UPAA Alumni Awards Celebrate 64 Exceptional Graduates
The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) will recognize 64 remarkable individuals, families, and groups at the upcoming UPAA Alumni Awards. This prestigious event celebrates the accomplishments of graduates who embody honor, excellence, and service.
These honorees continue to inspire through their leadership and meaningful contributions to society, both locally and internationally. As UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton emphasized, “Beyond professional excellence, we looked for the strength of their leadership, the depth of their service, and the magnitude of their impact. These awardees reflect the very best of what it means to be an Iskolar ng Bayan.”
Outstanding Alumni Recognized for Impact and Leadership
This year’s awards include 47 individuals, three distinguished alumni chapters, four Presidential Award recipients, and 10 families honored with the Multigenerational Alumni Family Award. The event highlights the broad influence of the UP community across many fields.
Leading the roster is Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin (AB Political Science ’68), who receives the 2025 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award. His career spans notable public service roles, including serving as the 25th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Known as the “Little President,” his current role as Executive Secretary carries significant national responsibility. His dedication to good governance and the rule of law sets a national example of integrity and leadership.
Lifetime Achievement and Distinguished Alumni Awards
The UPAA 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards honor Roberto P. Alingog (BSBA’71; MBA’74), Benjamin S. Austria (BSGeo’65), Jhosep Y. Lopez (ABPolSci’84 cl; LLB’88), Jesus Crispin C. Remulla (ABPolSci’83; LLB’87), and Rody G. Sy (BS’69; MD’74).
Distinguished Alumni Awards are given to leaders in diverse sectors such as community empowerment, culture and arts, education, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, gender equality, good governance, human capital development, peace and order, public health promotion, and science and technology. For example, Maria Gabriela R. Concepcion and others were recognized for community empowerment, while Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres and colleagues were honored for good governance.
Alumni Chapters and Multigenerational Family Honors
The UPAA also acknowledges three alumni chapters for their service: the UP Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association, the UPAA British Columbia, and the UPAA Wisconsin Chapter. Individual awards for distinguished service went to Atty. Jose Alvin C. Gonzaga, Ms. Elena Vicenta “Jingjing” Villanueva-Romero, and Ms. Jesusa R. Wolgamotti.
Presidential Awards this year were presented to Solicitor General Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, Representative Marquez O. Go, Ambassador Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo, and Atty. Rodrigo B. Libunao.
The Multigenerational Alumni Family Award honors families with a lasting UP legacy. This year’s Four Consecutive Generations Awardees include the Ofilada, Palarca, and Reyes-Lapus-Sandoval families, recognized for their sustained service and scholarship. The De Guia, Espiritu, Fernando, Flor, Pacia, Pilar, and Reyes families also received special recognition as Three-Generation Awardees.
UPAA Awards Ceremony and Contact Information
These awardees exemplify the spirit of the Iskolar ng Bayan through their professional success, impactful leadership, and community service. Their varied achievements highlight UP alumni’s vital role in public service, science, education, arts, health, and community development.
The 2025 UPAA Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. For inquiries, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at (02) 79106390 or 09178372098 and ask for Ms. Jenny, local sources said.
For more news and updates on UPAA Alumni Awards, visit Filipinokami.com.
