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Hanoi, Vietnam
Marymount College President, Dr. Michael S. Brophy, met with Marymount alumni, Do Quang Vinh (2004), in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vinh Do's family is well known and much respected in the city of Hanoi and throughout Vietnam. His father, Do Cong Son, one of Vietnam's most successful businessmen, grew up very poor but excelled in manufacturing and eventually became a resort owner. He played an important role in bringing Boeing Aircraft into Hanoi for the first time since the Vietnam War. Sadly, Vinh's father, who was revered by his family and the people of Hanoi, passed away in 2004. Vinh has continued his legacy by becoming the head of the family empire. Vinh and his mother now oversee the many different areas of their company, including investment management, real estate development, construction, plastic manufacturing, luxury resorts, computers and communications. Hanoi has an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million and is the capital and second largest city of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political center of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyễn Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. October 2010 officially marked 1000 years since the establishment of the city.
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March 12, 2011
Shown in above photo is Dr. Brophy, Bishop Anthony Chuong and three sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross from the Hung Hoa diocese, Vietnam. Two sisters from Vietnam, Sr. Ban Thi Phung and Sr. Tuyet Nguyen, are currently guests in the FLS English as a second language program based at Marymount College. They came to Marymount from the Lovers of the Holy Cross community in the Hung Hao diocese, which is north of Hanoi, and are part of our continued partnership with this diocese. Besides sharing their joyful presence with us, they assist Campus Ministry as chapel sacristans and leaders of prayer, especially during Friday Adoration. The Lovers of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic female congregation, founded in 1670 by the first vicar Apostolic in Tong-king and Cochin China Pierre Lambert de la Motte. The community has approximately 4,800 members. It is the first female religious congregation to be distinguished by its East Asian characteristics, both contemplative and apostolic. There are 24 communes of the Lovers of the Holy Cross sisters of Vietnamese origin, one of which is located in the United States.
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March 12, 2011  Discussing potential articulation agreements, Dr. Brophy visited with Vu Thi Kim Oank (left) and Nguyen Dinh Kien (right) of Nguyen Trai University.
 Dr. Brophy attended an information session hosted by the Atlantic International Education and Training Company, Ltd. Dr. Brophy is pictured here with Nguyen Ha Chung of AG.
Students and parents also attended the information session presented by AG. |
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Dalat, Vietnam Dr. Michael Brophy visited the city of Dalat, Vietnam. Dalat is located 4,900 feet above sea level. Its pleasant climate makes it a popular tourist destination. This city has been designated by Vietnam as an education center for the country.
Nguyen Thuc welcomes Dr. Brophy to Dalat.
A photo of the vibrant city life in Dalat. The mini Eiffel Tower in the background is one of many architectural landmarks demonstrating French influence in Dalat.
A billboard posted by the Dalat government.. |
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam On March 10, 2011, Dr. Brophy visited Ho Chi Minh City where the college hosted an information session for students interested in studying at Marymount College. The event was coordinated by EduPath. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam.
Dr. Brophy speaks to a group of students and parents about Marymount College. Students were curious and asked questions about the College.
Banners publicizing Dr. Brophy’s visit were displayed to invite parents and students to the information session. |
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Manila, Philippines  Dr. Brophy met with Brother Armin A. Luistro FSC, who serves as the Philippines' Secretary of Education to discuss possible joint ventures in education with Marymount College.
An accomplished leader in education, Brother Armin Altamirano Luistro FSC, is a Filipino Lasallian Brother and Education Secretary under the cabinet of President Benigno Aquino III. He has also served as the President and Chancellor of De La Salle University and concurrently as president and CEO of De La Salle Philippines.
A visit to Bulacan State University was Dr. Brophy’s first visit to a Filipino university.
Bulacan University was founded in 1904 and became a chartered state university in 1993. With its main campus located in the city of Bulacan, the university offers instruction at four other locations. In total, more than 27,000 students attend college at Bulacan.
 Photographed above from left to right are Dr. Cecilia Geronimo, vice president for External Affairs, Bulacan State University; Hon. Nona S. Ricafort, Commission on Higher Education, Republic of the Philippines; Dr. Brophy; Lia Reyes, member of the Marymount College Board of Trustees.
Senator Manny Villar is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is currently a Philippine Senator and President of the Nacionalista Party. Villar entered politics in 1992 when he was elected Congressman representing the district of Las Piñas-Muntinlupa, and later became Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 2001 he was elected Senator and served as Senate President from 2006 to 2008. Villar was born to a poor family in Tondo, an impoverished and densely-populated district of Manila. After graduating from the University of the Philippines, he worked as an accountant and financial analyst, then launched a highly successful business in real estate. The number of homes built by Villar's companies is over 200,000 units. His business career made him one of the country's wealthiest persons. The Senator’s wife, Cynthia Aguilar Villar, is a Filipino politician who was a member of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Las Piñas City. She was first elected to Congress in 2001 and served three consecutive terms.  Dr. Brophy had the pleasure of visiting with Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education at the EDSA Shrine. They discussed the work of the Catholic Church and Catholic colleges and universities in the Philippines. They are photographed at the EDSA Shrine, the site of the People Power Revolution that was convened by Cardinal Jaime Sin in 1985. The Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA or more popularly, the EDSA Shrine, is a small church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila located at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City. The Shrine, built in 1989 originally to commemorate the memories of the People Power Revolution and its peaceful outcome, stands on the site of two peaceful demonstrations that toppled Philippine presidents Ferdinand Marcos (the People Power Revolution or EDSA I) in 1985 and Joseph Estrada (the EDSA Revolution of 2001 or EDSA II). Dr. Brophy was the guest of Henrietta De Villa, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican. During this important visit, Dr. Brophy was briefed on current affairs in the Filipino Catholic higher education sector and was very impressed with the passion and mission of these Catholic educators.
Photographed above from left to right are Marymount College Board of Trustees' member, Lia Reyes; Henrietta de Villa, former Ambassador to the Vatican and leader of the Mother Butler Guild; Dr. Brophy; Fr. Gregorio L. Banaga, president of Adamson University and president of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; and Rhodora Angela F. Ferrer, executive director of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.
Pictured above from left to right are Dr. Brophy, Jesse Robredo, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Lia Reyes, Marymount College Board of Trustees member; and Jackie Gupilan, The Songer Institute.
Starting a very full day of meetings in Manila, Dr. Brophy met with Philippine Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Jesse Robredo, to discuss possible opportunities for Marymount College in the Philippines. With an impressive life-long career, Mr. Robredo was elected mayor of Naga City in 1988, making him the youngest city mayor of the Philippines at age 29. Mr. Robredo was able to transform the city to being one of the "Most Improved Cities in Asia," as cited by Asiaweek Magazine in 1999.
Fred Uytengsu is the president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation, one of the largest dairy companies in the Philippines. He has led the company from a privately held family enterprise to a publicly listed entity and has successfully grown the business over the past decade. Alaska Milk, under Fred’s leadership, developed a program titled “IronKids” to encourage youth to lead an active life. “Kids are so into technology – TV, internet, gaming consoles – that exercise is sometimes limited to just thumb movements. It is alarming, too, that a lot of children are getting obese," said Mr. Uytengsu. “When we (Alaska Milk) held Ironman, a lot of kids watched their parents participate, so we thought, why not let them get into their own game.”
In addition to his interest with kids and sports, Mr. Uytengsu is an accomplished swimmer and tri-athlete. He's owned the Alaska Aces, a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since 1986, winners of 13 PBA championships, with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest. They are one of the most popular teams in the league and the Philippines. The Aces are known for winning nine PBA championships in the 1990s, including a rare grand slam (winning three championships in one season) during the 1996 season, joining the Crispa Redmanizers (1976, 1983) and the San Miguel Beermen (1989) as one of only three franchises to achieve the feat. Mr. Uytengsu and Dr. Brophy also are colleagues through the International Young President's Organization.
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Hong Kong Jaime is currently enrolled at USC and is earning honors in her study. Jaime was one of several Marymount students who founded the Peace Center at Marymount. Jaime’s father, Arnold Wu, is employed by BNP Paribas of Asia. BNP Paribis is a European leader in global banking and financial services and one of the sixth strongest banks in the world. His wife, Judith Yuen, is a senior manager for the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong. Jamie's sister, Janice, is a high school junior and has expressed interest in attending Marymount College.  Dr. Brophy shared an evening and had dinner at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong with Daniel and Angel Chan, the parents of Marymount student Laverna Chan. Daniel Chan is managing director of Paragon International Limited, which operates luxury goods and jewelry stores in more than 25 cities in China. He also serves as a director of one of Hong Kong's oldest charity organizations, Po Leung Kuk.
The Po Leung Kuk is a charitable organization in Hong Kong organized as a Society for the Protection of Women and Children that provides support for orphaned children, education and other services. |
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Singapore Henry’s son, Aaron, is currently enrolled at Marymount College while his brother Kerwin, an alumni, is working on special projects through the College President's Office. “Aaron and Kerwin are great young men", said Dr. Brophy. “The Tsang family is very happy that their sons have received a Marymount education.”  The Hartono family parents, Thomas Hartono and Jocelyn Tjioe, and Dr. Brophy visited the Sentosa Center in Singapore for dinner and enjoyed a walk through the new massive entertainment complex.
Alumni, Norman Hartono, was enrolled in a Marymount film class taught by Dr. Brophy so they enjoyed comparing notes about recent movies. Another interest of Mr. Hartono’s during his enrollment at Marymount was participation in the activities of the campus Peace Center. He was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an academic honors society. Norman’s mother, Jocelyn Tjioe, is the senior vice president of Tung Lok Group in Singapore. The Tung Lok Group own and manage more than 20 restaurants in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Japan and India and are known for their superior quality food, excellent service and unique interiors. Mr. Hartono is the managing director at Santomo PTE, Ltd. The company imports and exports printing ink, wallpaper, pigment and dye. |
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Mumbai, India Juhu is a suburban neighborhood in western Mumbai. It is famous for its sprawling Juhu Beach which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and Santacruz and Vile Parle on the east. Juhu is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai where many Bollywood stars own real estate. The Bhutas had many kind words to say about the experience their son had while attending Marymount College. “We are so grateful for the education our son, Mikhail, received at Marymount College," said his mother, Mehda Bhuta. "Our heartfelt gratitude to the College for nurturing our son’s education, said Mukesh Bhuta, Mikhail’s father. “Your accreditation as a four-year college is certainly good news and our family commends and congratulates the faculty and staff for their effort and hard work.” The Bhutas generously provided a gift toward the “Parents Project” at Marymount College which will help build state-of-the art science labs on the campus. Mukesh Bhuta is the chairman at Cannon Expanded Polymer Systems, located in Mumbai, India. Medha Bhuta is also employed at Cannon as editor of the company's publication. This Cannon location provides marketing and technical services, spare parts and local assistance to the polyurethane industry. Mr. Bhuta is an industry leader in his field and has served as vice chairman of the Indian Polyurethane Association. |
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Venice, Rosa Alpina, San Cassiano - Italy Dr. Brophy met with Paolo and Daniela Steiner Pizzinini in Italy. The Pizzininis have a daughter, Sophy, who is currently attending Marymount College with an interest for a future career in screenwriting. The Pizzininis are owners of the Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina in the Dolomite mountain range of Italy. Dr. Brophy was the Pizzinini's guest at their breathtaking and historic property. The Italian resort has been in the Pizzinini family for three generations and is a very fashionable resort hosting an international clientele. As described in the resort's website, the Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina is one of quiet glamour, poised service and elegant interiors. To learn more about this world-renown destination visit Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina. To learn more about the winner of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2010, visit the Daniela Steiner Beauty Spa |
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Budapest, Hungary On February 23, 2011, Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPCU) and Marymount College signed an agreement that allows students and faculty from both Catholic institutions to study and learn in Budapest and Los Angeles. This opportunity is Marymount's first international study placement in Eastern Europe. Marymount students will be able to learn first hand about Eastern Europe's evolution from a communist culture and economy to a free market environment and open society. PPCU students can come to Los Angeles and become involved in the dynamic and exciting American culture that thrives on the Pacific Rim. "This agreement represents an extraordinary opportunity for both Marymount and Pázmány Péter, said Dr. Brophy. “We are grateful for this relationship with one of Europe's foremost universities," continued Dr. Brophy. On February 24th, Dr. Brophy gave a presentation to a gathering of prominent Hungarians, PPCU students and faculty at The Legacy of the Reagan Era Conference of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission of Hungary. Dr. Marcel Szabó invited Dr. Brophy to speak to the former American President’s Leadership. "President Reagan presents students with a classic case study of leadership, said Dr. Brophy. “He understood the timing of what was happening in Eastern Europe. He spoke eloquently from a firmly developed personal philosophy... a philosophy that inspired millions of Hungarians and encouraged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to open up the Eastern Bloc. President Reagan saw the fall of communism as a spiritual awakening," said Dr. Brophy. Other presenters included Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén; Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, Ambassador of the United States; Balázs Bokor Ambassador, Consul General; Mária Schmidt, Director of the House of Terror Museum, Professor of Pázmány University; Miklós Kun, Director of the Institute of Criminology; György Nógrádi, Chair, Department of World Economy, Corvinus University; Képes György, Eötvös Lorand University; Máté Botos, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Pázmány University; Károly Pintér, Professor, Pázmány University; Attila Horváth, Professor, Pázmány University; and in closing Szabó Marcel, Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission of Hungary who spoke of Reagan and the Changing Global Order. |
| View President Brophy's 2010 Travels | |
