VP Binay leads 39 UP alumni honorees

Over the weekend, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) gathered in the newly renovated UP Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City, for the alumni homecoming to honor 39 distinguished alumni led by Vice President Jejomar Binay who received the Most Distinguished Alumnus award. Binay holds two degrees from UP Diliman, in Political Science (AB’62) and in Law (LLB’67). Lifetime Achievement awards were also handed out to fashion designer Pitoy Moreno (BFA’51), painter Araceli Limcaco Dans (BFA’50), UP Filipiniana dance company founder and professor emeritus Corazon Generoso-Iñigo (BPE'51; MS'90), and bio-chemical scientist Baldomero Olivera (BS'60 summa cum laude; BSChem'61 magna cum laude). Other distinguished alumni awardees included Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo (BSME'74) and “modern ethnic music" artist Grace Nono. UPAA also gave Special Recognition to two young UP graduates, namely, John Gabriel Pelias (BS Math 2011 summa cum laude) and Shamcey Supsup (BS Architecture 2010 magna cum laude who topped the 2010 Architecture Board exams and won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2011 crown). The event was hosted by the UP jubilee classes of 1951, 1961, 1971, and 1986. This was the first time the newly air-conditioned UP Bahay ng Alumni was used after having undergone extensive renovation. Most Distinguished Alumnus award opposed In her Philippine Daily Inquirer column, which she titled “Most Dazzling Award", UP School of Economics professor Solita Monsod questioned not so much the UPAA’s selection of Vice President Binay as the 2011 “Most Distinguished Alumnus" (MDA) but rather critiqued how that particular award came back after having been done away with three years ago. Monsod noted that the MDA award was originally not among the award categories, based on “General Information and Guidelines for the UPAA Alumni Awards 2011" as posted in the UPAA website no earlier than Feb. 15. She recalled that the last recipient was former Chief Justice Reynato Puno in 2008 at the UP Centennial celebrations. The year after that, former UPAA president Alfredo Pascual scrapped the MDA award. When Pascual got appointed as the current UP president, his former post as Alumni Association president was filled in by current UPAA president Gladys Tiongco who, according to Monsod, had “accept[ed] full responsibility for the decision [to support the MDA award for Binay]." Monsod questioned the selection process which had Binay as the sole nominee for the MDA award as well as the return of the said award category. She alluded to members of the law alumni association which, she claimed, had lobbied for Binay as this year’s MDA awardee because the UP College of Law had just celebrated its centennial. 2011 UPAA Outstanding Alumni Awardees Aside from the MDA award given to Binay and the Lifetime Achievement awards given to the four alumni mentioned, several other awards were given to outstanding UP alumni. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS UPAA of Australia-New South Wales Chapter Dr. Raymund L. Liongson, PhD'85 Mr. Conrado C. Ong III, BM'05 mcl DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Dr. Danielito T. Franco, BSAE'68 (agricultural engineering) Ms. Luisita D. Cruz-Valdez, AB'81; MA'89 (broadcast journalism) Dr. Rex B. Demafelis, MS'90 (chemical engineering) Ms. Teresita B. Ang-See, AB'71 (community empowerment) Dr. Robert H. Lo, DVM'83 (community service) Dr. Jose C. Gatchalian, AB'60; MA'75; CGM'75; PhD'90 (industrial peace) Ms. Lourdes C. Santos-Rivera, BSHE'59 (poverty alleviation) Ms. Ma. Isabel S. Echanis-Melgar, AB'75 (public health promotion) Dr. Josefina R. Almonte, BS'67; MD'72; MHProfEd'96 (women empowerment) -for Culture and the Arts Mr. Ricardo V. Zamora, GM'50; BM'52 (music) Dr. Jimmuel C. Naval, AB'86; MA'92; PhD'03 Ms. Grace Nono, AB'86; MA'04 (contemporary ethnic music) Dr. Raul C. Navarro, BM'96 mcl; MM'99; PhD'04 Mr. Jerrold V. Tarog, BM'02 (film) -for Education innovation Prof. Alleli Ester C. Domingo, BSAM'78 cl; MS'83 Dr. Lino L. Dizon, MAT'86; PhD'08 (history and culture) -for Entrepreneurship and Employment creation Dr. Daniel S. Bolong, DVM'37 cl Mr. Roberto P. Alingog, BSBA'71; MBA'74 -for Good governance Dr. Marita V.Tolentino-Reyes, AA'59 (w/ honors); BS'61 cl; MD'64 Vice-Gov. Deogracias Victor B. Savellano, AB'81 -for Global Health Dr. Francisca A. Tolete-Velcek, BS'62; MD'66 (medical education) Dr. Eliseo L. Prisno III, BS'89 cl; MD'97 (maritime health) -for Public Service Usec. Fortunato T. dela Peña, BSChE'69; MS'76 Usec. Teodoro J. Herbosa, BS'79 cl; MD'83 -for Science and Technology Dr. Cristina P. Parel, BSE'35 cl Dr. Arcelia A. Alejar, BSA'58 (hon. curr.); MS'70 Sec. Mario G. Montejo, BSME'74 Dr. Danilo C. Cardenas, BSA'75; PhD'97 Dr. Bonifacio F. Comandante, Jr., BSAE'78 -for Social Cohesion Engr. Ramon P. Ramirez, BSEE'66 Dr. June Caridad C. Pagaduan-Lopez, BS'72; MD'76 — KBK, GMA News