MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines yesterday conferred the UP Gawad Oblation on 38 alumni and friends for “extraordinary service with or in the name of the university.”
Leading the awardees were Sen. Mark Villar, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and former socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia.
Also awarded were Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman and president of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Ray Espinosa, president and chief executive officer of Meralco and chairman of the board of PhilSTAR Daily Inc.; Ramon Ang, president and CEO of San Miguel Corp.; Robina Gokongwei Pe, CEO of Robinson’s Retail Holdings; Orlando Vea, CEO and founder of Maya Philippines; Januario Jesus Atencio, chairman and CEO of Januarius Holdings Inc. and Francis Laurel, president and CEO of YKK Philippines.
Other awardees include Ambassador Francis Chua, chair emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.; Michael Peiyung, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; Agnes Devanadera, president and CEO of Clark Development Corp.; Picaso Chen, president of Kindness Hotel Chain; Sonia Delen, senior vice president of Bank of America-Global Leasing; Ignacio Gimenez, chairman and president of Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc.; Vincent Henry Go of Top Breed; Rod Libunao, former legal counsel of Chevron Philippines; Ronald Mascariñas, president and general manager of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc.; Venus Navalta, CEO of IPG Media Brand and Agaton Uvero, chairman of Grupo Uvero Inc.
Also receiving the Gawad Oblation were Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general John Patrick Gregorio; NoWhereToGoButUp president Renan Dalisay; UP Alumni Association Baguio-Northern Luzon chapter president Lilia Ronquillo Bautista; UPAA Davao chapter president Napoleon Concepcion; Polly Cortez, former vice chairman of Friends of the UP Foundation in America; Virgilio Bautista, founder and owner of University of Baguio and Timothy Eing Ming Wu, chair-professor of Shu-Te University Kaohsiung.
Completing the list of awardees were Huawei Philippines, Jaime V. Ongping Foundation Inc., Palawan Express, Wilcon Builders, Zuellig Family and the Zuellig Family Foundation.
According to outgoing UP president Danilo Concepcion, the Gawad Oblation medal is bestowed upon individuals who have increased the institutional visibility, international prestige and recognition of UP and helped it undertake its mandate as a national university.
“The award is considered as UP’s highest recognition to its benefactors and supporters who have rendered extraordinary service to our dear alma mater. The recipients of the medal have personified one of the symbols of UP,” he said.
The award is named after UP’s symbol, The Oblation, a sculpture by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino that was inspired by the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios: “Sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.”
The awardees received the UP Gawad Oblation medal, which was designed by artist, production designer and UP College of Fine Arts professor Leo Abaya. It features the Oblation surmounting the central image, which is a close up of the Oblation’s hand.
The UP Gawad Oblation medals were first conferred in 2017, at the end of the term of then UP president and now Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Concepcion’s six-year term will end next month. He will be replaced by lawyer and former regent Angelo Jimenez.