UPAA to recognize 64 outstanding alumni at its 2025 awards ceremony

By Bella Balisi-Bevilacqua

By UPAA – University of the Philippines Alumni Association (with minor structure edits through Bella Balisi-Bevilacqua, UPAABC President for Term 2023-2024)

University of the Philippines, Diliman, August 09, 2025 – The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) will honour 64 exceptional individuals, groups, and families at this year’s UPAA Alumni Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions given to graduates of the University.

These awards celebrate alumni who have shown honour, excellence, and service, and who continue to make a positive impact through their leadership, contributions to society, and achievements in their fields—both in the Philippines and abroad.

As UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton remarked, “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.”

This year’s roster of honorees includes 47 individual awardees, three outstanding UP alumni chapters, four recipients of the Presidential Award, and 10 awardees of the Multigenerational Alumni Family Award.

Leading this year’s roster of Outstanding Alumni Awardees is Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin (AB Political Science  ’68), the sole recipient of the 2025 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is being honoured for his exemplary contributions to good governance and dedicated public service, most notably as the 25th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and in his current role as Executive Secretary—a position often referred to as the “Little President,” reflecting the breadth and gravity of its national responsibility. His enduring commitment to the rule of law and the public good continues to serve as a beacon of integrity and statesmanship for the nation.

“The UPAA Distinguished Service Award for Alumni Chapters recognizes three chapters this year: the UP Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association, Inc., UPAA in British Columbia and UPAA Wisconsin Chapter. Meanwhile, The UPAA Distinguished Service Award for an Alumnus and Alumna are given to Atty. Jose Alvin C. Gonzaga, Ms. Elena Vicenta “Jingjing” Villanueva-Romero and Ms. Jesusa R. Wolgamotti.”

The UPAA Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to 5 individuals in 2025: 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), Rody G. Sy (BS’69; MD’74).

The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are conferred to Maria Gabriela R. Concepcion, Ma. Lynette Josephine V. Ortiz, Romulo Gerardo S.A. Ramos, Kennedy Nickolai B. Sarmiento and Pablito M. Villegas in Community Empowerment; Paz S. Abad Santos and Abel C. Icatlo in Culture and Arts; Mary Lou F. Aurelio, Johanna Patricia Adevoso-Canal, Alicia P. Catabay and Elena E. Pernia in Education; Mario A. Aurelio in Environmental Conservation (Geoscience Education); Robert L. Go, Benjamin Y. So, and Jose E. Tapay, Jr. in Entrepreneurship; Constancia Somera-Uy in Gender Equality (Women Empowerment); Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta Rita, Linglingay Fonacier-Lacanlale, Amenah F. Pangandaman, Ernesto V. Perez, Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale, Gerardo P. Sirios and Patrick Lester N. Ty in Good Governance; William Honorato E. Romero and Grace Aguiling-Dalisay in Human Capital Development; Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba in Peace and Order; Maria Stephanie Fay S. Cagayan, Cary L. Calimlim, Francis B. Daytec, Jr., Ma. Rebecca Maraña-Galvez Tan, Constante I. Palabrica, Yolanda R. Robles, Nathaniel L. Tablante, Jr. and Bernard U. Tansipek in Public Health Promotion; Faustino C. Icatlo, Jr., Danilo C. Lachica and Paolo Antonio S. Silva in Science and Technology.

This year’s UPAA Presidential Awardees are Solicitor General Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, Congressman Marquez O. Go, Ambassador Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo and Atty. Rodrigo B. Libunao.

The UP Alumni Association likewise honours families whose commitment to the University spans multiple generations through the UPAA Multigenerational Alumni Family Award. This year, we proudly recognize the De Guia, Espiritu, Fernando, Flor, Pacia, Pilar, and Reyes families as Three-Generation Awardees.

In addition, we extend special recognition to the Ofilada, Palarca, and Reyes-Lapus-Sandoval families, whose legacy of service and scholarship to the University now extends across four consecutive generations—a testament to their enduring loyalty and deep-rooted connection to the University of the Philippines.

These awardees have distinguished themselves through professional achievements, meaningful service, and impactful leadership. They represent the diverse and far-reaching influence of UP alumni in areas such as public service, science, education, the arts, health, and community development—proving once again the power of the Iskolar ng Bayan spirit.

The 2025 UPAA Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 4:00 PM at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman.

For inquiries, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at (02) 79106390/ 09178372098 and look for Ms. Jenny.