AN ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commander, a family of Thomasian physicians, and nine other alumni received the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awards (TOTAL) for excellence in their respective fields last June 18 at the Manila Hotel.
Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, Commander of the AFP Southern Command and a former corps commander of the UST Golden Corps, received the award for government service for military to the country.
The Faculty of Engineering alumnus said the award is a source of “inspiration and pride” for his 34 years of military service.
“My Thomasian education helped me a lot,” Braganza said. “There was always spiritual enlightenment which is necessary in strengthening the rank and file in the AFP.”
Braganza served as chief of staff of the Philippine Army in March 2001 and aide-de-camp to President Joseph Estrada.
Meanwhile, Quirino and Felipa Flores and their children—Dionisio, a former chairman of the department of medicine of Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Florida; Cynthia, chief of the Histology section at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery; Toribio, who is active in community activities in Ohio, USA; Gerard Quincy, vice-chief of the medical staff at the RCA Medical Center, Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Maria Regina, who conducted research works on cancer at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center—received the Thomasian Family Award.
The Floreses, who are all physicians, are alumni of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
The other honorees were: Consuelo Madrigal Collantes, who is actively involved in civic organizations such as Caritas Manila, Foundation for Lay Education, and Santo Tomas Charity Foundation, for community service; Francisco Mañosa, builder of Coconut Palace and EDSA Shrine, for architecture; Juliette Dizon, jeweler and designer, for visual arts; Robin Sy, a former president of the Filipino Chinese-Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated and Asian Shipping Corporation President, for business; Dr. Reynaldo Javate, an inventor and researcher in opthalmology, for health and medicine; Alice Colet-Villadolid, a former correspondent of the New York Times and Newsweek, for journalism; and Leonida Laki-Vera, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, for service to the Church.
CPA board topnotcher Jhoanna Feliza Go and basketball coach Bethune “Siot” Tanquincen were this year’s Young Thomasian Achievers. With reports from Brix Gil Bayuga
