Retired UP Third World Studies Center (TWSC) administrative assistant Bienvenida C. Lacsamana passed away on August 27 at the age of 67.

Fondly called “Ate Bien” or “Tita Bien,” her colleagues remember her being good natured and cheerful, and one who made working at TWSC enjoyable and light.

Frequent callers to the TSWC offices would also recognize Lacsamana’s voice as the one behind the greeting “Third World [Studies Center].”

Born on January 25, 1954, Lacsamana earned her bachelor’s degree (BS business education, major in secretarial studies) from the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) in 1976.

She joined the UP workforce on January 16, 1980 as a research aide at the Office of Continuing Education of the then Institute (now College) of Social Work and Community Development.

After briefly working outside the University, she returned to UP in 1986 as a clerk-typist at TSWC.  She was later promoted to clerk III, then clerk IV, before becoming data entry machine operator III.

Lacsamana was later reclassified as administrative assistant V, a position she held from July 22, 2009 until her retirement on January 25, 2019.

In an appreciation post on the TWSC Facebook page, her officemates said, “Nang magretiro siya noong Enero 2019, itinuring na siyang haligi ng TWSC.  Sa kanyang ’di matatawarang dedikasyon, at pagkalinga, inagapayan n’ya ang ilang henerasyon ng mga mananaliksik at ang mga namuno sa Sentro.  Malugod at masuyo siyang kasama na maagap na tumutugon sa iba’t ibang pakiusap para maisulong ang mga gawain ng TWSC.”

Colleagues further described Lacsamana as “ang tuwa at palakpak na unang bumabati sa maliit o malaki mang tagumpay ng mga kasama, ang bukas na loob ng damay sa mga panahon ng lungkot at kagipitan.”

Lascamana is survived by her husband, children, and grandchildren. — with a report from Joel Ariate and photos from TWSC