REV. FEDERICO I. AGNIR, EDD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY AND EDUCATION
Rev. Dr. Agnir is highly committed in making a difference in pastoral ministry and
education. Long- time residents of Wesley Chapel, Florida, he and wife, Ruby, are very
actively involved in the Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel as well as the Atonement
Lutheran Church of Wesley Chapel. Additionally, he is a monthly entertainer and
communion celebrant at the West Winds Assisted Living Facility, Zephyrhills, Florida.
While remaining to be actively involved in the community, he recently published his
first book, a story of his life entitled “When God Calls: A Faith-Journey Autobiography”
and is now working on a second book, an anthology of his sermons. He earned degrees
from the University of the Philippines (Bachelor of Arts, 1959); Silliman University
(Master of Divinity, magna cum laude 1968); Syracuse University (Master of Arts in
Communication, 1972) and University of Massachusetts (Doctor of Education, 1989).
Before migrating with his family to the US, he served as assistant pastor/assistant chaplain at the Church of the Risen
Lord in the U.P. Diliman campus, was Advisor for U.P. Christian Youth Movement (UPCYM) and a professor at Silliman
University. In addition to his pastoral ministry in various churches and faith-based organizations, Rev. Dr. Agnir
volunteers in fund-raisers for reunions, alumni groups and community organizations. His expertise in microcomputers
merited him a 1985 IBM award for writing a decision-making program for public speaking students and for a number
of years now, he as well as wife Ruby and daughter Mirla, are members of the exclusive high IQ American Mensa
Society.
LAUREANO D. ASICO, DVM DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Dr. Asico is currently a Research Assistant Professor at George Washington
University School of Medicine. He conducted research at Children’s National
Medical Center, Georgetown University Medical Center and University of Maryland
School of Medicine. His main research focuses on the cause(s) of essential
hypertension. It was initially recognized as an adult-onset disorder. Lately, there
have been indications that early predictors and predisposing factors can be found in
the young. These genetic dysfunctions coupled with other environmental factors
and particular lifestyle (i.e. high salt intake) has been zeroed in as the cause of
hypertension. The dysfunction of the natriuretic system, particularly the elimination
of salt, as in the action of the renal dopaminergic system, has been highly
implicated. Dopamine is a hormone whose effect on its receptor regulates water
and salt homeostasis by inhibiting salt transport in the nephron. For more than two decades, Dr. Asico has studied the
action of dopamine (with heavy emphasis on the kidney), in the regulation of blood pressure. He has expanded his
research into the determination of the main organs for dopamine action (i.e. renal transplantation between transgenic
and wild type mice) as well as gene knockdowns through the use of gene silencing oligonucleotides to target particular
organ receptors. He has recently developed novel surgical approaches of targeting specific organs (i.e. stomach-via the
celiac artery and the individual kidney via the sub-capsular and retrograde ureteral systems). As a co-investigator on
several NIH-funded grants, he has pioneered the groundwork for several proposed projects including the long
established but never fully explained gastro-renal reflex. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Asico
graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in BS Biology in 1977 and the Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine degree in 1981.
( MD
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN PEDIATRICS & COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Dr. Cagas has numerous accomplishments in his career as a physician and has made
major impact on the lives of underserved populations in the Philippines as a
humanitarian. He earned his MD degree from the University of the Philippines in
1960. He has devoted 40 years in pediatrics as a practitioner, teacher and researcher.
He has published 55 scientific articles and several chapters in textbooks of pediatrics
and child health. He has demonstrated his strong leadership by founding 4
organizations in the U.S. and one in the Philippines. UP Medical Alumni Society in
America (UPMASA) was established by Dr. Cagas in 1980. It has grown into15
chapters in the US and has developed a multi-million endowment fund to provide for
student scholarships, professorial chairs, construction and renovation of buildings
and facilities at UP-PGH. Philippine Economic and Cultural Endowment (PEACE) has built more than 2000 artesian
wells in rural areas of the Philippines since 1986. Christ Philippine Missions dedicated a $130,000 church in Upper
Paatan, North Cotabato. It has supported more than 300 scholars at all grade levels in schools in Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao since 2002 and feeds about 700 children in five elementary schools since 2010. Association of Filipino
Physicians of Southern Illinois established in 1977 and provides science scholarships to high school students every
year in the last 32 years. He founded DADS Foundation in 2005 which is based in Digos, Davao del Sur and serves as
vehicle for US donations to the Philippines to support charitable projects. He has numerous awards including the first
UPMASA Life Achievement Award in1999, the 2002 LINKAPIL Award for dedicated service to fellow Filipinos by the
President of the Philippines, and the 2015 True Rizalist Award from Knights of Rizal.
.,. .. Rov COLOMA
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Roy Coloma has successfully combined his love for music with a science-oriented
career. He is a certified piano teacher and is a member of the Livonia Piano Teachers
Forum, the Michigan Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National
Association. He took piano lessons as a young boy growing up in the Philippines,
entering the University of the Philippines as a science scholar, graduating Bachelor of
Science in Physics in 1967. Continuing with his music interests, he sang with the U.P.
Christian Youth Movement (UPCYM) Choir and was its student conductor when the
Choir won a national choral competition. Roy has graduate degrees in Industrial
Engineering from Wayne State University (Detroit, 1970) and Operations Research from
Case Western Reserve University (Ohio, 1972). After a successful career in Ford Motor
Company, he spends his retirement years being actively involved as a church pianist and organist, performing solo or
ensemble, accompanying singers, choirs and congregation in various churches primarily in the Detroit metropolitan
area. He provides musical entertainment to people of all ages, in public libraries, assisted living places, nursing homes
and hospitals, schools while also promoting Filipino music. He learned from piano mentors from the Royal
Conservatory of Music in Toronto; Schoolcraft College, Michigan and University of Michigan. During two summers in
St. Petersburg, Russia he studied piano and piano pedagogy at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music. Roy loves to
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42
Dr. Fong-de Leon is the Chief of Neonatology, Virtua and Medical Director of the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She is an Attending Neonatologist,
NICU, Virtua Voorhees Special Care Nursery, Virtua Memorial. She is a Clinical
Associate Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and was an Associate Professor
of Clinical Pediatrics at UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Fong-de
Leon was the President of the Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey Inc.
from 2014 to 2016. She was President, University of the Philippines Medical
Alumni Society of America (UPMASA) Delaware Valley Chapter from1986 to 1988.
She was a member of a medical mission to Calapan, Mindoro, Philippines in 2017.
She is an active member of various hospital committees including the Virtua
Women’s Leadership Committee, Virtua Pediatrics Leadership Committee, CHOP- Virtua Pediatric Steering Committee, and Pediatrics Advisory Council. She is a Fellow, American Academy of
Pediatrics, Philadelphia Perinatal Society and Fellow, Thomas Bond Society, Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Fong-de Leon
has received numerous awards including the Virtua 2015 President’s Award, Top Doc NJ Monthly Magazine, SJ
Magazine from 2008 to 2014, the 2010 March of Dimes Award of Excellence, the Virtua SuperSTAR Team Award in
2007 and 2013, and the 1987 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, Department of Pediatrics at Cooper Hospital.
She graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in B.S. Pre-Med cum laude in 1971 and the
Doctor of Medicine degree in 1975.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Aida Gamboa is a voice teacher and choir conductor at John Adams Middle School in Edison, New Jersey and cantor at St. Cecelia’s Church in Iselin, New Jersey. She is an active member of the New Jersey Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. She has performed in numerous concerts including at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, to name only a few. Her commitment to music education is unique. Aside from her previous employment as music teacher at St. Helena’s School, St. Francis Cathedral School, Woodbrook School and John Adams Primary School, Aida has served as Music Director for the Filipino Families and Friends of North Edison youth summer camp since its inception more than 15 years ago. As time permits, she coaches many community choir groups. Aida obtained her Bachelor in Music and Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the University of the Philippines.
She taught voice in U.P. until 1992 and also worked as Chairman of the Voice Department of St. Scholastica’s College
in Manila. She was a member of the multi-awarded and world-renowned U.P. Madrigal Singers (MADZ), training
under its founder, Andrea Veneracion. In recognition of her contributions to music and music education, Aida has
been multi-awarded, among the recent ones being 2014 Outstanding Classical Performing Artist Award from PACCAL
(Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League); 2014 Outstanding Alumna (Education) from UPAA-NJ; 2015 New
Jersey Master Music Teacher from NJ Music Educators’ Association; and 2015 New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts
Education.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN NEONATOLOGY & COMMUNITY SERVICE
43
CYNTHIA J. JAMESON, PHD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN CHEMISTRY AND SCIENCE EDUCATION
Dr. Cynthia J. Jameson is Professor Emerita of Chemistry at University of Illinois
Chicago. She earned her BS degree from the University of the Philippines in
1958 and her PhD from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in1963. She
was Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University, 1978 & 1985, at Oxford
University, 1992-93, and at University of Milan-Bicocca, 2007. She was a
Program Officer for Experimental Physical Chemistry, National Science
Foundation, 1990-91, and Miller Visiting Professor, University of California,
Berkeley, 2002. Dr. Jameson has contributed significantly to a fundamental
understanding of the NMR chemical shift as a molecular electronic property.
One characteristic of Jameson’s work is her interest in general trends and over-
arching relationships, not just specific systems. Her contributions have usually
involved providing the basis for a fundamental understanding of a limited body of data, and on this basis,
predicting a systematic global pattern which emerges much later. Dr. Jameson’s studies of distribution and
dynamic behavior of adsorbed species in what had been traditionally called “microporous” solids addresses a
topical problem of both basic and technological importance. Actually the pores are in the nano-scale. What
makes this research unusual is the combination of a detailed molecular level understanding of the fundamental
processes with an awareness of the relevance of the results to potential technological applications. Her prior
work focused on zeolite NaA, a well-characterized crystalline system. Dr. Jameson’s lab has determined directly
the distribution of Xe atoms in the cavities of a microporous solid by observing individually the trapped clusters
Xe, Xe2, Xe3, and Xe8 in NMR. The chemical shifts of the clusters vary with temperature as they undergo changes
in configurations within the cavities.
LENORE RAQUEL-SANTOS LIM 2017 UPAAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN ARTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Lenore has a strong passion and commitment to art education and art printing,
producing prints and promoting the art of printmaking and everything about
Philippine Art. Aside from this Outstanding Alumna Award, Lenore is a UPAAA’s
2017 Golden Jubilarian, having graduated from U.P. in 1967 with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Fine Arts. She has also attended printmaking courses in New York’s
School of Visual Arts and Robert Blackburn Printmaking. She has taught Art in
various capacities: at U.P. College of Fine Arts, UN School in New York, Place des
Artes in Canada, Mobile County Public School in Alabama and International
School in Manila. Her works of art have been displayed as solo or group exhibits,
in the US, Canada, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Among her numerous
awards of distinction are as UPAA Diliman’s Outstanding Professional Awardee for Fine Arts; the Pamana ng
Pilipino Award;100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US and Women’s Achievers Award by PACCAL (Pan
American Concerned Citizens Action League. Aside from being a past President of UPAA in Canada, she was
President of the Society of Philippine American Artist in America, Inc. where she remains to have an active role.
In 2006, she founded the Lenore RS Lim Foundation for the Arts, Philippines, her social advocacy to develop and
promote Filipino artists in the US and the Philippines. She continues to work closely with the UP College of Fine
Arts by holding art and art technique workshops for its faculty and students.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES
SUSAN PINEDA MERCADO, MD, MPH DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN GLOBAL HEALTH
Dr. Mercado is a global health expert with over 15 years of work experience with the World Health Organization (WHO). She is the current Director of the first Division of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) and Health through the Life-Course in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. As Director, she has steered the consensus-building process that resulted in Member States guidance documents on high-priority public health programs and captured the shared vision of 36 countries and areas for the focus and direction of this Division. These guidance documents have all been endorsed by the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. She is an ethical leader and champion of health promotion, community health, women and children’s health, tobacco control, urban health, disaster preparedness and resilience, and mental health in emergencies. She is a management expert in large health organizations with extensive national experience as Deputy Minister of
Health (Undersecretary) and Chief of Staff, Department of Health, Philippines, handling portfolio of health sector reform, public health systems development and international health cooperation. She is a radio and television host, media presenter, producer, columnist, professorial lecturer (medicine/humanities/philosophy), grassroots trainor, researcher, theater and drama teacher. She has received many awards including the 2017 “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World” Award Category: Innovator and Thought Leader from Filipina Women’s Network, USA, the 1998 “Women Helping Women” Award from Soroptimist International, and the 1995 Ten Outstanding Physicians in Community Service (TOPICS) from the Auxiliary of the Philippine Medical Association. Dr. Mercado earned 3 academic degrees from the University of the Philippines: the Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Magna cum laude in 1979, the Doctor of Medicine degree in 1987 and Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree in 1994.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES EVELYN MANDAC, SOPRANO DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN MUSIC
Evelyn Mandac graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines
College of Music. She studied at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio under a
full scholarship and completed her Master’s degree at the Juilliard School of Music
in New York City as a Rockefeller full scholar. She is included in the International
Who's Who in Music & Musicians' Directory (13th Edition, 1992/93). Since her
1968 US debut in Mobile, Alabama in Orff's Carmina Burana, Evelyn had well-
acclaimed performances with most eminent singers, either in opera or in concert:
soprano Brigitte Nilsson, tenors Richard Tucker, Jan Peerce, Placido Domingo,
Swedish baritone Hakan Hagegard, mezzo sopranos Marilyn Horne, Jennie Tourel,
Shirley Barrett and Marion Lippert. In 1975, she performed at New York’s
Metropolitan Opera House as Lauretta in Puccini Gianni Schicchi. The only Filipina,
thus far, to perform at the Met, she had lead roles in more than 20 operas staged
at the Met and other major opera houses in Europe and North America. Her engagements have included
international festivals such as England’s Glyndebourne, Austria’s Salzburg and Helburn, Italy’s Ravinia, and
appearances in Toulouse, Turin, Rome and Geneva, etc. She has sung with some of the world’s most eminent singers.
She sang the operatic roles of Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme, Manon in Massenet’s Manon, Princess Liu in
Puccini’s Turandot, Micaela in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, Melisande in Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande, Gilda in
Verdi’s Rigoletto, Leila in G. Bizet’s Les Pecheures de Perles and Inez in Meyerbeer’s L’ Africana. Her lighter roles
include Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Anna in Verdi’s Falstaff, Norina in
Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Sophie in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Mozart’s Der Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro.
45
PATRICIO F. REYES, MD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN NEUROSCIENCE AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
Dr. Reyes is the Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer’s Disease &
Cognitive Disorders Clinics at Phoenix Veterans Administration Healthcare System
in Phoenix, Arizona. He is Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer and Chairman,
Scientific Advisory Board of Yuma Therapeutics Inc. in Boston, MA, Chief
Technology Officer and Medical Advisory Board Member, Premier Biomedical
Inc., Chief Medical Officer and Board Member, Retired NFL Players Association.
He was Professor of Neurology/Neuropathology at Thomas Jefferson Medical
College in Philadelphia. He was Professor of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry,
and Deputy Chair, Department of Neurology and Director, Center for Aging,
Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegenerative Disorders and Brain Bank at
Creighton University School of Medicine. He served as Associate Editor, Frontiers
in Sport Neurology, American Academy of Neurology, and as Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. He
has published and made numerous presentations on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and related disorders. He has
received numerous grants and awards including the 2005 Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum Award
from the American Academy of Neurology, the 2006 Centennial Awardee for Research from U.P. College of
Medicine, the 2009 Distinguished Educator Award from American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians,
2011UPMASA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011 and 2012 Best Doctors of America (Neurology), 2013 Balik
Scientist Award from the Philippine Dept. of Science and Technology, 2016 Physician of the Year from Filipino
American Association of Arizona. Dr. Reyes graduated from the University of the Philippines with a BS degree in
1966 and the M.D. degree in 1971.
ANN MAUREEN ROUHI, MS, PHD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Dr. Rouhi is the Director of Communications of the College of Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Atlanta. She develops and implements effective communication strategies for seven units of the college to ensure proper internal and external communications of the college. Dr. Rouhi previously served in different managerial and editorial positions, including Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief for Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN), and Director of Editorial and Business Development for C&EN Asia. C&EN reports current events in the chemistry enterprise, including recent advances in research, education, industry, funding, and regulatory policy. Its audited circulation is approximately 129,000, and it is produced by staff based in Washington, DC, Edison, NJ, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, and Oakland,
California. She received B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural chemistry from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, and a PhD in chemistry from the University of London. Her professional experience includes independent research and teaching in the Philippines and in Iran, scholarly publishing, journalism, and news organization management. She began her career in scholarly publishing as a copy editor trainee at the American Society for Microbiology and her career in journalism as a production editor at C&EN. Dr. Rouhi’s leadership and management skills were honed by 27 years of service at the American Chemical Society, a nonprofit professional organization with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 154,000 chemists and chemical engineers.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES
46
SIMEON A. SEVANDAL, JR., MD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN MEDICAL MISSION AND HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
Dr. Sam Sevandal is a retired physician with training in internal medicine. He has
demonstrated strong leadership and commitment in medical, humanitarian and
charitable activities including serving as President, Philippine Medical Association of
Chicago in 2013; President, UPMASA Chicago Chapter in 2008, and as Chairman,
Information Dissemination Committee, Mu Sigma Phi Foundation. As President of
Surigao Association of Illinois, 2 terms, 1997-99 and 2014-2016, he led on five (5)
occasions’ three-day medical missions to Surigao del Norte province, during the
years: 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007, and 2015. He raised money for Yolanda typhoon relief
in 2012. He initiated a scholarship program for deserving college students from
1999-2004 in Surigao City. As President of UPMASA Chicago Chapter, he held a
fundraising (Dance Fest VI) which completed the fund to form a professorial chair
for his classmate Dr. Magdalena Cruz-Palileo and donated money to PGH indigent fund and a Chicago homeless
shelter on 71st and Kedzie. He joined the PMAC-UPMASA Medical Mission in Calumpit, Bulacan, 2001 and the
UPMASA Medical Mission in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental in 2006. As President of Philippine Medical Association of
Chicago, he led the medical mission in Surigao in January 2013. He raised funds for the carabao-dispersal program for
the Mangyans in Mindoro and to the Teachers’ Development Program in Tagkawayan Quezon in April 2013. He has
received many awards including 2007 Outstanding Surigaonon Award, Metro Rotary Club of Surigao, 2012
Humanitarian Awards Little Company of Mary Hospital Chicago Illinois, 2013 Humanitarian Award, Philippine Lions
Club of Chicago, 2014 Golden Humanitarian Award by Philippine –American Social Service, Chicago and 2017
Outstanding Community Service Award, UPMASA. Dr. Sevandal graduated from UP with BS degree in 1968 and MD
degree in 1972B.
ALEXANDER SY, MD, MBA, FCCP, FACP, FAASM DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN PULMONARY MEDICINE & MEDICAL EDUCATION
Dr. Alexander Sy is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of
Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine,
Wake Forest University. He is the Director, Intermediate Care Unit at Wake Forest
Baptist Health in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was a Professor of Internal
Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. He was an Associate Professor of
Clinical Medicine at University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He is a
Diplomate of the American Board of Pulmonary Medicine, American Board of Critical
Care Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He is a member of the
editorial board of the Journal of Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine and serves as a
peer reviewer for several scientific journals including: Mayo Clinic Proceedings,
CHEST, American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Respiratory Care, Journal of Clinical
Outcomes Management and the Biomedical Journal- Health Care: Current Reviews. He has received many awards
including the 2009 Presidential Citation from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the 2010 Award of Academic
Achievement in Medical Management from the American College of Physician Executive, the 2012 Recognition
Award for Distinguished Service on the Pulmonary Physiology, Function and Rehabilitation Network from the
American College of Chest Physicians, and the 2012 Best Doctors in America in Sleep Medicine. Dr. Sy graduated from
the University of the Philippines with a degree in BS Biology Magna cum laude in1982, and the Doctor of Medicine
degree in 1986. He earned his MBA major in Medical Management in 2014 from Isenberg School of Management at
University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES
JORSHINELLE (JORSHI) TALEON-SONZA, PHD, MFA 2017 UPAAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA IN LITERATURE AND Education
Dr. Sonza is a multi-awarded literary artist, and among which are five Palanca
awards, a UPAAA August 2017 Outstanding Alumna Awardee in U.P. Diliman and
UPAAANJ Outstanding Alumna Award. Her book, “Haiyan and Other Stories About
the Homeland”, was recently published by the U.P. Press, and is nominated for a
2017 award for an anthology category. She recently completed the first draft of her
memoir, “The Girl from Payaw” and she hopes it will be published in the U.S. She
has a BA Creative Writing and MA Linguistics degrees from U.P., MA in English and
Comparative Literature from College of New Jersey, PhD in English and
Comparative Literature from Drew University and MFA from the New School, New
York. She served as instructor in various English departments: U.P., Maryknoll and
La Salle College in the Philippines; DeVry University, Rutgers and College of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey. All her
literary pieces are exemplary and unique in that, while written in the US, they deal with the Filipino experience,
providing all-inclusive scope of marginalized everyday characters: an undocumented maid, an oppressed statesman
under martial law, an abused housewife, and so on. A strong advocate of increasing Filipino visibility in US, her
guiding principle in her writings is “Filipino First” and in representing THE Filipino. Dr. Sonza is highly supportive of
community projects, including but not limited to UPAANJ (where she is a long-time member serving in various
capacities through the years) and Filipino American Association of St. Magdalen, Flemington, New Jersey (where
she is a founding member/officer).
NATHANIEL L. TABLANTE, DVM, MPVPM, MS, DACPV 2017 UPAAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Dr. Tablante is a Professor and Extension Poultry Veterinarian, and Associate
Director, Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, in Virginia-Maryland
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland. He is a prominent
veterinarian in government, industry and academia. He has extensive experience in
poultry health management, epidemiology and biosecurity, and has authored and
co-authored numerous articles and educational materials on poultry health,
biosecurity and disease prevention. He has also served as consultant on poultry
biosecurity and Avian Influenza preparedness and response in the USA, Russia,
Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and the Republic of Georgia. He has won many
awards including the 2012 Edward H. Ralph Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI) Medal
of Achievement, the 2006 Bruce Calnek Applied Poultry Research Award, American
Association of Avian Pathologists, the 2005 Excellence in Extension, University of Maryland Alumni Association,
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Chapter. Dr. Tablante graduated from the University of the
Philippines in 1976 with the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his Master of Preventive
Veterinary Medicine (major in Public Health) at the University of California-Davis in 1985, and the Master of
Science (major in Poultry Health and Epidemiology) at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 1995, and is a
Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
2017 UPAAA AWARDEES
2017 UPAAA AWARDEE
Lourdes Santos Tancinco is the principal at Tancinco Law Offices, APC, a full­
service law firm providing expertise on immigration matters. She works
tirelessly to help the Filipino World War II veterans in the US who are citizens
under the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1990 (IMMACT) but do not
qualify for Veterans Benefits. She is Chair and founding member of the San
Francisco Veterans Equity Center, a not-for-profit advocacy organization for the
Filipino war veterans, and provides pro bona services through the Fil-Am
Veterans Legal Clinic. A 1982 University of the Philippines Bachelor of Arts
(Political Science) graduate, she obtained her U.P. Bachelor of Law degree (LLB)
in 1987 and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1993. She is admitted to
the United States District Court, Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit. She is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers
Association, the American Bar Association and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California. Attorney Lou
assists the Filipino American Development Foundation, the Bayanihan Community Center, the Alexis Apartments of
St. Patrick's Parish in San Francisco, and the National Network for Veterans Equity. Through articles she writes for
the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), local newspapers and websites and through the Filipino
Channel and GMA, she provides guidance and information on various immigration matters. For all these exemplary
community involvement, she has been multi-awarded: Award of Excellence from the Minority Bar Coalition, the
Tessie Paredes Civil Rights Award from Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA), Outstanding Alumna Award from the
University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco, and the Jose Rizal Social Justice Award presented
by the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California.
2015 UPAAA AWARDEES
Dr. Nacu has demonstrated leadership, perseverance, hard work, dedication and
contributions that benefitted the Filipino community in the U.S. and the
Philippines. She served as President of UPAA San Diego from 2003 to 2005 and
as President of UPAAA from 2014 to 2015. Her most recent accomplishment is
the Project AGAPAY: Gawa, Aral, Paya which awarded over $10,000.00 to
student organizations in UP Diliman and UP Mindanao. This fund was raised
during her term as President of UPAAA. She made sure that this project was
implemented and completed to benefit students in these two campuses. She
accomplished the following projects as President of UPAA in San Diego: Hosted
successfully the 2005 UPAAA General Assembly and Convention; Initiated the
Kapatid Project which provided opportunities for Filipino American professionals
to share their experiences with the University of California San Diego Filipino
American students; Initiated the Adopt-a-Dorm/ADD which provided funding for repair of dorms in UP Diliman;
Balikbayan Book Donation for Students' Community Outreach; Hosted the UP Concert Chorus and the UP Staff
Chorale; Donated copy machine to UP Alumni Office, and provided college scholarships. She is an advocate for
the preservation of Filipino culture and language. She promoted the teaching of Filipino as a foreign language.
Filipino is now being taught at San Diego Palomar College, Poway Unified School District and San Diego
Community College District. She is the co-founder of FAMILIA, an organization responsible for the Annual
Catholic Conferences for preschoolers to senior citizens. She has developed and facilitated the Annual Filipino
Immersion Camp at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish which teaches children from K-12 the Filipino cultures and
traditions through music, arts, dance, sports and special events. She mentors students from diverse backgrounds
and motivates them to volunteer in community projects.
THE FELICIANO FAMILY
FAMILY RECOGNITION AWARD
The grand patriarch of this family was Dr. Hilarion Feliciano. He was the pioneer of 4 generations of physicians
who earned their medical degrees from the University of the Philippines. After graduating in 1913, he worked as
assistant to established physicians at Philippine General Hospital for 2 years. He was appointed as a public health
officer at a U.S. Army camp in Lanao del Sur. He later became a corporate physician for a lumber company while
also in private practice. Since there were no high schools in Mindanao at that time, he and his wife founded the
Kolambugan Academy which became the Misamis Institute, expanded into Misamis College in 1955 and Misamis
University in 1977. To complement the paramedical courses offered by the institution, the university built a
tertiary hospital, the Misamis University Medical Center (MUMC). Natividad Feliciano (BS Pharmacy '38, MS '41,)
was awarded Most Outstanding Alumna of UP in 1992. She held the rank of Professor Emeritus in Industrial
Pharmacy having served the University for more than 65 years. Gregorio Feliciano (UP Law '39) was one of the
youngest graduate of the UP College of Law. He was the president of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction
Movement, and was appointed Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare by then President Ferdinand E.
Marcos, from 1967 to 1976. Nineteen members of the family attended, and obtained at least one or more degrees
from, the University of the Philippines. It is quite interesting to note that almost half of them are in the medical
field including his son, Jaime Feliciano who earned his MD from UP in 1942; his three grandsons, Wilfrido Feliciano
BS 1962, MD 1966, Roberto Feliciano, BS 1965, MD 1970, and Reynaldo Feliciano, BS 1968, MD 1972; and his great
grandson, Raoul Feliciano, BS 1985, MD 1990.
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The Mu Sigma Phi Foundation (MSPF) was established at the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA) Annual Grand Convention in Newport Beach, CA on July 10, 2004 by members of the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity and Sorority. It was incorporated as a 501 (C) (3) organization on Dec. 5, 2006. MSPF supported many projects in the Philippines. It provided funds for the renovation of the entire third floor of the UPCM Anatomy Dissection Laboratory and installation of 5 LED TV monitors for dissection and instruction; the construction of a Stage in the UP-PGH Science Hall Auditorium; the lmMUnization program which provides vaccines to UPCM medical students and UP-PGH employees began in 2008, including Hepatitis B, Varicella, Typhoid, TDap, HPV, and Influenza vaccines. The MSPF funded the Project Help20thers relief program which provided an innovative water filtration system (2980 units) to disaster and non-disaster stricken localities in the Philippines. In the 80 for 80 Project, MSPF funded the purchase of 80 donated computers for the Fraternity's 80th Jubilee. In 2016, it provided 80 Apple Mac computers for the use by UPCM students for academics and research. It donated a pediatric bronchoscope, gastroscope, adult bronchoscope with accessories, electrical power supplies and printer equipment for UP-PGH. I creation of the Mu Sigma Phi Village, a part of the Gawad Kalinga in Sta Rita, Las Pinas. 24 homes were built with two levels. There was eventual continuing financial support to the MSP Fraternity Gawad Kalinga community project in building homes in Santa Rosa. Through the year s, it provided GK­Health Day Education and clinics, an urban medical mission.
UPAA WISCONSIN
Since its establishment in 1974, UPAAW has developed several noteworthy projects for Filipinos in Wisconsin and in the Philippines. The Value our Heritage (VOH) Program holds an annual symposium on various relevant topics which is open to the public. It has sponsored the exhibits featuring the works of famous Filipino artists and hosted the UP Madrigal Singers. It sponsored the first "Santa Cruzan" in the community. For the first time in Wisconsin, formal classes for Filipino children were also conducted by the VOH to teach Philippine history, language, and culture, all aimed at developing positive Filipino identity and an appreciation for and pride in our Filipino ancestry. It sponsors a College Scholarship Fund for high school graduates of Filipino descent in Wisconsin. It provides funds to the Office of Scholarships and Student Services in UP Diliman Quezon City to cover a scholarship to student from any units of UP every school year. Its members volunteer in the Feed the Hungry in the Open Door Cafe at St. John's Cathedral. Each year, UPAAW participates in the Christmas Tradition of Sim bang Gabi by reserving a local parish for an evening mass and a reception. It partners with the Philippine Cultural & Civic Center Foundation (PCCCF) in reaching out to our Filipino-American community in the Milwaukee Area. It holds annual events such as the Spring Fling, Summer Picnic, Halloween/Harvest Fest, and Christmas Party. The PCCCF signed an agreement with the Milwaukee County Parks Department to make Zablocki Park the home of PCCCF. The main program of the Foundation is the Philippine Free Medical Clinic which serves the uninsured and underinsured in the community.
2017 UPAAA OUTSTANDING ALUMNI GROUP MU SIGMA PHI FOUNDATION
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