Five outstanding alumni – two bishops, one environment undersecretary, an international lawyer and a book author - all graduates of the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan were formally honored last December 30 at the MHCS Kabalens Annual Homecoming.
This was announced by Fr. Allan Morris Abuan, MHCS rector, who said the individual awards were duly signed by himself and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz. The awarding was held at the newly-refurbished MHCS chapel following a concelebrated mass for Batch ’81 (silver) and ’86 (porcelain) jubilarians with former Pangasinan Vice Gov. and now Lyceum Northwestern University President Gonzalo T. Duque, already an MHCS Fr. John Healy awardee, in attendance.
Among the five honorees are Bishop Renato Mayugba who now serves as auxiliary bishop of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, Bishop Marlo Peralta now serving as co-adjutor bishop in the Diocese of Alaminos, Environment Senior Undersecretary Francisco S. Bravo, New York-based lawyer Felix Q. Vinluan and book author and media executive Melandrew T. Velasco.
Both Bravo and Velasco are key officers of the newly-revived Kaluyagan Nen Palaris, a confederation of civic organizations in Pangasinan, Manila and overseas where they both serve as KNP president and secretary-general respectively.
Bravo was cited for his exemplary service as retired Brigadier General in the Philippine Army serving as its Engineering Brigade Commander and The Chief Engineer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; for his outstanding feat as professional civil and sanitary engineer duly recognized by the Professional Regulatory Commission and the ASEAN Engineering Awards; and, for his unselfish dedication, generosity and commitment to his alma mater serving as founding charter chairman of the MHCS Kabalens Foundation and executive chairman of the 75th MHCS Diamond Jubilee Celebration in February 2004.
‘Kabalens’ is a term of endearment among MHCS alumni and it is the common address to everyone who passed the portals of the Binmaley seminary.
Velasco was cited for his professional accomplishments as a journalist, public relations practitioner and book author of five historical biographies mostly on the family members of former President Fidel V. Ramos; for his pioneering effort in rallying the alumni called the Kabalens to support the MHCS that led to the staging of the Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2000 where he served as Executive Chairman, the staging of the first Annual December 30 Kabalens Homecoming in 2000, the formation of the MHCS Kabalens Foundation of which he served as charter founder and as Executive Director and for his unselfish dedication and commitment as Overall Project Coordinator for the 75th MHCS Diamond Jubilee Celebration in February 2004.
Vinluan was cited for his professional accomplishment as an international lawyer helping particularly the plight of Filipino immigrants and nurses in New York; for his active involvement in the ‘Bukas Loob sa Diyos’ (BLD) based in Long Island, New York and Newark, New Jersey, USA provide annual voluntary mission that include free medicines to indigent beneficiaries; for his generosity, commitment to his alma mater and for his leadership as elected president of the MHCS Kabalens International.
