Jeremias M. Baluyot, Jr. ’06 (right) won the gold medal for the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Medio (Middle Weight) Blue Belt Division at the Philippine International Jiu Jitsu Open last February 19, 2011. The competition was presented by the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation of the Philippines (BJJFP) and recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation. Over 200 competitors from Guam, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Japan came to the Philippines for this event. Congratulations brod!
About the writer: Ricky Rionda ’83 is a free lance writer based in Washington D.C. He was a corresponding reporter for the Philippine Daily Mirror and has written for Fil-Am publications in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
On a cool Saturday evening in Washington, the ambassador sat at a dinner table in a noisy Persian restaurant in Tysons Corner fidgeting with his camera, a holiday gift from one of his sons. He had taken the bus from New York City to see the cherry blossoms already in full bloom at the tidal basin, perhaps for the last time before he returns home to Manila. He was with his wife, the amiable Mrs. Linda Gaa who I fondly call TL or Tita Linda, and son, Wendell, who now works for the Philippine Consulate in New York. The ambassador was his usual self, quiet and unassuming, sipping hot water which he poured from a teapot as he waited for his order of jujeh, a dish of grilled Cornish chicken served with a heaping of basmati rice, a favorite from his days in the Middle East when he was ambassador to Libya.
Cavite City RTC Judge Melchor Quirino C. Sadang ’72 took his oath Tuesday before Chief Justice Renato Corona as one of three newly-appointed Court of Appeals justices. Congratulations Brod!
Did you know that Angelico “Chito” T. Salud ’84 is the eighth and current commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)? He officially took over the PBA on August 26, 2010. (Photo courtesy of PBA / Nuki Sabio)
After posting wins in U.P. Diliman, the Upsilon repeated its zero loss record in U.P. Manila. The brods all won their respective races in the U.P. Manila University Student Council and local college council elections held today March 4, 2011.
In the University Student Council, Johanne Joseph O. del Rosario ’06 of ASAP-Katipunan was elected USC Councilor. While Tristan Jegar P. Catindig ’06 and Joshua C. Young ’09 of BIGKIS were elected College Representatives of the College of Medicine and College of Public Health respectively. Both Catindig and Young are former USC Councilors.
In the College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), Patrick Evandel O. Manlapaz ’09 was elected Chairperson. He is the third Upsilonian to serve as CAMP-SC Chairperson after Kevin A. Arao ’07 (2009-2010) & Kim Patrick A. Tort ’09 (2010). Richard R. Tiu ’10 was elected CAMP-SC Public Relations Officer. Congratulations brods!
The Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, Inc. (USPAA) held elections for its Board of Directors for 2011-2013 yesterday at Congress XIII. The fifteen fellows elected as directors of the board are:
Simon A. Cuyson ’57
Hospicio S. Timbol ’59
Reynaldo C. Laserna ’62
Benedicto L. Tabin ’64
Fernando B. Malveda ’69
Edgar M. Sandalo ’73
Joselito Z. Tapay ’75
Rodolfo O. Reyes ’78
Enrico R. Merioles ’79
Carlos P. Gatmaitan ’83
Jonathan James C. Duque ’91
Noel B. Damot ’93
Rhichie Gerard T. Brown ’96
Melvin John M. Tan ’97
Ivan Anthony S. Henares ’98
The newly-elected directors took their oaths of office before outgoing USPAA chairperson Eliseo M. Ilano ’57 immediately after they were proclaimed by COMELEC Chairperson Atty. Ramon Quintin C. Allado ’00.
Laserna and Malveda were elected by the directors to serve as chairman and president respectively. Congratulations brods! (Photos courtesy of Edilberto “Bong” Uichangco, Jr. ’81)
The Commission on UNO Awards & Recognition formally announced the UNO (Upsilonian Outstanding & Noble) awardees for 2011. The UNO Award is the highest form of recognition conferred on Upsilonians based on the Fraternity’s Five Imperatives namely Brotherhood, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership and Service. The process of selection of the UNO awardees is focused on establishing a continuous body of lifetime work and accomplishments marked with excellence, consistent high quality, concern for the greater good, and integrity and conduct beyond reproach.
After serious deliberations, the panel of judges were unanimous in approving and endorsing the conferment of the UNO award to Justice Romeo M. Escareal ’48, lawyer and Sandiganbayan Justice; Dr. Jose D. Drilon, Jr. ’51 (posthumous), U.P. Regent, multi-awarded public servant and the Father of Agribusiness in the Philippines; Romeo M. Liamzon ’53 (posthumous), lawyer, banker & president of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines; Engr. Claudio B. Altura ’54, technocrat, valedictorian and board topnotcher; Ponciano E. Rivera, Jr. ’61, businessman, U.P. Regent & UP Alumni Association President; Carlos A. Pedrosa ’62, investment banker, consultant and enterpreneur; and Health Undersecretary Teodoro J. Herbosa ’78, physician, author and public servant.
The seven UNO awardees for 2011 join the illustrious company of thirty-two other awardees who include Finance Secretary Pio P. Pedrosa ’22, Father of Philippine Television and Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) founder Antonio Quirino ’26, student leader and World War II hero Camarines Norte Governor Wenceslao Q. Vinzons 30, U.P. President Salvador P. Lopez ’31, Vice President & Senate President Arturo M. Tolentino ’31, House Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr. ’32, Dean Armando J. Malay ’34, Senator Gerardo M. Roxas ’46, U.P. President Onofre D. Corpuz 47, Vice President Salvador H. Laurel ’47 and Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. ’50.
The brods all won their respective races in the U.P. Diliman University Student Council and local college council elections held last February 17, 2011.
Juan Carlo P. Tejano ’09 of Buklod CSSP won by a landslide in the race for Chairperson of the College of Social Sciences & Philosophy Student Council. He received 741 out of 1154 votes cast. He is the third Upsilonian to serve as CSSP-SC Chairperson after Christopher Ryan T. Tan ’00 (2000-2001) & Herminio C. Bagro III ’02 (2004-2005).
Noel L. Bernardo ’11 of MATTER won handily as Chairperson of the College of Science Student Council, with 807 of 1069 votes cast. He takes over from Sean Vincent L. Aquilino 09, incumbent CSSC Chairperson.
Christian Rayson P. Ildesa ’09 of KAISA got the top slot for College of Engineering Representative to the University Student Council. While incumbent USC Councilor Raphael Dominic U. Ibaviosa ’09 of ARISE won as Councilor of the Engineering Student Council. In the College of Arts & Letters, Rafael Natal P. Roque ’09 of Stand-UP won as No. 1 Councilor of the CAL Student Council. Congratulations brods!
Mapagpala at mapagpalayang umaga sa inyong lahat. Binabati ko ang mga miyembro ng Lupon ng Rehente, si Pangulong Emerlinda Roman, mga dating rehente, mga dating Pangulo ng pinakamamahal nating unibersidad, mga dati at kasalukuyang opisyal ng UP, kaguruan, kawani, estudyante, ang aking mga kaibigan, kamag-anak at miyembro ng pamilya.
Ladies and gentlemen.
First and foremost, let me thank all those who have given me their trust and confidence. Thank you for this opportunity to serve our beloved Alma Mater. It will be an honor for me to build upon the legacy of UPs past leaders.
My predecessors have done much in setting the stage for the second century of UPs existence. We take note, in particular, the contributions of my immediate predecessor, the first and, so far, only woman to be at the helm of our University. President Roman pushed the envelope for research in science and technology. The other accomplishments were described in her valedictory speech and these we do recognize.
Under my administration, our plans and programs will be guided by the vision statement that accompanied my acceptance of nomination for the UP presidency. That vision will mark our path for the next six years.
