Centro Escolar University (CEU), one of the prominent universities in the Philippines, held its 2016 Grand Alumni Homecoming last January 30, 2016 at One Esplanade at the Mall of Asia Complex in Manila.
During alumni reunions like this, the CEU Alumni Foundation recognizes graduates who have reached landmark years (25-75 years) as well as honours achievers who have made an impact through their outstanding advocacies or academic achievements.
The ‘Global Exemplar Escolarian Award’ honours alumni who, whether based in the Philippines or abroad, have well contributed to make the world a better place to live in. The recipient should be a bonafide CEU graduate whose achievements have made a difference in the Philippines or a foreign country or worldwide in a professional, government, socio-civic, or community service, or who have been recognized by a reputable award giving body for their achievements.
Former Phil. President Fidel V Ramos with Narima Dela Cruz.
One of the recipients is Metro Vancouver Filipino community’s known civic leader, community volunteer and advocate Narima Dela Cruz. Narima is most commonly known to be the Filipina who ran for Councilor for the City of Surrey last 2014 election under One Surrey Team.
While she did not bag a seat at the City Council she garnered more than 18,000 votes, quite a feat for a first-time politician in an arena known to be elusive to candidates of immigrant descent especially for a woman of color.
Narima founded the non-profit organization Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) in 2009, and from then on yearly organizes the celebrations of the commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day in the city of Surrey every June. She also spearheads the many other smaller, simple yet meaningful projects of the society which are mostly based on community service and immigrant advocacy. She is very well respected and hugely supported inside and outside the Filipino community.
Narima was an active student leader during her years at CEU serving as College Student Council President in 1992, National Secretary of the Inter-School Tourism Association, and a member of the CEU Honor Society.
Narima with Former Dean Dr. Carmina Catapang & former Professor & Student Council Adviser Dr. Wilma Estaura.
Narima worked her way to high school and college through scholarships, registered to CEU in 1988 through a grant from the Cory Aquino government through a project of the late senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr.
She was also a Kingpaoguat Typoco Tan Yu (KTTI) Foundation Scholar on her senior years prior to obtaining her baccalaureate degree, Bachelor of Science in Tourism (Gold Medal, Honours), in 1992.
In 1998, she immigrated to Canada with her husband, Joel, and their 2-year old son, Daryl. They were blessed with another child, Glisha, in 2000.
The family moved to B.C. in 2005 where Narima took up the Real Estate Trading Services Course at the University Of British Columbia Sauder School Of Business. She has since worked professionally as a Licensed Realtor.
She was given the esteemed ‘REALTORS CARE Award’ in 2011 by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and B.C. Real Estate Association for her extensive works in the community through charitable works and volunteerism.
Her many other accolade includes: Community Leader Award for Surrey-North Delta Leader in 2012, Finalist for Surrey Women in Business Award by the Surrey Board of Trade in 2011, Most Beautiful Filipinos in Canada in 2012, Reader’s Choice Awards 2011, Surrey-North Delta Leader Newspaper, Voted #1 in 3 Categories (Business Person, Realtor, and Social Activist), Directors Award for Excellence in 2010 and in 2011 by the National Sutton Group, and the prestigious Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award in 2012.
Other recipients at the CEU Homecoming include Escolarian alumni achievers all over the world, and include former Philippine President (1992-1998) Fidel V. Ramos. He is among the alumni of CEU Boys High School in 1945. He was honored as a Diamond Jubilarian (75 years) and a Global Escolarian Exemplar.
