This year’s theme, “Let us live the freedom we celebrate and lift the nation we love,” offers a compelling call not only to remember our history, but to actively embody the ideals it represents. Freedom, as the theme suggests, is not merely inherited. It is continually shaped by the choices we make as individuals and as a community.

For UP alumni, this message resonates deeply. The University of the Philippines has long stood as a crucible of critical thought, civic engagement, and principled leadership. Its graduates are known not only for intellectual rigor, but for a steadfast commitment to service and nation-building.

Participation in this year’s parade is therefore more than symbolic, it is an expression of shared responsibility to uphold the values of honor, excellence, and public service in a global context.    

UPAAA will be represented by President Ryan Tejero along with members of the Board, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to cultural preservation and community engagement among Filipinos abroad.

As President Tejero aptly emphasizes, participating in Philippine Independence Day celebrations is a meaningful act of honoring the sacrifices of our forebears while fully embracing the freedoms they fought to secure.

This annual gathering also serves as a tribute to the enduring strength and resilience of Filipinos worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the richness of our heritage, the diversity of our experiences, and the unity that binds us across borders.

Alumni who have previously joined or expressed interest are warmly invited to participate once again. Those who wish to take part may directly email to UPAAA President at ryantejero@yahoo.com.

As we come together to commemorate this historic milestone, UPAAA encourages its members to not only celebrate but to reflect, engage, and lead. In doing so, we honor the past while shaping a future worthy of the nation we proudly represent.