UPNAAI Rocky Mountain Region and Pacific States

Chapter Description and Information

The UPNAA-RMRPS Chapter is a multi-state non-profit organization founded on August 8, 2015. Our region currently includes Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. While California was an original member, it seceded to form its own chapter in 2019. We operate exclusively for educational and charitable purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

UPNAA-RMRPS Officers & Members

Taken at the 44th UPNAAI Annual Education Conference and Convention on August 25-26, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, Garden Grove, CA

Principles

Our organization is guided by three core principles:

1. To unite UP nursing alumni in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific states and maintain harmonious relationships with the University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International (UPNAAI, Inc.) and its chapters.
2. To implement programs promoting goodwill and charitable giving to our alma mater, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and it's Nursing Department, and other global organizations.
3. To coordinate with government and local organizations on charitable initiatives.

We recently celebrated our 10th Founding Anniversary on August 8, 2025. In honor of this milestone, we hosted the UPCN-UPNAAI Balik-Turo Program on April 11, 2025, at the UPCN JVSotejo Hall in Manila. Chapter Secretary Lyvia Villegas (BSN'71, GN'68) chaired the task force for this successful event. Other chapter members who participated in this event were Teresita Santos, MSN, BSN'79, RN as Moderator, and Jenneth Doria, DNP, MS, BSN'79, RN as one of the speakers. Notably, our chapter funded Individual Achievement Awards for undergraduate students Elyzza N. Reyes and Jess Dominic Obra.
Click photo above for more details.

Projects

Our ongoing charitable projects include Casa De Luz and IHHELPP.

Casa de Luz (Las Vegas, NV): Providing food pantry services and education advocacy.
IHHELPP (UT): Supporting to improve health, housing, education and livelihood of the poor in the Philippines.

In the past we had funded the following charities:

PGH Support: Funding leadership training for nurse managers, providing journal subscriptions, and donating PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disaster & Community Relief to local and international organizations: Supporting the CA Wildfire Relief Fund; Ruby’s Place, CA for shelter and support services for homeless children and women; Ukraine aid, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Inspiring Leadership

This chapter recognizes an incredible milestone for truly transformational and inspiring leaders:

2022 UPNAAI Excellence Award (UEA) for Humanitarian Service

Jenneth Beloy Doria, DNP, MS, BSN'79, RN
Member

2022 Up ROSE Awardees

Ida R. Santos, BSN, GN'68, RN, LNHA
President, 2015 - 2025
Lyvia Villegas, MA, BSN'71, GN'68, RN, FNP
Secretary, 2015 - current
Lachme Sullesta, BA, GN'68, RN
Treasurer, 2015 - current

2023 JV Sotejo Medallion of Honor Awardee

Jenneth Beloy Doria, DNP, MS, BSN'79, RN
Member

2023 Up ROSE Awardees

Floresinda Sison Castelo, GN'50, RN
Founding President, UPNAAI
Member, RMRPS
Natalia O. Mercado, BSN'69, GN'68, RNC
Vice-President, 2024 - 2025

2024 Up ROSE Awardees

Emma U. Osano, BSN, GN'59, RN
President, UPNAAI, 1985-1986
Member, RMRPS
Teresita Santos, MSN, BSN'79, RN
Vice-President, 2023

We are also proud to highlight significant contributions of our officers. Our Treasurer, Lachme Sullesta (GN'68), 2022 Up ROSE awardee , provides generous scholarships to four UPCN BSN students.
Our Secretary, Lyvia Villegas, BSN'71, GN'68 received the first UPNAAI Distinguished Lifetime Leadership Award in 2024 for her consistent and continuous support of UPNAAI through the years by generously contributing her talent, time, and resources. A volunteer for 34 years, she recently published a book, "Isang Balagtasan, Taglish Haiku, Koleksyon ng mga Tula at Liham," with a dedicated funding for the Balik-Turo program through 2027. As a Donor Advisor, she had solicited major sponsorships for the UPCN BSN students and the Website Re-design Project to be launched at the upcoming UPNAAI Detroit convention on July 31- August 1, 2026. She also received a Special Recognition Award for Leadership and Advocacy from the UP- PGHSNAA during its 114th Anniversary and Homecoming held on February 8, 2026, at the New World Hotel, Makati City.

Click on photo for more details