A funeral mass was held at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Chapel last June 2 to commemorate the late Alfredo M. Velayo, an alumnus of the University who is held to be “a pioneer in the Filipinization of accountancy.”

     The mass was originally scheduled to be the Petition Mass and Faith-Driven Program for the Thomasian CPA board takers.

     In the homily of AMV-CoA’s regent, Fr. Isaias Tiongco recalled Velayo’s wit and his bright and warm personality. He closed his homily with a short prayer for Velayo.

     Towards the end of the Eucharistic celebration, a montage of Velayo’s pictures and a video of him singing “Dahil Sayo” were played.  Afterwards, eulogies were delivered by AMV-CoA Dean Assoc. Prof.  Patricia Empleo, Accountancy Student Council 2011-2012 President Justin Hebreo, and AMV Foundation Scholar Hazel Co.

     Assoc. Prof. Empleo recalled how the faculty members of the Accountancy program, then under the College of Commerce and Business Administration, were initially apprehensive in naming the separate College of Accountancy after a private individual such as Velayo, who is co-founder of SGV & Co., with fears that other companies may be discouraged in forging a partnership with the college.

     She was quick to add that “the name Alfredo M. Velayo was a magnet that attracted other accounting firms to establish and maintain a relationship with the college,” and then later on thanked Velayo for making AMV-CoA “an extension of [his] family.”

     Velayo’s eldest and only daughter, Kathy Yulo, was thankful to the Thomasian community for honoring his late father and received a Certificate of Appreciation on his behalf.

     “He loved UST because he believed that this is where he got his formation,” she said.

By Xavier Allen Gregorio

Photo by Kenneth Adrian S. Castillo