I met Dr. Nina Cabral around September or October 2006, when the entire Thomasian family was becoming increasingly engrossed with the UAAP Season 69 performance of the Growling Tigers. At the time, she was still the Director of the now-restructured Public Affairs and Alumni Office.

            She had a very loud voice, which complemented well with Dr. Evelyn Songco’s (former Office for Student Affairs head) equally magnified tone. After the victory of the Growling Tigers, the semestral break kicked in and Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Arceo, O.P. was installed as the head of UST. Along with his installation came appointments and re-appointments. The Office for Student Affairs, after 16 fruitful years of leadership under Dr. Songco, was now taking a different turn—with Cristina Cabral as its new chief.

            In November 2006, Ma’am Cabral assumed her new post as the Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs (ARSA) of UST, and one of her first activities was a courtesy call with the Central Student Council’s Executive and Central Board on November 8, 2006. Man, was she formal!

            Dr. Cabral spoke with unmatched vigor and influenced with unparalleled passion. Her battle cry was made known that very afternoon: “Remember us fondly.” With this new principle as the guiding force of OSA, everybody making up the student body’s governing institution took the burden of doing just that—reaching out to the Thomasian studentry.

            To me—and perhaps to most of the students—Dr. Cabral will resonate as one of the most vibrant and enthusiastic personalities ever to walk the face of this planet. A proud representative of UST in various events, a certified “Growling Tiger” in every respect, she can embody what a Thomasian should be about—competent, compassionate and committed.

            Leadership through relationship is Ma’am Nina’s biggest influence to me. She taught me the value of forging meaningful, good-willed ties with people not only to better our service to them, but also to spread camaraderie and reap the benefits of it as well.

            Cristina M. Castro-Cabral is a professor of Business Economics at the College of Commerce, where she is an alumna. She earned both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from the UST Graduate School.

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