Seven UP Diliman (UPD) faculty members were honored with the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) Distinguished Alumni Awards 2022 on Nov. 11, Friday, 6 p.m. at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni.
The awardees were Josefino “Chino” J. Toledo, PhD (bachelor of music, 1979); Carlo A. Arcilla, PhD (BS geology, 1981); Arthur Luis P. Florentin (BS statistics, 1977; diploma in industrial relations, 1987; master in industrial relations, 1988); Abdulmari “Toym” D.L. Imao Jr. (BS architecture, 1993); Gerard Rey A. Lico, PhD (BS architecture, 1997; MA art history 2000; PhD Philippine studies, 2006); Lorelei Regilme-Vinluan, PhD (BA 1992; master in education, 1996); and Flora Elena Rivera-Mirano, PhD (BA English, 1971; MA comparative literature, 1976; PhD Philippine studies, 1991).
Toledo, a professor at the Department of Composition and Theory of the UPD College of Music, was recognized as one of six recipients of the UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award.
Meanwhile, Arcilla, Florentin, Imao, Lico, Regilme-Vinluan, and Rivera-Mirano each received the UPAA Distinguished Awards in their respective categories.
Arcilla, a professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the UPD College of Science, was honored for the science and technology (geology) category, and Florentin, a former faculty at the UPD School of Labor and Industrial Relations, was recognized in the good governance in public service category.
Imao, an assistant professor at the UPD College of Fine Arts, received the honors for the culture and the arts (visual arts) category, while Lico, a professor at the UPD College of Architecture was recognized in the culture and the arts (architectural heritage conservation) category.
Finally, Regilme-Vinluan, a professor at the UPD College of Education was honored in the public service category, and Rivera-Mirano, professor emeritus at the UPD College of Arts and Letters /CAL, was honored in the culture and the arts (music and dance research and performance) category.
They were among the 34 alumni, one alumni chapter, and 12 families of alumni honored for their “valuable efforts in achieving positive changes and in creating a better quality of life for our people through improved government services, healthcare, water and sanitation services, efficient management of resources, social welfare services, free legal aid, promotion of people’s livelihood, [and] culture and art preservation and advancement, among other initiatives,” said Reynaldo C. Laserna, UPAA president.
The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards began in 1957 when the UPAA began giving awards to UP alumni in the different service categories. The UPAA annually honors UP alumni who have pre-eminently distinguished themselves. The awards are based on the concept that “when the prestige of the alumni increases, the prestige of the institution is thereby increased.”
The UPAA 2022 Awards, with the theme Magsikhay (“persevere”), honored Edcel C. Lagman (AB 1962, LlB 1966), Albay 1st District representative, as the UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus 2022.
Joining Laserna in handing the awards was UP Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque. The awarding ceremonies were hosted by CAL alumna Mica Pineda, who also rendered three songs. CAL professor Marvin Olaez provided the event’s voice-over.