NUS Alumni Network Manila Partners with the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates and 36 Students for Industry Immersion in Manila

The inaugural NUS Geography Career Day was held on 20 February 2025. During this key student outreach event in NUS Geography’s calendar, eight alumni returned to the department to share their experiences of navigating the job market as recent graduates.

The invited guests were: Mr Roy Yuen (Arts & Social Sciences '15), Head of Capacity Building, Singapore Land Authority; Mr Navin Wadhwani (Arts & Social Sciences '16), Executive Planner, Urban Redevelopment Authority; Ms Rachel Koh (Arts & Social Sciences '19), Impact Portfolio Manager, Climate Impact X; Mr Ken Tan (Arts & Social Sciences '21), Transport Planner, Land Transport Authority; Mr Ng Yan Shen (Arts & Social Sciences '21), Manager – Retail Planning, Singtel; Ms Pearlyn Lee (Arts & Social Sciences' 22), Energy Sourcing Specialist, Equinix; Ms Shermaine Sim (Arts & Social Sciences '22), Placemaking Executive, Singapore River One; and Ms Jordyn Ng (Arts & Scoial Sciences '23), Regional Operations Associate, Shopee.

There were two panel discussions, followed by a human library style interaction session. Drawing on experiences spanning the public, non-profit and private sectors, the alumni shared the value of being open to career changes, stereotypes around each of the sectors, the importance of developing soft skills, and how a degree in geography has enabled them to synthesise different types of knowledge.

Students who attended the events raised questions on how geography has helped alumni to respond to the increased emphasis on sustainability in a variety of sectors, and how to navigate challenging workplace relations. The event was attended by 87 undergraduates and 97 junior college students from 11 schools.

Each year since the late 1990s, NUS Geography has invited outstanding alumni to share their experiences with current students. According to Ms Shermaine Sim, “It was great to be back in NUS. I enjoyed interacting with the students, hearing about their concerns and what they like about Geography. I hope they find assurance in knowing that a Geography degree can take them anywhere”.

The inaugural NUS Geography Career Day was particularly notable as Ms Melody Ng, a third-year geography major commented, “The Career Day was a great opportunity to learn more about our alumni's industries and job scopes, while gaining valuable insights into potential career paths after graduation. The networking session was very impactful for me because I learnt how to ace interviews, even without prior experience in a field. Jordyn, an alumnus I chatted with, shared lots of helpful tips with me using her past experiences”.

We thank our alumni for being so generous with their time and for supporting this event. Many thanks to the Majors Welfare Committee of the NUS Geographical Society for their crucial role in organising the highly successful event.

The NUS Alumni Melbourne Chapter celebrated the Lunar New Year in grand style on 7 February 2025 at Secret Kitchen Melbourne. This highly anticipated annual event brought together 68 alumni and friends, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie while ringing in the Year of the Snake with joy, prosperity, and good fortune.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Dr Edna Yeo (Science ‘93), who handed over the reins to Dr Cecilia Xiao (Science ’10) as new Chairperson of the NUS Alumni Melbourne Chapter. Dr Cecilia Xiao thanked the departing committee members, Dr Edna Yeo, Ms Audrey Sim (Arts & Social Sciences ’96) and Dr Woo Sin Ang (Dentistry ’68) for their contributions. Dr Raymond Wong (Architecture, Building and Estate Management ’81) gave well-wishes in fluent Mandarin as attendees were treated to an exquisite Lunar New Year banquet featuring a delectable spread of Cantonese delicacies.

A highlight of the dinner was the traditional "Lo Hei" prosperity toss, exchanging well wishes led by Mr Li Yang (Architecture ’97) for success and abundance in the year ahead. Signature dishes such as lobster noodles, steamed fresh barramundi, and crispy skin chicken added to the festive atmosphere, making the dining experience both meaningful and indulgent.

During the dinner, Dr Choo Soo Teo (Dentistry ’73) shared words of encouragement, inspiring attendees to continue fostering a strong NUS presence in Melbourne. Mr Luke Siah, Senior Assistant Director at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine delivered a heartfelt address, emphasising the importance of staying connected and engaged with the alumni community. Dr Cecilia Xiao thanked all the guests for coming together from Melbourne, interstate and Singapore.

A celebratory toast was raised, symbolising unity, happiness, and good fortune for the year ahead. Guests were treated to an exhilarating lion dance performance, a symbolic tradition believed to bring good luck. The rhythmic beating of drums and the dynamic movements of the lion dancers captivated the audience, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere to kick off the celebrations. Adding to the excitement of the evening, a lucky draw was held, with generous prizes won by eight lucky winners. These activities further strengthened connections among guests, making the event not only a celebration of tradition but also a platform for building meaningful relationships.

The Lunar New Year Dinner 2025 was a resounding success, bringing the NUS alumni community together for a night of celebration, delicious food, and engaging conversations. Beyond the festivities, the event reinforced the importance of maintaining strong connections despite being miles away from Singapore. As we usher in the Year of the Snake, we look forward to more opportunities to gather, support one another, and continue building a thriving alumni network in Melbourne. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all attendees, sponsors, and organisers who contributed to making this event a memorable and joyous occasion. Wishing everyone a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead!

On 11 January 2025 the Chengdu Alumni Network, in collaboration with SINGCHAM (Singapore Chamber of Commerce), hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at the Shangri-La Hotel in Chengdu.

The evening began with a warm welcome from the Guest of Honour, the Singapore Consulate General for Chengdu. A mesmerising Lion Dance performance delighted attendees, particularly the children. Before the dinner commenced, everyone participated in the traditional Singaporean "Lao Yusheng" ceremony.

This year's celebration was especially meaningful as it marked the 120th Anniversary of NUS. To commemorate this milestone, the alumni came together to record a heartfelt video greeting, which is included alongside photos from the evening. Many alumni also shared pictures and moments from the dinner on social media, showcasing their pride in NUS's 120th Anniversary and celebrating its achievement of being ranked 8th globally and top in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Beyond reuniting with fellow alumni, the dinner provided an excellent platform for networking with SINGCHAM members and Singaporeans who are based in Chengdu. It was a joyous occasion for all. 

To celebrate the arrival of 2025, NUS Alumni Network Xiamen successfully organised a memorable Hakka cultural tour in Wuping, a picturesque Hakka county in Western Fujian, from 28-29 December 2024. The event attracted 25 NUS alumni and their family members.

During the visit, participants immersed themselves in the stunning natural beauty of Wuping while gaining valuable insights into Hakka culture and heritage. Thanks to the generous efforts of Vice Chairperson Mr Lan Chunguang (EMBA '10), the group enjoyed a diverse itinerary. Highlights included a visit to Rosin Chemical, a subsidiary of Suntar Group, led by Dr Lan Weiguang (Science PhD '95), a prominent figure in membrane technology and water treatment, and a tour of Wuping No. 1 Middle School, where the Lans once studied and nowadays contributed a lot in returns.

The group also explored historical and cultural landmarks, such as the Wuping Museum and the region's traditional courtyards, which provided a deeper appreciation of the area's rich history. Alongside sightseeing, participants savored authentic Hakka cuisine and local delicacies, adding a flavorful dimension to the experience.

A special mention goes to the Xiamen Association of Singapore Returned Overseas Chinese for co-organising the event and generously sponsoring transportation costs. This collaborative effort not only ensured the trip's success but also fostered stronger bonds and friendships among NUS alumni and their extended community.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Alumni Network Manila hosted a meaningful Sundowner Thanksgiving gathering, marking the ceremonial turnover of leadership from the outgoing Executive Committee (ExCo) to the incoming ExCo for the 2025-2026 term.

The event was held from 5.00 to 7.00pm at the Straight Up Rooftop Bar in SEDA Hotel BGC, Taguig City. The gathering brought together outgoing and incoming ExCo members, proposed faculty and school representatives, potential special committee heads, and key alumni actively involved in chapter activities.

It served as a reflective moment to honour past achievements and a forward-looking celebration as the chapter embarked on a new journey. This intimate gathering brought together 18 alumni, representing eight faculties and schools, including Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering, Law, Public Health, Public Policy, and Science.

The event commenced at around 5.00pm with warm welcome remarks from outgoing chapter chair Mr Richard Tan (Public Policy ’13). Mr Tan reflected on the chapter’s origins and celebrated its remarkable achievements since its establishment in 2019. Following Mr. Tan’s speech, Dr Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales (Public Health ’13), the incoming chapter chair, took the stage to outline her vision for the upcoming term. Affectionately known as Doc Ivy, Dr Cloma-Rosales shared her guiding principles to elevate the chapter’s impact and engagement over the next two years. Joining Doc Ivy in the 2025-2026 ExCo are Patricia Villar-Yambing (Business ’15) as Vice Chair, Jonas Estacio (Engineering ’04) as Secretary, and Atty Jose Maria Buenagua (Law ’21) as Treasurer. To ensure continuity and mentorship, Mr Richard Tan (Public Policy ’13) will continue to serve as Chapter Adviser.

The NUS Alumni Network Manila ushers in the new ExCo term with gratitude, enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to increased engagement and community!

Prepared by Nestor Precioso (Science’06)

The NUS Food Science and Technology (FST) Class of 2019 had their end-of-year Christmas gathering at the S13 Department of Food Science and Technology Food Labs. Five years has gone by since graduation and since then, NUS FST has become its own department and newly renovated its labs. The evening consisted of a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) popiah dinner, catching up on how life has been these past couple of years, and a tour of the newly renovated facilities, the food lab, the chemistry lab, and the clinical labs. The night ended with a photo-taking session at our old FST food lab followed by dessert and drinks. The evening was extra meaningful because some teaching and administrative staff joined us, people who walked alongside us during our undergraduate days! We look forward to the next time we can gather as a class!

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Alumni Network Manila hosted its annual Christmas gathering, NUSparkle 2024, on Saturday, 30 November, at Alba’s Restaurante Español in Estancia Mall, Pasig City, Metro Manila. Held on Bonifacio Day, a public holiday in the Philippines, the event provided the perfect setting for a meaningful celebration.

This year’s NUSparkle saw an impressive turnout of 55 alumni, representing 11 faculties and schools, including Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Public Health, Public Policy, Science, and Yale-NUS.

Doors opened at 11.00am, warmly welcoming early birds with cocktails and opportunities to mingle with fellow alumni. As part of the registration process, attendees demonstrated their generosity and commitment to giving back by contributing to NUS Cares. Each alumnus or alumna donated a minimum token of PhP 500 (approximately SGD 11), with all proceeds directed towards the chapter’s community service initiatives. During the Christmas gathering, PhP 44,000 (SGD 1,000) was successfully raised for NUS Cares.

The programme commenced at noon with a warm welcome from Chapter Vice-Chair Nestor Precioso (Science ’06). The guest of honor, Logaventhan Karuppannan, Deputy Chief of Mission/Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines, delivered an inspiring address. He emphasised the strong ties between Singapore and the Philippines and highlighted the upcoming celebration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, inviting alumni to continue their engagement with Embassy initiatives. Chapter Chairperson Richard Tan (Public Policy ’13) led a toast in honor of Mr Karuppannan, followed by a "State of the Chapter" address. In his speech, he highlighted the chapter’s 2024 achievements, including four major events—such as the successful NUS Innovation Forum in May—and its active participation in the Singapore Embassy’s National Day celebrations. These milestones demonstrate the chapter’s unwavering commitment to fostering connections and further strengthening the NUS alumni network, particularly among the majority of faculties and schools that remain unorganised. Inspirational messages from alumni, including Marcelino Lizaso Jr. (Arts & Social Sciences ’03), Edsel Mercado Jr (Arts & Social Sciences ’04), and Bernard Afable (Design and Engineering ’18), added a personal touch to the programme.

Attendees indulged in a sumptuous Spanish buffet spread featuring callos, lengua, paella, vaca asada, and creamy baked eggplant, complemented by hot appetisers, desserts, and a choice of soda, juice, beer, or coffee. Although the programme officially ended at 2.00pm, guests stayed on, enjoying the camaraderie and the festive atmosphere. Alumni departed with hearts full of joy and a renewed sense of community.

NUSparkle 2024 was more than just a year-end celebration—it was a powerful testament to the enduring spirit and strength of the NUS alumni network. The Manila chapter now looks forward to another successful year of connection, collaboration, and community impact in 2025.

Prepared by Nestor Precioso (Science ’06)

The NUS Electrical and Computing Engineering Department had the pleasure of hosting our EE Class of 1995 on Friday, 29 November at E-Cubes, reconnecting them with old friends, sharing past photos and videos (prepared by the alumni themselves).

One of our alumni even brought down a yearbook from 1993!

It was such a heartwarming event and we hope to host them again next year for their 30th anniversary!