THE DIRECTOR of the UST alumni relations office, Maria Cherry Tanodra, is on “indefinite sick leave.”
The Office of Alumni Relations, a University unit under the Rector, made the clarification on Wednesday in the wake of the furor caused by the government service award given by the UST Alumni Association last Sunday to Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, a medical technology alumna.
A source, a University official, earlier told the Varsitarian that Tanodra, an assistant professor at the College of Nursing, stepped down from her position early on Tuesday.
The Varsitarian however, could not confirm whether Tanodra had indeed filed a leave of absence. The alumni relations director has not been answering calls.
The UST Alumni Association, an organization independent of the UST administration, on Tuesday said the award conferred on Uson and other government officials during an alumni homecoming last Sunday was its own initiative and did not involve Tanodra or the Alumni Relations office and the UST administration.
The board of the alumni association announced the resignation of its president, Henry Tenedero, Tuesday evening but said it won’t revoke the awards already conferred.
Uson returned her award on Wednesday.
From the UST AAI Board. pic.twitter.com/GWmAY3Vnhk
— UST Alumni Assoc Inc. (@USTAAi) January 23, 2018
Another alumnus, Akbayan Rep. Tomas Villarin, also returned his award to the alumni association, in protest of the recognition given to Uson, who has gained infamy for spreading so-called fake news on social media.
I have returned my award to USTAAI this morning. Amid all the lies, vitriol and violence peddled by govt officials like Mocha Uson, people will rally around the truth. I salute the Thomasian community for standing up against this raging darkness foisted as a “new normal.” pic.twitter.com/sOYdtTyTAz
— Tom Villarin (@tomvillarin) January 24, 2018
Note: This story has been updated for clarity.