversary celebrations on Monday, June 20, 2016.
DAP President Antonio D. Kalaw Jr. said feting Singson, who used to be the resident manager of the DAPCC in Tagaytay and the HR manager of the Academy back in the early ‘90s, was just fitting and proper since he is a source of pride of the DAP with his track record both in the government and in the private sector.
“Through his principled leadership, he has successfully transformed the DPWH, a graft- and corruption-ridden organization, into one of the best, if not the best-performing, government agencies of the Aquino administration,” Kalaw said of the outgoing Cabinet member, who also led the Maynilad Water Services as president before he was tapped by outgoing President Benigno Aquino III to head one of the most notorious departments in the bureaucracy.
More big names
Also coming to the well-attended gathering were former Cabinet and Public Works and Highways Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus, the fourth DAP president regarded as one of the Academy’s original bright minds, outgoing Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro who came as a special guest along with former National Economic and Development Authority Director-General and now-Philippine Competition Commission Chairman Arsenio Balisacan and Metro Manila Commission Director for Planning Nathaniel Von Einsiedel, sixth DAP President Ed Gonzalez, former Senior Vice President for Support Services Milton Mendoza, former SVP William “Bill” Torres, former Productivity and Development Center Managing Director Roberto “Joebert” Vasquez, ex-Integrated Area Development Program Director Benito “Sonny” Estacio, ex-Human Settlements Assistant Minister Encarnacion Rarallo, former Vice President for Marketing Jimmy Cura, former Fellow Lemuel Miravalles, Hugo “Boboy” Yonzon III and his wife Guia, and former PresidentialManagement Staff Secretary and now-Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña.
commendable work at the Department of Public Works and Highways. (Ped Garcia)
Stint recalled
Singson recalled his stint with the Academy in his speech, remembering how he was asked by the HR Department to devise a system on how the DAPCC, then the premier facility in its class in the country, should be utilized by both the public and private sector users.
The program as well as homecoming lasted until late in the evening as former and current DAPpers alike took the opportunity to exchange notes and reminisce the good, old days when the Academy was still relatively young.
The event is one of many scheduled for the anniversary week.
Also taking off on June 20 was the talent portion of the Court of New Faces Contest, which held this activity at the Canteen up to June 22, as well as the skin care and spa services that were made available at the Ground Floor daily until June 23.
Coronation
The coronation of the Court of New Face for 2016, which turned out to be Alexandria Mae Singalong of DAPCC-Tagaytay, was held at the Virata Hall on June 24.
Also held the rest of the week were lectures on stress management, cervical cancer and prostate cancer.
A thanksgiving Mass was held at the Virata Hall on June 23, and the anniversary week was capped on June 24 by such activities as a nutrition counseling, free haircut, manicure, pedicure, acupuncture and ventosa services and the distribution of lunch to employees.