FORMER Faculty of Arts and Letters Dean and Southeast Asian Writer of the Year Award recipient Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta led 18 alumni who were recognized by the University at The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (TOTAL) Awards last March 22 at the Medicine Auditorium.
Dimalanta is one of the most influential figures in Philippine literature. Her works are considered cornerstones in the development of Philippine poetry in English. Dimalanta is the current director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies.
The other recipients included former College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) dean Arch. Yolanda Reyes, corporate executive Nina Datu-Aguas, management expert Atty. Reginaldo Oben, ophthalmologist Dr. Jacinto Bautista, Technological Institute of the Philippines president Dr. Teresita Quirino, Ambassador Benjamin Jyh-Yuan Lo of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, chair of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery’s Department of Pediatrics Dr. Miguel Noche, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Alicia Lumboy Santos, College of Science Dean Gloria Bernas, Convents of Divine Mercy and Divine Word founder Sr. Mother Mary Aurora Marasigan, pianist Prof. Emiliano del Rosario and conductor Fidel Gener Calalang Jr.
Tenor Lemuel Dela Cruz, soprano Maria Rachelle Gerodias, Far Eastern University Department of Psychology head Maria Theresa Oba-Del Rosario, and civic volunteer and lecturer Dr. Peter Ng were this year’s honorees of the Young Thomasian Achievers Award. The Syquia family, headed by Ambassador Enrique Syquia of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, was named the Thomasian Family of the Year.
Comedian and former Varsitarian editor in chief Bernardo Bernardo hosted the program. Bernardo enlivened the ceremonies with witty jokes and playful pranks.
The annual event is the University’s way of recognizing its alumni who had made outstanding accomplishments in their chosen fields.
