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MAPÚA 2011 REGISTRATION

If you plan to attend the MAPUA WORLD Convention in 2011 which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, you could fill-up the pdf application on this link - 2011form. The actual convention date is scheduled on 30 June to 3 July of 2011 and will be hosted by the Mapúa Alumni Association Alberta Chapter (MAAAC).

Registration fee is US$120 per person (alumnus, guest, or spouse) for the first 100 paid registrants and US$130 for the next 50 paid registrants. Regular registration fee is US$140 after the early bird registration. The registration fee includes the Mapúa World 2011 Meet and Greet, Picnic and Gala Night. Just so you may know, out of the 122 individuals who have already registered, there are now 40 who have paid for their registration fees. So, if you would like to avail of the discount, you might as well register and pay now.

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Member's Corner

LISSA BENTLEY

lisa

Being a member of NAMABC has been a great part of my life. I can still remember when I first joined the association. Eddie Alfonso, the president at the time invited me to join the excecutive committee meeting at Ed Tapia's office. I was so shell shocked when I entered the room and saw not a single woman but all male who looked like they graduated way way ahead of me. But they were all warm and very welcoming I didn't feel out of place at all. Next thing I know, Tony and Alex would crack a joke and my jaw would hurt like crazy from laughing. I was not sure what spell they casted on me at the time because after that meeting, I just kept coming back and soon I found myself part of the committee, preparing and planning for the Mapua World 2004 event.

 

I was so proud being part of the group that hosted that event. We all received raves and accolades from all the attendees and I believe up to now, none of the succeeding Mapua World events has come to par to the success of ours. We set the bar quite high for the others to follow.

 

Not long after, I became the secretary, not by choice really, but with the kind of people on board with me, they made my task very easy and quite enjoyable because everybody pitched in. Soon, NAMABC became not just a mere organization to me but more of a second home and the members, an extended family. I came to know most of the members and spouses. I always looked forward to picnics, potlucks and dinner dances. I tasted everybody’s special recipes. Tony Telan has the best pansit, Aida Vibat has the best tortang talong, Lea Santos has the best bulalo, Cecile Alfonso has the best salad and of course when it comes to “kakanin”, Mina Samson is unbeatable. I also became a big fan of ballroom dancing ever since Emil Esguera took me to the dance floor during one of the many successful dinner dance events to raise bursary fund for our MIT scholars and to prove it, my husband who can’t even follow a simple Macarena step let alone dance cha-cha later on took ballroom dancing with me and has since became my dance partner. A real added excitement to my life.

 

Last year, after attending the Mapua World 2009 held in Texas which by the way NAMABC once again took the spotlight with its amazingly awesome and funny “hula-ocho-ocho” dance performance, my family took a side trip to Orlando for a spring break vacation. My younger son is afflicted with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). It was during this trip that we came across a school in Orlando specializing on children with ASD that made us decide to try it out and move down south. It was really a tough decision for us. For me it was a big sacrifice because it meant leaving my friends and family behind and taking a hiatus from the association and the people that became part of my life. But no sacrifice is big enough when it comes to your kids and they always go first. Four months later we were off to Orlando.

Thankfully, Joy Elvambuena stepped in and replaced me as the secretary.


It was almost a year since we had left, my son who was non-verbal is now talking and is improving everyday. Our move down south paid off. Even though I miss NAMABC a lot, I know that once a member, always a member. I know that I am always welcome. I know that I will get to be part of the activities whenever I go back for a visit and that is something that I always look forward to.

 

I guess technology proved that distance is no barrier and with e-mail, facebook, skype and the latest and greatest of stuff, just like that, it was as if I never left Vancouver at all. I got abreast with what was happening with the association and the events that was taking place. I even got to share my ideas and suggestions. If ever I need to be close to NAMABC, my second home, my second family …. I am just a click away.