Fernando Zobel appointed to National Museum board

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed businessman Fernando Zobel de Ayala to the board of the National Museum, representing the private sector.

Zobel de Ayala, whose family has been supporting the enrichment and promotion of Philippine art and culture, is currently the chief operating officer and president of Ayala Corp.

He replaces former National Museum director Corazon Alvina on the board and his term will end on March 24, 2014.

Also appointed to the board were architect Augusto Villalon, cultural advocate Maria Isabel Ongpin and author Felice Sta Maria. Villalon’s term will run until March 24, 2013 while Ongpin and Sta. Maria will serve until March 24, 2014.

The National Museum is dedicated to “the mission of collecting, preserving, studying, interpreting and exhibiting the cultural and natural history specimens of the Philippines, from the historic times to the present, albeit the diversity of their cultural origins.”

Aquino also appointed Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo as director of the Department of Tourism, Teodoro Gatchalian as acting director of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Bernardine Siy as Development Bank of the Philippines board member. Siy will replace businessman Antonio Jose Periquet and will serve the unexpired term until June 30, 2012.

The President likewise appointed to the Land Registration Authority under the Department of Justice lawyers Joerich Cuevas and Merlita Elepanio as Register of Deeds I for Iligan and Lanao del Norte, and San Carlos City, Pangasinan, respectively.

Other presidential appointees to the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council under the Department of Agriculture include Ely Ramos and Jose Jimmy San Jose, representing the fisherfolk and fishworkers sector in Luzon; Efren Mellida and Jerry Elegio Monday as sector members in Mindanao.

Others were members of the Commercial Fishing, Aquaculture Operators and Processing Sector, namely Regino Cabana for large-scale commercial fishing, Roberto Baylosis for medium-scale commercial fishing, Dominic Salazar for the small-scale commercial fishing, J. Lorenzo Vergara for the Aquaculture; Edgar Lim for the Fishery Products Processing; Carlos Baylon and Noel Armada representing academe; and Dinna Umengan, representing non-government organizations (NGOs).

Meanwhile, Aquino also promoted Cecil Chen, Lino Dabi, Rodolfo Isorena and Luis Tuason Jr. of the Philippine Coast Guard, under the Department of Transportation and Communications, to the rank of rear admiral.