As Quezon City dealt with a fierce thunderstorm that submerged parts of the city in waist-deep floodwaters, the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) remained unfazed and held its annual homecoming, Pagbabalik 2025: Tatag at Kinang ng Paglilingkod DSW @75 on Aug. 29.
Twelve alumni were honored for their distinguished performances and public service at the homecoming.
Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was Thelma Lee Mendoza, author and retired social work professor. This award recognizes alumni who have pioneered Filipino social work education.
According to the CSWCD, Mendoza “is a renowned academic, dedicated practitioner, and prolific author whose work has deeply influenced generations of social workers in the Philippines. Her contribution to the profession spans academic teaching, policy leadership, and social work literature.”
Along with Mendoza were 11 alumni who received the Distinguished Social Work Alumni Award: Mary Lou L. Alcid, Maria Julita T. Asis, Teresita Marie P. Bagasao, Consuelo M. Balbero, Zenaida Paez-Beltejar, Maria Lyra T. del Castillo, Karen Mae S. Faurillo, Rosetta G. Palma, and Rina Anastacio Sadorra. Purificacion “Puri” Abarro Pedro and Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman were awarded posthumously.
The award seeks to “honor exceptional achievements, unwavering dedication, and outstanding contributions of CSWCD alumni in the field of social work.” The awardees “demonstrate Tatak CSWCD in their practice,” whose “impact on communities and influence at the national and international arena reflect the Tatag at Kinang of their devotion to honor, excellence, and service.”
Over 160 members of the CSWCD Alumni Association attended the full-day event, which featured discussions within the departments in the morning, a general assembly and awarding ceremony in the afternoon, and socials in the evening. A few days before the event, the college organized a small bazaar along the CSWCD walkway. The bazaar included two bagsakan booths where farmers from nearby provinces were invited to sell their produce directly instead of going through a middleman.