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10440 Marklein Avenue
Mission Hills, California 91345
Phone (646) 251-6744
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University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc.

Chapters

UPNAA-Texas

UPNAA-Texas

UPNAAI Chapter in the Lone Star State of Texas, USA

About UPNAA-TX

  • About UPNAA-TX

    The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association of Texas (UPNAA-TX) brings together graduates from the Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing (PGHSN) and the University of the Philippines College of Nursing (UPCN) residing across Texas. We are a progressive community of healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing the nursing profession and supporting our alma mater.

Our History & Milestones

  • Founding (2014): Established under Founding President Susan Vicencio-Garaygay (PGH SN Class of 1968), UPNAA-TX stands as the third official chapter of the UPNAAI.
  • Non-Profit Status (2019): To formalize our philanthropic reach, we successfully transitioned into an official 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
  • Rapid Growth: Since our inception, we have steadily increased our membership and expanded our network of dedicated professionals throughout the state.
     

Our Founding Leadership

  • UPNAA-TX's Founding Leadership

    We honor the inaugural Executive Board and Directors who established our chapter's legacy:

    * Susan Vicencio-Garaygay | Founding President (PGH SN Class of 1968)
    * Nikki Stiffen | Founding Treasurer (PGH SN Class of 1975)
    * Deborah-Anne Yambao-Butuyan | Founding Auditor (UPCN Class of 1989)
    * Dolora Sanares-Carreon | Director (PGH SN Class of 1975)
    * Virginia Bona| Director (PGH SN Class of 1976)
    * Maria Bernarte Mila | Director (UPCN Class of 1989)

Pioneering Initiatives

Driven by our core pillars of Education, Research, and Service, UPNAA-TX has led several groundbreaking programs:

  • The Balik-Turo Program (2023): Launched to commemorate our 10th anniversary, this educational exchange program brought critical skills back to UPCN students. We celebrated this milestone by donating high-quality Littmann stethoscopes directly to the students. The profound success of this event led UPNAAI to adopt and continue the program from 2024 through the present.
  • Educational Webinars: Pioneered during the COVID-19 pandemic, these virtual educational sessions provided critical healthcare insights and professional development during a global crisis.
  • Alumni Scholarships: We established the very first educational scholarship and assistance fund specifically targeted to support deserving UPCN students in the Philippines.
     

Looking to the Future

As a progressive and forward-thinking chapter, UPNAA-TX continuously expands its impact. Moving forward, our roadmap includes:

  • Launching local educational assistance and scholarships for nursing students studying right here in Texas.
  • Expanding our current charitable causes, both locally and internationally.
  • Upholding the strict standards of the University of the Philippines, ensuring every project embodies the lifelong alumni virtues of Honor, Excellence, and Service.
     

Officers

  • President

    Agnes Estraza, MSN, BSN '80, RN

  • Vice President and Treasurer

    Rosanna Marie De Las Alas, M. Ed ‘90, BSN ‘87, RN

  • Secretary

    Amor Umale Ballestero, MAN ‘93, BSN

  • Auditor and P.R.O.

    Marietoni Guzman Esquito, BSN ‘97

Board of Directors

  • Dolora Sanares-Carreon, DNP, MPA, BSN, GN ‘75
  • Maria Alba Fiecas, BSN ‘75, GN
  • Teresita Flaviano-Pulanco, BSN, GN ‘69

Advisers

  • Eula Duruin Altamirano, BSN, GN ‘68
  • Deborah-Anne Yambao Butuyan, BSN ‘89, RN
  • Arlene Reyes Finch, BSN ‘79

March 2026

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Honoring Our Journey: 10 Years of Milestone Achievements

A decade of dedication has shaped our Chapter into a powerful force for good. In celebration of our 10th Founding Anniversary, we are highlighting the key achievements, historical firsts, and noble causes that our members and donors have championed since 2014.

  • Achieved Non-Profit Status (2019): Became the third UPNAAI chapter to officially incorporate as a registered non-profit organization.
  • Pioneered Pandemic Education (2020–2022): Led the organization as the first chapter to launch educational webinars during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
  • Funded Life-Saving Equipment (2022): Hosted our inaugural Fundraising Gala to purchase an adult ventilator for the Batangas Medical Center in the Philippines. This vital equipment was developed by Dr. Enrique Ostrea through his non-profit research foundation, Breath of Life, Inc.
  • Launched "Balik Turo" (2023): Pioneered the chapter's first-ever Balik Turo (Return to Teach) educational lecture series.
  • Established Student Scholarships (2023): Marked our first financial donation to support UP College of Nursing (UPCN) students under our newly formed Scholarship Program.
  • Equipped Future Nurses (2023): Distributed premium Littmann stethoscopes to UPCN nursing students during the inaugural Balik Turo event.
  • Revived Critical Blood Drives (2025): Partnered with the UPCN Male Nursing Organization (UP-MNO) and the Philippine General Hospital Blood Bank to fund and reactivate their community blood donation campaigns.
  • Sponsored Academic Milestones (2025/2026): Served as the first chapter to provide financial sponsorship for the Recognition Rites of the graduating class of 2025.

 

With Heartfelt Gratitude

As we look back on a decade of impactful service, we extend our deepest thanks to our dedicated community. Your shared passion and continuous support have fueled our mission to uplift the nursing profession and serve those in need. Thank you for being a vital part of our legacy and our future.

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Member Spotlight

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Dolora Sanares-Carreon, DNP, MPA’82, GN’75, NE-BC (2010-2020)
2026 JVSotejo Medallion of Honor Awardee

Dr. Dolora “Dolly” Sanares-Carreon is a visionary leader. Since conceiving her breakthrough model in 1996, her pioneering leadership in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) has redefined the role of nurses as empowered leaders in care, reshaping patient care delivery and advancing the frontiers of professional nursing practice.

Significant Innovative Contribution: Hardwiring EBP.  Dolly trailblazed the mainstreaming of a culture of clinical inquiry through her novel practice model, Disciplined Clinical Inquiry (DCI), at a premier multi-campus academic medical center in Texas. Pivoting from traditional to evidence-driven care, she created an avant-garde online hub, a high-impact EBP network, and a seamless integration of EBP into nursing systems. These initiatives mobilized bedside nurses as vigilant translators and users of best evidence, establishing EBP as the organizational benchmark for safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.

Unique Selfless Service: A Legacy to Country and Humanity.  Dolly’s service is defined by its novelty, timeliness, and viability. Her formative eight-year tenure with the University of the Philippines’ Office of the Vice President for Planning and Finance, followed by her two-year engagement in the national initiative that launched the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), forged the strategic foundation for her innovation leadership. This spirit of service transitioned to the United States, where she devoted two decades to disrupting clinical cultures. By orchestrating a paradigm shift—systematically infusing best evidence into the heart of nursing practice—her work has been a selfless investment in empowering others to become productive champions of health and wellness.

Unique Selfless Service: A Legacy to Country and Humanity.  Dolly’s service is defined by its novelty, timeliness, and viability. Her formative eight-year tenure with the University of the Philippines’ Office of the Vice President for Planning and Finance, followed by her two-year engagement in the national initiative that launched the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), forged the strategic foundation for her innovation leadership. This spirit of service transitioned to the United States, where she devoted two decades to disrupting clinical cultures. By orchestrating a paradigm shift—systematically infusing best evidence into the heart of nursing practice—her work has been a selfless investment in empowering others to become productive champions of health and wellness.

A Hallmark of Excellence.  Dolly’s leadership stands as a testament that a resolute alumni possess infinite capability to envision possibilities, disrupt the status quo, and engender prestige for their profession and country. She credits her alma mater for instilling in her the spirit of service, the agility to adapt, and a drive for excellence—values that guide her journey and continue to inspire a new generation of change-makers in the healthcare marketplace.

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI)
10440 Marklein Avenue
Mission Hills, California 91345
Phone (646) 251-6744
Contact
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