ILOILO CITY – The University of the Philippines has conferred the Gawad Oblation award on Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. for his contributions to the university.
Defensor cited UP for the award.
“This is a good opportunity to thank UP for what I am today and what I am doing for the province while serving as governor,” said Defensor who received the award in a ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the UP Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion said Gawad Oblation is the highest honor UP can bestow upon its alumni and friends for extraordinary service or contribution.
Defensor is a UP alumni in college and high school. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree from UP Diliman and graduated from the UP High School here.
The governor who is serving his second consecutive term credited UP as one of the two institutions – the other his family – that shaped him as a public servant.
Defensor has vowed to continue the good governance of his father, former Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
The younger Defensor’s agenda is dubbed “MoReProgGRes” which pushes the province to be resurgent, progressive, globally competitive, and resilient.