Theresa “Isah” Aclo-Abecia Incoming President 2025-2026 UPAA of Greater Chicago

By: Ryan Tejero

 

The University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association of Greater Chicago (UPAAGC) is a nonprofit organization comprised of alumni, former students, and friends of UP dedicated to supporting the University in its various endeavors and various programs enriching local communities. It started as UP Club of America in 1971. Since its inception, UPAAGC had been consistently and actively involved in the community life of Filipino Americans in the Chicagoland.

This year was a busy for UPAAGC. One of its biggest accomplishments was the launching of the UPAAGC discussion room at the UP School of Economics in Diliman, Q.C. last June. The group takes pride in providing a high-tech venue for students and faculty to have group discussions, project collaborations, and meetings. UPAAGC also donated $5,000 to the UP College of Medical Professions and another $5,000 to UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Biology Scholarship Grant.

As part of its community integration, UPAAGC had its annual volunteer packing food event at Feed My Starving Children in May. A well-attended family picnic was also held in August. Another successful event was the 18th Annual Golf Fundraiser at Highland Wood Golf Course. Finally, UPAAGC became a community partner for Odette Quesada’s concert in Chicago, which was a part of Odette’s 40th Anniversary Celebration U.S. Tour 2024.

As a tradition, UPAAGC will be culminating this year with its annual Christmas Dinner Dance & Fundraiser on December 14 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Northshore. Funds from this event will benefit the UP Student Financial Assistance Fund (STFAF) to help students to pay for books, transportation, lodging and other necessities while completing their undergraduate degrees at the University of the Philippines.

Continuing the leadership in UPAAGC for 2025-2026 is Theresa “Isah” Aclo-Abecia. She graduated from the UP School of Economics with degrees in BS Business Economics (1991), and a Master’s in Economics (1995). In the US, she completed her MBA from the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York. Isah grew up in Cubao, Quezon City in the Philippines. She migrated to the US in 1999 to study with full intention of going back to the Philippines. Lucky enough, she was hired as an Analyst at Citigroup, then she moved to San Francisco, CA where she met her husband, Bernardo.

Previously, she has worked at LBC, Philippine National Bank and was a Research Associate at the Bankers Association of the Philippines. She is also active in church and co-chair at Illinois Women’s Connection.

Currently, Isah is the Executive Director for Customer Experience in one of the largest banks in the United States. She has been with the same bank for the past 18 years as a manager for small business deposit products.

Isah wants to know the community that “we are serious in our mission but also have a lot of fun networking and forming friendships.”

Please contact UPAAGC’s incoming President for support to their projects at theresa.abecia@gmail.com.

UPAAGC Discussion Room at the UP Diliman School of Economics.

Food Packing at Feed My Starving Children, Schaumburg.

Members of UPAAGC pose with Odette Quesada and her special guests Raymond Lauchengco, Jaya, Felson Palad, & show’s producer Rowell Santiago, at the conclusion of her Chicago show, a part of her 40th Anniversary Celebration U.S. Tour 2024, held on October 20, 2024 at the Copernicus Center in Chicago.