Alumni Milestones

The UP College of Pharmacy would like to congratulate its 21 graduates for passing the recently-held April 2023 Pharmacist Licensure Examination! We would also like to extend our heart-felt felicitations to the other boardpassers who will all work together in building a stronger pharmacy workforce.

May you all serve the people, the country, and the profession!

Source: UP College of Pharmacy Facebook

MANILA — The University of the Philippines-College of Law swept the top 5 rankings in the 2022 Bar examinations.

On Saturday, the No. 2 passer revealed they came from the same class in the university.

“Batchmates ko ‘yung iba pang nakapasok sa top 5,” said 2022 Bar second placer Erickson Mariñas.

Czar Matthew Dayday, the topnotcher, was their class valedictorian, and 4th placer Andrea Jasmine Yu was the salutatorian of the class, said Mariñas.

Mariñas told ABS-CBN TeleRadyo that he, Dayday, and Christiane Claire Cregencia, the top 3 passer, are all working at the same law firm.

According to the UP Diliman Information Office, a total of 11 graduates from the its College of Law made it to the 2022 Bar Top 30, namely:

Dayday – 88.8083%
Mariñas – 88.7666%
Cregencia – 87.9667%
Yu – 87.7750%
Kim Gia Gatapia – fifth place, 87.4250%
Jayvy Gamboa – 13th place, 86.7000%
Sharlene Ann Joson – 15th place, 86.5834%
Luis Gabriel Perez – 17th place, 86.5583%
Joji Marie Salaver – 23rd place, 86.2417%
Aaron Daryl Marquez – 28th place, 86.0166%
Patricia Marie Ignacio – 30th place, 86.0000%

UP College of Law dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II said they will be formally honored Monday night.

“Magagaling lahat ng Top 10, or hanggang sa Top 30 passers natin. They’re almost of equal caliber. And ang ano lang, ira-rank talaga sila based sa score. And nakakatuwa lang at very thankful kami na yung first five of the Top 30 ay galing sa UP College of Law,” Vistan told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo last Friday.

UP ranked third among the top performing law schools with more than 100 examinees.

“In recent years, kakaiba ‘tong nagawa nung aming mga estudyante, nung aming graduates. Sa totoo lang, sa kanila dapat lahat ng parangal na ibigay natin, kasama na rin sa mga naging guro nila na sila naman ang naging responsable para maipasa at magkaroon ng magandang scores ang ating mga bar candidates,” Vistan said.

“It’s a community effort. So, tuwang tuwa ako para sa UP Law community at para na rin sa University of the Philippines community,” he added, citing the “bar operations” as well of the candidates’ fellow law students.

In an ANC interview Friday, Mariñas said he didn’t expect to land on the list of topnotchers but admitted aiming to clinch the No. 1 spot.

“I was praying that I would top the Bar or pass the Bar,” Mariñas told ANC, saying one of his professors in law school told them to set their sights on being the topnotcher.

“Para at least kahit nag-fail daw kami,” he went on, “‘yung babagsakan pa rin namin is a passing grade, ‘di ba.”

A total of 3,992 out of 9,183 Bar candidates or 43.47 percent passed the 2022 Bar Exams.

This is lower compared to the 72.28 percent passing rate in the previous year but is among the higher passing rates in the past few years.

— TeleRadyo, April 15, 2023

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/23/bar-2022-top-5-were-batchmates-topnotcher-was-valedictorian

Ms. AL Ramirez



Dr. Alicia P. Magos, professor emeritus of UP Visayas, was named one of the fellows of the Saliksik Kasaysayan: A Fellowship Program to Develop a Compendium of Philippine History.

Saliksik Kasaysayan (SK) is a ten-month program that will create a compendium of the different periods in Philippine history. Dr. Magos’ fellowship will focus on the Indigenous Peoples of the Visayas.

As SK Fellow, she is expected to come up with a comprehensive annotated bibliography of selected works and publications on Philippine history (according to assigned period), bibliographic essay of the references gathered, presentation of the research output on the assigned period, and write a short article based on the final output to be featured in the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) publication.

A fellowship fund of P250,000 was granted to Dr. Magos by the PSSC to pursue this project.

PSSC and REX Education collaborated for the conduct of this fellowship that aims to take stock of and secure the articles, materials, and references on the different periods of Philippine History that will be used by REX Education in writing and publishing textbooks on Philippine History.

Source: https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/news/magos-named-sk-fellow-to-develop-a-compendium-on-philippine-history

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!
𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙. 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗬𝗔 𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗚𝗢-𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗔 (𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀)
Awardee, Vietnam International Achievers Awards 2023
March 30, 2023
Royal Hotel Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Source: University of the Philippines Cebu Facebook

Leah C. Salterio



MANILA — With no luxury liner cruising on the high seas during the COVID-19 pandemic, singer Reuben Laurente, who was a headliner on international cruise ships, rediscovered another profitable, career-making turn by using his palette and paint brushes.

Although Laurente started painting when he was only 11 years old after he joined art contests in school, his talent had been in the back burner for a long time.

It was undoubtedly through singing where Laurente made a name for himself. He joined a singing contest and landed a stint with the gospel group, Papuri Singers.

A bigger exposure came when he joined The CompanY, a vocal sextet that gave him a chance to be on the entertainment spotlight.

However, Laurente became scarce on the local front when he ventured in performing on the high seas. But when he returned home three years ago because of the pandemic, Laurente went back to painting.

“Every visual artist has a goal set for himself to be able to stage and showcase an exhibit,” Laurente told ABS-CBN News. “I know that in the grand scheme of things, the Lord gave me that passion to work during the pandemic years.”

In July last year, Laurente felt that desire to look for an exhibit grant so he could showcase his paintings.

“I just typed ‘exhibit grant in the Philippines,’ lo and behold! The National Commission for Culture and the Arts [NCCA] announcement for exhibit grant popped out,” he shared.

“The commission was looking for 20 exhibitors/art proponents and the deadline was August 15, 2022 to come up with your exhibit proposal. I submitted right then and there and prayed that I’d make the cut.

“They finally announced the grantees, thoroughly screened from quite a number of applicants and I made it. I can only thank God for this favor.

“I have been painting since the middle of 2020, so after I was announced as one of the grantees, I had already come up with a decent number of works to display.”

In the exhibit “Pilipino Ako, Ito ang Aking Lahi,” which opened on April 6 and runs until April 30 at the NCCA Gallery in Intramuros, Laurente will have 44 artworks on display.

“I will be exhibiting from my body of works dating 2013 and my works during the pandemic years from 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023,” Laurente said. “There are 18 works already bought by friends, mostly from the industry and art patrons, and 26 more that will be on sale.

“The challenge which I deliberately inflicted on myself was coming up with more pieces to suffice each category that I created for the exhibit.

“I prayed for this exhibit and I believe that now is God’s perfect time for this. Back in 2001, I joined a group exhibit, ‘Tindero, Tienda, Tindera,’ at the ArtSpace, produced by Heritage Arts and Antiquities. ‘Pilipino Ako, Ito ang Aking Lahi’ is my first solo exhibit.”

The artist reception on April 12 will have National Artist for Music, maestro Ryan Cayabyab, as guest of honor who will cut the ceremonial ribbon. Speaker will be Floy Quintos.

The CompanY will show their support to Laurente by rendering their brand of good music, with the husband and wife tandem of cellist Kiko Llorin and violinist Corinna Llorin, who will play some classic tunes and will accompany Laurente in his song number.

Former Channel 9 news anchor and Far East Broadcasting Company Philippines’ outgoing managing director, Dan Andrew Cura, will host the artist reception.

Laurente’s art pieces are divided into four categories: “Ang Babaeng Pilipino (The Filipino Woman),” “Kwentong Bayan at Iba Pa (Folk Tales and Others),” “Mwebles (Furniture Pieces)” and “Pagdiriwang (Celebration).”

Undoubtedly, Laurente gets a different kind of fulfillment seeing his finished art work on canvass. He evidently showcases the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage in his paintings.

“There is an immense feeling of artistic fulfillment that comes from painting,” he maintained. “Aside from that, painting was my saving grace every time challenges arise.

“I have experienced picking up my brushes and acrylic paints and painting while I had a vocal health condition on board a ship, where I was doing a contract as a production cast singer.

“The other time was during this pandemic, where it helped even out my mental state. It takes a great deal of patience and will power in order for you to endure the process little by little and persevere to finish the race.”

Laurente’s father Dominador Laurente was the original artist in the family and the one who encouraged him to draw his first portrait when he was merely five. It was a sketch of a neighbor who eventually became a popular Christian broadcaster and gospel singer, Maru Cepeda-Javier.

“I was five when my father, who was a graphic artist then at Philippine Crusades, a Philippine mission-focused entity founded by American missionaries, started bringing home scratch papers for me to doodle on,” Laurente recalled.

“He was the first man who encouraged that I could draw and even if I could only draw stick faces and astonished men in action then, which only your own father can say ‘beautiful’ to. He believed in me. Eventually, I also started believing in myself.

“He was constant reminder to continue to do good to all and not just to a select few people. He was an inspiration because he walked his talk and he showed me God’s love by how he led his life.”

Laurente finished Bachelor in Interior Design at the University of the Philippines. “I first wanted to become a doctor, then an architect, but both my parents were my reality check and totoo lang kami.

“We don’t have the resources and I barely passed my advanced college algebra in high school. I was also a working student, so I took up Interior Design.”

Not surprisingly, being a painter complements Laurente’s musical career. “I am flattered honestly knowing not too many people can both sing and paint well,” he said. “I believe I fall under that category.

“Well, I’d say I’d be able to showcase my works and make a concept show about my being a proud Filipino, not just showing slides of obra maestras of Filipino masters, but my own masterpieces.

“I really pray for God’s perfect timing that I’d be able to do that in this lifetime and how about being accompanied by a full orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines? Word is power, most especially if you declare it with faith and confidence in the Lord.

“Though we love being validated as artists, I am now on that stage where I really couldn’t care less, because all I want to give is my personal best and my excellence in every field that I tackle.”

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/07/23/singer-reuben-laurente-holds-his-first-solo-exhibit

Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta



Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) were proclaimed recipients of “Centenary Awards of Excellence” and “Recognition Awards for the Board of Accountancy Members” during the celebration of the Centenary Year of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, led by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The awardees were announced on March 6, 2023, by the PRC Accountancy Board, with awarding ceremonies held during the Grand Centenary Celebration on March 17 at the Manila Hotel. Nominations were made by the different sectors of the Accountancy profession—the public practice, commerce and industry, education, and government sectors. Following recommendations by the Screening Committee, the PRC Board approved the official list of “Centenary Awardees for Excellence,” recognizing their “unquestionable integrity, exemplified by their outstanding contributions and unparalleled dedication in advancing the Accountancy profession and remarkable participation in national development.”

The UP alumni, both living and deceased, who have been named among the 100 Accountancy “Centenary Awardees of Excellence” are:

• Estelita Caleon Aguirre, first and only female President of the Asian Federation of Accountants; former Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue; former Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Executive Director;
• Manuel S. Alba, former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary;
• +Emilia T. Boncodin, former DBM Secretary;
• + Vicente F. Fabella, educator, economist, civic leader, and the first Filipino certified public accountant;
• Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia, President of Mageo Consulting Inc.;
• Jaime C. Laya, former Minister of Education, Culture and Sports; former DBM Secretary; former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor;
• Conchita L. Manabat, founder and first woman Chair of the Deloitte practice in the Philippines; President of the Development Center for Finance;
• Felipe M. Medalla, former Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); incumbent BSP Governor;
• Raul C. Pagdanganan, President and CEO of Cardinal Santos Medical Center; member of the UP Board of Regents;
• Josefe C. Sorrera-Ty, former PICPA National President; Commissioner of Legal Education Board Philippines;
• Joel L. Tan-Torres, a former member of the Board of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Chair, Board of Accountancy; BIR Commissioner;
• Maria Gracia M. Pulido-Tan, first woman Chairperson (equivalent to Auditor-General) of the Philippine Commission on Audit’s 115-year history;
• Manuel (Manny) B. Villar, House Speaker and then President of the Senate, the first Filipino to hold both posts;
• Guillermo E. Torres, Sr.;
• Rosario Sevilla Santiago-Bernaldo;
• Herminio V. Dagohoy;
• Carlota G. Piczon-Valenzuela;
• + Belen E. Gutierrez;
• + Washington Z. Sycip was conferred a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, by UP Diliman in 2001.

UP alumni members of the Board of Accountancy, past and present, who received “Recognition Awards” are:

• + Antonio P. Ferrer;
• Lucila C. Tarriela;
• Betty C. Siy-Yap
• Carmelita G. Salgado;
• Clemente Q. Uson;
• Luis A. Cañete;
• + Ruperto P. Somera;
• Elvira P. Pacis-Atanacio;
• Luis C. Liwanag II;
• Jose V. Ramos;
• +Filadelfo M. Inocentes;
• Gregorio G. Centeno;
• Isagani O. Santiago

The conferment of the Accountancy “Centenary Awards of Excellence” and “Recognition Awards for the Board of Accountancy Members” marks the culmination of the year-long celebration of the Centenary Year of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, which was declared by then President Rodrigo Duterte through Proclamation No. 1333.

With reports by the UP Office of Alumni Relations.

Source: https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-conferred-accountancy-centenary-awards-of-excellence-and-recognition-awards/

“As a nephrologist, I continued to serve our society through the lens of a teacher, an internist. I set my eyes on the future of our profession as I watched students “get set” at their starting blocks. Looking back, I was fortunate to be with these junior nephrologists – learning need not always be inspired by the sublime, even these young fellows could be sources of wisdom.”

UP College of Medicine Professor Emeritus and former dean Dr. Agnes D. Mejia is one of eight recipients of the International Society of Nephrology Pioneer Award for outstanding contributions to kidney care.

The award recognizes exceptional and long-standing efforts in promoting kidney care in developing regions worldwide.

Dr. Mejia graduated from the UPCM in 1977 and completed her internal medicine residency at the Philippine General Hospital. She underwent three-year fellowships in nephrology and hypertension under Dr. Victor Pollack and Dr. Stevo Julius at the University of Cincinnati and University of Michigan, respectively. She joined the PGH Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology in 1990 and served as UPCM dean from 2012 to 2018.



Dr. Mejia has made significant contributions to medical research and published numerous papers on various topics in medicine. Throughout her career, she has received several academic and community-service distinctions, including the A-One Award conferred by the Philippine Society of Nephrology. This recognition highlights her significant contributions to the medical field and further cements her status as a distinguished leader in nephrology.

As an ISN Pioneer awardee, she asserts: “As a nephrologist, I continued to serve our society through the lens of a teacher, an internist. I set my eyes on the future of our profession as I watched students “get set” at their starting blocks. Looking back, I was fortunate to be with these junior nephrologists – learning need not always be inspired by the sublime, even these young fellows could be sources of wisdom.”

Other recipients of the 2023 ISN Pioneer Award arre Professor Emeritus Adewale Akinsola (Nigeria), Professor Goce Spasovski (Macedonia), Dr. Juan Abraham Bermúdez (Mexico), Mohammad Ali Ghnaimat (Jordan), Irma Tchokhonelidze (Georgia), Merle L. Clarke (Saint Lucia), and Mohan M. Rajapurkar (India).

The winners will be honored at regional gatherings throughout the year and will be recognized at the ISN World Congress of Nephrology 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 30 to April 2, 2023.

Sources:

Outstanding Contributions to Kidney Care: Discover the Winners of the 2023 ISN Pioneer Awards – International Society of Nephrology (theisn.org)

https://www.upmas.org/feature/outstanding-contributions-to-kidney-care-discover-the-winners-of-the-2023-isn-pioneer-awards
Agnes Dominguez-Mejia – 37th Annual PSN Convention (sched.com)

News Source: https://www.upm.edu.ph/node/4193

Congratulations, National Scientist Emil Q. Javier for being the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Achievement Awardee for Agricultural Science!

He is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the Philippine and Southeast Asian agriculture and rural development by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, UP Chapter.

Sir EQJ, your IPB family is proud of you! 💚💛

Source: UPLB CAFS Institute of Plant Breeding Facebook

Congratulations to the passers of the 2023 medical technology board exam!

Source: College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Facebook

Congratulations to the UPCM successful examinees and topnotchers in the recent March 2023 Physician Licensure Examination!

Padayon mga bagong doktor ng bayan! 🩺

See the results here: https://www.prcboard.com/ple-results-march-2023…/

Source: UP College of Medicine Facebook