Melito Salazar Jr.   Tomorrow, the University of the Philippines in its annual homecoming will honor awardees and all other UP alumni who have transformed from “mga iskolar ng bayan” to “pillars of the nation.” The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are conferred on alumni who demonstrated extraordinary achievements and excellent contributions in their chosen fields that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. The UPAA 2018 Awardees are led by the Most Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Ruben L. Villareal, BSA ’60, MS ’63 and the UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awardees, Dr. Caesar I. Aguirre, AA’58, AB’58; Engr. Filemon Berba Jr., BSEE ’59 mcl; Prof. Melito Salazar Jr., BSBA ’71, MBA ’74; and Dr. Francisca Tolete-Velcek, BS’62, M.D. ’66. The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees are: Community Empowerment: Dr. Helen Agustin De Guzman, BS ’67; MD ’67; Culture and The Arts: Dr. Grace Javier-Alfonso, BFA ’72, MA ’80, PhD ’90, and Mr. Saturnino H. Tiamson, Jr. DipCPMA ’05. Gender Equality or Women Empowerment: Dr. Elizabeth Lorenzana-Diaz, AB ’58 and BGen Rodylyn Tingzon-Manzano AFP (Reserved), BSA ’77. Health Research and Education: Dr. Regina Pascua-Berba, BS’83, M.D. ’87, Infrastructure Development: Mr. Rolando Jose L. Macasaet, BSBE ’80 cl; MBA ’81, Law and Education: Atty. Hector De Leon, LLB ’55. Poverty Alleviation and Human Development: Dr. Ponciano A. Batugal, BSA ’64, MS ’67 and Ms. Lilian Mercado Carreon, ABC ’85. Public Health Promotion: Dr. Portia Grace Fernandez-Marcelo, BS ’87; MD ’93. Public Service and Good Governance: Cong. Salvador B. Belarus Jr., AB ’89 cl; LLB ’95, Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba, AB’68; LLB ’72, Engr. Don Mustapha A. Loong, BSCE ’00 and Atty. Jose Eduardo E. Malaya III, AB ’82 cl; DJuris ’86 (Good Governance/Diplomacy) and Usec. Peter N. Tiangco, BSF ’85. Science and Technology: Mr. Johnson R. Apacible, BCS ’86 mcl(Computer Science) and Dr. Reynaldo L. Villareal, BSA ’67; MS ’75 (Agriculture -Rice and Wheat Development). Service Orientation: Prof. Pedro R. Abraham, Jr. AB ’71; MA ’81. Veterinary Education and Research: Dr. Ceferino P. Maala, DVM ’71. UPAA Presidential Awards to Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Economics 1981 and Dr. Dennis P. Serrano BSMS ’86; M.D. ’89; MHA ’04. UPAA Distinguished Service Awardees for Alumni Chapters: UP Inter-College Class ’58 Foundation Inc. and the UP Barkada. The UPAA also honors the Multi-Generational UP Alumni Family with the Four Generations leading: Festin Family, Lopez-Villaruz Family and Novero Family. Three Generations: Bautista Family, Berba Family, Cabrera Family, De Leon Family, Fandialan-Dalmacio Family, Garabiles-Zamora Family, Herrera Family, Laureta Family, Makasiar Family and Sicat Family. Through the years the UPAA has improved its search for Awardees reaching out to the countryside and revealing UP alumni embodied with continuing commitment to the community but unnoticed by the national media. This approach has strengthened the UP alumni belief that change for the better comes from the graduates of UP in whatever fields and regions. It also vividly demonstrates that those who have left the shores are still faithful contributors to the Philippines progress. I thank the UPAA for the recognition of being a 2018 Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awardee and Most Distinguished Alumnus for Management in the earlier years. [email protected]