First, let me extend my congratulations to the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Cebu Chapter (UPAAC), led by its president, Marylou “Lotlot” Labrador-Neri, for successfully organizing this year’s Grand Alumni Homecoming at the newly-opened UP Cebu gym. Congratulations also to the UP Cebu administration, led by Chancellor Leo Malagar, for supporting the event and providing the venue.
The Grand Alumni Homecoming was well-attended despite the unusually humid December evening last week, December 6, 2024. From here, let me borrow the words of UPAAC trustee, retired PR specialist, and UP Cebu communication senior lecturer Jeruel Roa, who said: “Much appreciation is due the UP Alumni Association Cebu Chapter and the UP Cebu administration for pulling the event of this magnitude together. Much can be attributed to the characteristics of the leaders of both organizations. An association president who has an acumen for seeing an opportunity if there is one and for standing her ground when there is none.
“A university chancellor whose vision melts bureaucratic walls and cannot-be-dones. An alumni board of busybodies on top of their daily living while quietly (in rare times noisily) but significantly getting things done for the organization. School execs and staff, appointees and volunteers alike, who exercise excellence and service in the classroom and the office while demonstrating commitment to the projects at hand. Committee colleagues who live the adage of “paying it forward”, even if they had already paid their dues ages ago. It never gets old. Things get done by people who care. They are an inspiration to work with.”
Indeed, what Sir Jerry, also the committee head for the Tatak UP Awards, described embodies “Tatak UP” --the enduring spirit of service and volunteerism for meaningful causes that lives on even after years away from the university. This year's theme, 'Paghandom ug Pasidungog', fittingly captures the essence of remembering and honoring those who exemplify the values of honor, excellence, and service.
Thus, it was only fitting that a highlight of the event was the recognition of the Tatak UP Awardees. The Tatak UP Awards is a recognition program by the UPAAC that celebrates the achievements of UP alumni who have exemplified the university's core values of honor, excellence, and service in their respective fields. These awards highlight individuals whose work has significantly contributed to the betterment of society, particularly in Cebu and beyond. This year’s awardees are the following:
Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias (Media and Communication) led UP Cebu's pioneering Mass Communication program from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, shaping the foundation for media education in the region.
Lucio Roger E. Lim, Jr. (Business and Entrepreneurship) is the founder, president, and CEO of Lite Shipping. He introduced missionary shipping routes between Cebu and Bohol (Loon and Argao), creating new nautical highways that significantly boosted the economies of far-flung and previously-inaccessible areas.
Atty. Rester John L. Nonato (Public Service) is a reservist with the rank of major in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. He leads his team in providing legal aid, medical and dental services, feeding programs, book donations, coastal clean-ups, and coral surveys. During the pandemic, he spearheaded his reservist team in designing, developing, and producing nearly 10,000 face shields, securing 61,000 facemasks, 350 PPEs with self-contained filtration masks, and ultraviolet decontamination units, which were distributed to frontliners in various hospitals and LGUs.
Atty. Jose Aaron Pedrosa Jr. (Social Change and Advocacy) is a public-interest lawyer who litigates cases to protect the environment, defends victims of development aggression and state repression, and stands in solidarity with communities in resisting global policies that harm the planet.
Roberto G. del Rosario (Arts, Design, and Culture) is a Bulakenyo who came to Cebu in 1993 as a fresh graduate of the UP College of Music. He joined the Cebu Symphony Orchestra Development Program of the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation, Inc. as a faculty member and musical arranger. Since then, he has devoted his life to mentoring students and teachers in music while also promoting and preserving Cebuano music and heritage.
Alden F. Salazar spent over three decades in the United States building a career in Information Technology and Real Estate before returning to the Philippines in 2017 to become president of the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology, founded by his father, Engr. Doroteo Salazar. Under his leadership, he introduced a style focused on building industry partnerships, empowering communities, fostering scholarships, and inspiring others. (To be continued).