UP alumni hold Tambayan and PalarOlympics

by Oscar Pantaleon Jr.

Dr. Rey Pagtakhan hosted this year’s third Tambayan of the University of the Philippines Alumni and Associates in Manitoba on August 12, 2023.

“I am delighted to host Tambayan, a gathering of Iskos and Iskas,” shared Dr. Pagtakhan, in the course of planning the acvity with members of the UPAA-MB Board of Directors.

Tambayan is a new project of the UPAA-MB to foster camaraderie and cooperation among members. Invitation is extended to members and their families and friends, and also to those who support the vision and mission of the UPAA-MB.

This recent Tambayan included PalarOlympics and a book highlight. It was coordinated by board members Sunshine Teologo (secretary), Mario Muan (membership committee head), and Ann Evangelista (information and communication committee head).

PalarOlympics is a fun and friendly competition held annually since UPAA-MB was established in 2010. It features Filipino children’s street games such as patintero, tumbang preso, piko, luksong sako, and even Chinese garter. Participants are grouped into two teams named after the official colours of the

State University, which are maroon and green.

Dr. Pagtakhan recruited new UPAA-MB members and invited them to the Tambayan. Before the day ended, he introduced the group to a new book, Indomitable Canadian Filipinos, written by UP alumna Eleanor del Rio Laquian.

Attendance to the monthly Tambayan has been growing since the first gathering hosted by Teoddy and Ria Figueroa in June.

In July, Danjae Medina opened his home to the UPAA-MB for the second Tambayan. Members also participated in Tagisan para sa Iskolar ng Bayan, a pub quiz on UP, Philippine, and world trivia. Ruby Manalang emerged as this year’s Tagisan champion. UPAA-MB is now preparing for the Tambayan in September. Other upcoming events in the coming months are Isko Talks, Bursary Fundraising, and Annual General Meeting. All UP alumni in Manitoba are invited to join UPAA-MB. E-mail membership@upmb.net for information.

From page 10

Arevalo started as a drama actor under the banner of Premiere Productions. His wife, Barbara Perez, was a contract star of Sampaguita Pictures under the stable of Dr. Jose Perez. She was being built up then as the Audrey Hepburn of the Philippines. It was Perez’s cousin, George Sison, who introduced them to each other. Sison was a friend of Arevalo’s, who was then also escorting his cousin, Liberty.

Arevalo and Perez have two daughters – Anna and Gina –who both graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP). Arevalo and Perez also have a son, Christian Ylagan, who joined their family from the time he was born.

While the kids were growing up, Perez deemed it better to stay at home. She didn’t have to work and took care of their children, instead. Arevalo, meanwhile, provided well for the family as he also worked for an advertising agency. Under the Martial Law, he managed Channel 5.

Arevalo and Perez both won the FAMAS best actor and best actress trophies for De Leon’s Ang Daigdig ng mga Api (1965).

In 1990, Arevalo won best supporting actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for Lino Brocka’s Ama, Bakit Mo Ako Pinabayaan?, that starred the father-daughter team of Ricky Belmonte and Sheryl Cruz, with Marita Zobel, Gretchen Barretto and Jestoni Alarcon

Arevalo was the recipient of the Film Academy of the

Philippines’ (FAP) best supporting actor trophy for Joel Lamangan’s Pangako ng Kahapon (1994). Meanwhile, Arevalo received the Urian trophy from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for best screenplay for Hubad na Bayani (1977), a film he also directed and starred in.

Aside from delivering lines as an actor, Arevalo also delivered the news as an anchor. He was among the personalities who ushered in ABS-CBN’s return on air in 1986 after the Marcos dictatorship. Arevalo co-anchored the newscast Balita Ngayon with Mel Tiangco

Among Arevalo’s more recent screen offerings were the film adaptation of the musical Ang Larawan, and the teleserye Dear Heart — both released in 2017. – ABS-CBN News