TWO Thomasian lawyers and the head coach of the UST Growling Tigresses were named “Outstanding Manilans” during the 2025 Gawad Manileño held Friday, June 20, at Diamond Hotel.
UST coach Haydee Ong, the inaugural commissioner of the newly formed Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, was named the Outstanding Manilan for Sports in recognition of her contributions to advancing women’s basketball in the Philippines.
“This award reminds me that the real victory isn’t the trophy, it’s seeing women rise in basketball, and watching my players thrive on and off the court — that’s the legacy I’m fighting for,” she told the Varsitarian.
“This is for every woman who’s ever fought for a place in sports, especially in basketball.”
Ong had served in the Philippine national team both as a player and as a coach: She played for the team from 1986 to 1993 before joining its coaching staff in 1996, then becoming head tactician from 2008 to 2014.
A former Growling Tigress herself, Ong led UST to its first UAAP championship in 17 years during the team’s historic Season 86 run. She has led UST to five Final Four appearances and two finals appearances since she took the helm of the team in 2016.
Ong has also coached the Enderun College Lady Titans, leading them to their fifth straight National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) women’s basketball championship in 2023.
Meanwhile, UST Faculty of Civil Law alumnus Kriden Balgomera, the governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Greater Manila Region, was hailed the Outstanding Manilan in public and private law practice.
Balgomera is an internationally certified auditor who serves as the officer in charge of the Bureau of Customs’ management information system and technology group and internal interim quality management system office.
Also feted during the 2025 Gawad Manileño was Thomasian lawyer Lester Jay Flores II.
Flores is a junior associate at the Ongkiko Manhit Custodio & Acorda law firm and was previously a legal editor at analytics firm Reed Elsevier. He served as the academics chair of the law review material UST Golden Notes.
The other Outstanding Manilans were:
- United Architects of the Philippines, Inc. Regional District B-1 (Socio-Civic)
- Ymari Kristia Pascua (Children’s Rights and Development)
- Rutchie Atienza (Barangay Affairs)
- Paulo Barcelon (Mass Media)
- Xiao Chua (Arts and Culture)
- Eva Darren (Film)
- Dr. Michael Tee (Higher Education)
- Amcy Esteban (Basic Education)
- Reynaldo Lachica (Innovation, Science and Technology)
- Dr. Merle Sacdalan-Faustino (Public Health)
- Police Lt. Col. Cristito Acohon (Peace and Order)
- Rammy Ann Reyes-Mendillo (Judiciary)
This year’s Gawad Gat Andres Bonifacio, the highest accolade presented by the City of Manila to an outstanding citizen, was given to Francis Chua of the Association of Philippines-China Understanding.
Fatima Hequilan of Jose Abad Santos General Hospital was feted with the Gawad Rajah Sulayman.
Outgoing Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and outgoing Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto led the awarding ceremony. with reports from Bjorn Del B. Deade
