The UP Alumni Association - Iloilo Chapter awarded 2024 jubilarians who are distinguished in their respective professions, embodying the University’s core values of honor, excellence, and service. The awarding ceremony was held during the Faculty and Alumni Homecoming at Diversion 21 Hotel Iloilo City on August 18, 2024. The award was turned over by Chancellor Clement Camposano, Office of Alumni Affairs Director Prof. Elisa Baliao, UPAA-Iloilo Chapter President Consuelo Geduspan, and UPAA Board Member and Awards Chair, Mr. Jose Ian Cababasay.
These year’s awardees were:
Antonio Z. Rojas Jr. (Arts and Letters); Dr. Winston B. Padojinog, DBA; Gladys Amylaine D. Sales, CESO V (Education); Geralyn A. Jover-Ledesma LLC., CPA, Ma. Irma D. Lim, CPA; Lyndon Ferdinand J. Cuadra, CPA; Ramon T. Militar, CPA (Business Administration and Entrepreneurship); Atty. Domingo J. Laurea Jr., Atty. Perpetuo G. Nafarrete III, Atty. Jose Mari Benjamin Francisco U. Tirol (Law and Judiciary); Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II (Governance and Public Service); Prof. Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang, PhD. (Natural Sciences); Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap (Fisheries and Ocean Sciences); and Dr. Theresa Rubi J. Nadala, M.D. (Health and Medical Professions).
These professionals have influenced the development of their respective fields and stirred the growth of the industry and the development of the communities they serve.
Dr. Winston B. Padojinog, in his message on behalf of the awardees, emphasized the dedication of these professional awardees and their commitment to service, which is truly a testament to the UP core values: “Tonight we raise our glasses to honor the exceptional talents, dedication, and perseverance cultivated within the halls of UP Visayas and even outside of it, in places such as Melly’s and Wewins. As awardees, we recognize the outstanding accomplishments that have set us apart in our respective fields and contributed positively to society,” he cited. Melly’s and iconic businesses in the vicinity of UP Visayas have been a familial refuge for students for food, school supplies, and social interaction.
He also told the alumni who were present that it is very crucial “to remember an often-overlooked truth: the significance of the people who surround us and the quiet greatness in the country. Tonight, let us also celebrate the friends who offered words of encouragement, the faculty members who pushed us to excel (even with giving us incompletes, 4.0s, or 5.0s), the house help or dorm staff who washed our clothes and cleaned our rooms, the security guards who ensured our safety, and the traffic enforcers who helped us avoid delays.” Taking note of the mundane but essential factors that composed their lives on campus, of failures that are essential to growth.
“Let us not forget that no accomplishment is solely the fruit of personal effort. Each is a tapestry woven by many hands—some visible and some unseen; others known but many more unnoticed; some remembered and perhaps many more unheralded. Every success is supported by numerous individuals who have played an essential role in our journey, often without recognition. As we honor the achievements of the honorees and all the alumni here tonight, let us also appreciate the many others who have shaped our lives and contributed to our growth. Their contributions, though often unseen and unappreciated, are invaluable. Let this awareness inspire us to embody gratitude, humility, and responsibility,” he emphasized.
He underscored the doing of ordinary acts extraordinarily well and finding occasions to serve others with respect and dignity, which should be part of the daily circumstances of the lives of the alumni. This, he said, can transform the world. Padojinog obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in Economics and Management from UPV as a student leader and scholar. He is the current president of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).
