Mariano “Morris” Agoncillo, a UST High School alumnus and construction tycoon whose firm sponsored the UST women’s volleyball team, died on May 1. He was 65.
His company, DATEM Inc., and the Philippine Constructors Association, where Agoncillo served as president from 2018 to 2019, announced his passing on social media.
Agoncillo graduated from UST High School in 1974 and co-founded DATEM, now a leading construction firm in the Philippines, four years after earning his civil engineering degree from the University of the East.
DATEM Inc. has been a major sponsor of the UST Golden Tigresses since 2017.
Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said Agoncillo stood by the team through victories and defeats.
“Nandyan lang siya, matalo, manalo, wala kang maririnig na panghuhusga. Parang nawalan ka ng hindi lang suporta, parang nawalan ka ng tatay para doon sa team,” he told the Varsitarian.
Agoncillo became a sponsor for the Tigresses in Season 80, a year in which the team managed to secure just four wins.
“Nagkasakit at nag-retire siya, pero hindi siya tumigil sa pagsuporta sa amin. Tinuring na niyang parang anak ‘yong mga bata.”
The Tigresses dedicated their victory over De La Salle University on May 5, which secured their spot in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball finals, to Agoncillo.
Agoncillo served as managing director of DATEM Inc. and president of DATEM Water until his passing.
DATEM Inc. built the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building, the tallest building in UST Manila, which houses the Senior High School and the College of Information and Computing Sciences.
“It was through his passion, dedication, and malasakit that DATEM Incorporated was established and continues to stand strong with integrity on the core values we live by to this day,” the construction firm said in a Facebook post.
Agoncillo was a president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – East Metro Manila Chapter, external vice president of the Construction Safety Foundation, Inc., and member of the Construction Manpower Development Foundation. ·
For his contributions to the field of civil engineering, Agoncillo was named the Most Outstanding Professional of the Year in the field in 2023 by the Professional Regulation Commission.
Agoncillo received the Distinguished Thomasian Alumni Award in 2022.
His remains were laid to rest at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig. With reports from Emmanuel John B. Abris
