House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez described as a "true honor" his being named as among this year’s recipients of the Upsilon Sigma Phi’s Upsilonian Noble and Outstanding (UNO) Awards.

Romualdez received the award alongside the posthumous citation of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., "whose leadership and vision have left an indelible mark on our nation".

The late president is the father of incumbent President Marcos, who is Romualdez's cousin.

“This award is not just a personal achievement but a reaffirmation of my commitment to serve the Filipino people with dedication, integrity, and excellence,” said the leader of the 306-strong House of Representatives. 

The UNO Awards, conferred by the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, honor Upsilonians whose lives and legacies exemplify the fraternity’s enduring values of Brotherhood, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

The prestigious recognition is given to exceptional members of the fraternity who have made a profound impact on governance, public service, and national development.

As Speaker of the House of Representatives, Romualdez was lauded for his exemplary legislative leadership, spearheading unprecedented productivity in the 19th Congress. 

“As the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, fellow Martin has redefined leadership by steering the House to achieve record-breaking milestones. Under his stewardship the 19th Congress filed over 13,454 measures, passed 1,368 bills, and enacted 166 into law,“ the citation read.

Among the notable landmark legislative contributions of Speaker Romualdez was Republic Act (RA) No.10754, which expanded the benefits for persons with disabilities, underscoring his dedication to inclusive development. 

The award also cited Romualdez’s distinguished career in corporate governance and finance. He held executive roles in leading institutions such as Equitable PCI Bank and Philippine Commercial International Bank, among others. 

This year’s ceremony was held Saturday afternoon, at the Goldenberg Mansion, Malacañang Complex, in conjunction with the 20th Biennial Congress of the fraternity at the Imelda Hall of Aguado Residence in San Miguel, Manila.

Other living UNO awardees this year include Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Justice Crispin Remulla, Romeo Carlos, Ernesto de Castro, Steve Yuviengco, Renato Tayag, Jr., Robert Aranton, Romeo Liamzon, Jr., Fernando Sanchez,Jr., Alan Austriaco, and Cary Calimlim, while a posthumous award was also accorded to Jorge Gonzales.  

Founded in 1918, Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-letter organization in Asia and the longest-standing student organization in the University of the Philippines.