Marichu Ardiente-Gastala President, USAAA-Midwest

By: Ryan Tejero

 

One of the most organized and passionate groups in the Filipino American community today is the University of San Agustin Alumni Association-Midwest (USAAA-Midwest). It has been around since 1984, and last year, this group celebrated its 30th anniversary, with a recollection of all the milestones that members and their families have kept through the years.

The University of San Agustin is one of the biggest and wellknown universities in Iloilo City, with a sister university, Colegio de San Agustin in Bacolod City. USAAA-Midwest is composed of alumni produced by both universities, and are residing in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Since its inception, the organization has been a vital factor in cementing lasting friendships and camaraderie, and in strengthening harmonious relationships with other socio-civic organizations in the region, while upholding the Augustinian principles and ideals, centered on Virtus et Scientia.

Most activities of USAAA-Midwest are family-oriented, which include regular dinner meetings, annual Memorial Day weekend trips, religious pilgrimages, summer picnics, Christmas parties, charitable projects, and others, intended to promote and preserve the Filipino tradition and heritage.

As part of giving back to their Alma Mater, alumni members sponsor scholarship programs for deserving students at the University of San Agustin. It has contributed a total of $26,000 from the organization’s general funds and from donations of individual members, to support development efforts of the university such as the completion of the Alumni Building and generating the stainless steel name and other associated features and facilities of the building.

Alumni members, with their families and friends have also kept the tradition of attending homecoming celebrations in Iloilo City in 1994, 1996 and 2000. In 2004, when the University of San Agustin – Iloilo City celebrated its Centennial Year, twenty one members, with their families represented USAAA-Midwest. A total of five members of the USAAA-Midwest became part of the prestigious “100 Outstanding Augustinians of the Century” Centennial Awards.

In 2005, the organization donated funds to construct two homes for the Gawad Kalinga program in the Philippines. In October 2007, the USAAA-Midwest contingent turned to be one of the largest delegation out of the 350 alumni and friends, who attended the first international Grand USAAA Reunion held in Las Vegas, NV. The international reunion generated funds that were donated to the University, and also to flood victims in the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo City. The association donated in 2012 to UP Visayas’Marine Preservation Study in Iloilo. Cash donation was sent through the University of San Agustin – Iloilo City for the Haiyan typhoon victims in December 2013.

USAAA-Midwest was the first alumni association chapter organized in the United States and Canada. It has kept a remarkable history of strong, inspiring and dynamic leaders over the past 31 years. Previous leaders include: Edith Mijares- Ardiente (1984), Manuel Z. Hermano (1986), Nestor P. Ardiente (1987), Roger Penasales (1990), Constante Tagamolila (1992), Mila Penasales (1994), Ernanie Gastala (1996), Ediberto Bayona (1998), Jaime Tagamolila (2000), Adolfo Estandarte (2002), Oscar Gastala (2004), Marcelo Trabado, Jr. (2006), Divina Escarilla (2008), Aridna Gazo (2010), Rose Tagamolila (2012), and Marichu Gastala (2014). Every president has a tenure of two years.

The current president, Marichu Gastala, is from Orland Park, IL. She came to the US in 1977 when she reunited with her family. Marichu completed her degree in Chemistry from the University of San Agustin-Iloilo City. When she came to the US, she went to take training courses at the Illinois Institute of Technology that were related to her degree.

She later obtained her certification in the field of Chemistry to practice in the State of Illinois. Her work background from the time she came to the US until now has always been in the field of technology. She was employed in a hospital’s Endocrinology Department in 1977, a nuclear power plant consulting company in 1980, and from early 90’s, she joined Quest Diagnostics as an Analyst.

Marichu is married to Ernanie, who graduated from the Engineering Department of the University of San Agustin – Iloilo City. Ernanie is a Mechanical Engineer by profession. They are blessed with two children: daughter – Margeaux (RN), who is married to Brian; they have three boys: Brayden, Lukas and Noah, and son – Joseph (MD), who is married to Nicole.

Marichu is currently working on increasing USAAA-Midwest’s membership. If you are or you know of anybody, who graduated from the University of San Agustin, please connect with Marichu to learn how to become a member and get involved in their activities. She can be reached via email: mag0803@yahoo.com.##

USAAAMidwest President Marichu Gastala.

 

Marichu and her family: L-R Joseph, Nicole Margeaux, Brian, grandchildren: Brayden(7), Lukas (5) and Noah(2), Marichu and husband, Ernanie.