• The University of the Philippines Alumni Association honors 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.
The awards celebrate alumni who have shown honor, 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.
“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,” UPAA president and alumni regent Robert Lester Aranton said.
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 Bersamin (AB Political Science ’68), the sole recipient of the 2025 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is being honored 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. 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 Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to the following: Roberto Alingog (BSBA ’71; MBA ’74), Benjamin Austria (BSGeo ’65), Jhosep Lopez (ABPolSci ’84 cl; LLB ’88), Jesus Crispin Remulla (ABPolSci ’83; LLB ’87) and Rody Sy (BS ’69; MD ’74).
The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are set to be conferred on Maria Gabriela Concepcion, Ma. Lynette Josephine Ortiz, Romulo Gerardo S.A. Ramos, Kennedy Nickolai Sarmiento and Pablito Villegas in community empowerment; Paz Abad Santos and Abel Icatlo in culture and arts; Mary Lou Aurelio, Johanna Patricia Adevoso-Caûal, Alicia Catabay and Elena Pernia in education; Mario Aurelio in environmental conservation (geoscience education); Robert Go, Benjamin So and Jose Tapay Jr. in entrepreneurship; Constancia Somera-Uy in gender equality (women empowerment); Jesse Hermogenes Andres, Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta Rita, Linglingay Fonacier-Lacanlale, Amenah Pangandaman, Ernesto Perez, Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale, Gerardo Sirios and Patrick Lester Ty in good governance; William Honorato Romero and Grace Aguiling-Dalisay in human capital development; Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba in peace and order; Maria Stephanie Fay Cagayan, Cary Calimlim, Francis Daytec Jr., Ma. Rebecca Maraûa-Galvez Tan, Constante Palabrica, Yolanda Robles, Nathaniel Tablante Jr. and Bernard Tansipek in public health promotion; Faustino Icatlo Jr., Danilo Lachica and Paolo Antonio Silva in science and technology.
The UPAA Distinguished Service Award for Alumni Chapters also recognizes three chapters this year: the UP Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association Inc., UPAA in British Columbia and UPAA Wisconsin Chapter.
The UPAA Distinguished Service Award for an Alumnus and Alumna are given to Atty. Jose Alvin C. Gonzaga, Elena Vicenta “Jingjing” Villanueva-Romero and Jesusa R. Wolgamotti.
This year’s UPAA Presidential Awardees are Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe, Rep. Marquez Go, Ambassador Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo and Atty. Rodrigo Libunao.
The UP Alumni Association likewise honors families whose commitment to the university spans multiple generations through the UPAA Multigenerational Alumni Family Award. This year, we proudly recognize the Four Consecutive Generations Awardees: Ofilada, Palarca and Reyes-Lapus-Sandoval families, whose legacy of service and scholarship to the university is a testament to their enduring loyalty and deep-rooted connection to UP.
In addition, special recognition will be given to the De Guia, Espiritu, Fernando, Flor, Pacia, Pilar and Reyes families as Three-Generation Awardees.
The 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 today, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman.
For inquiries, please get in touch with the UPAA Secretariat at (02) 79106390/ 09178372098 and look for Ms. Jenny.