IE 2018 Graduates Inducted During Hosted Dinner
The UPIEAA Board of Trustees, together with the Engineering Student Council (ESC) IE Representatives, hosted the traditional dinner for the IE graduating batch of 2018, last June 13 at Wack-Wack Residents Clubhouse. 54 out of a total of 90 graduates came dressed in cocktail attire for the evening affair which was dubbed as “The Final Parade”.
After a few icebreakers courtesy of hosts, Anna Martinez and Raine Robielos, UP IEAA Vice President Kenny Bulahan gave the IE graduates an overview of the various activities being organized and planned by the alumni association, with emphasis on the IE Achievers program, which solicits funds to assist the financially-challenged IE students and instructors. He also elaborated on the 2018 IEmagineering Symposium, held last April 21st. During the hearty dinner, song numbers with live accompanying music were rendered by Angela Fausto, as well as the band composing of TJ Castillon, Myke Cohen, and Aaron de Guzman to the audience’s cheers and delight.
Dinner was followed by the fellowship awards as well as recognition of various achievements:
SPECIAL AWARDS
- CrushIE ng Bayan : Angela Fausto
- Positive Transformation : Karl Baliton
- Hayok sa GWA : Renzo Lim
- Summa Cum Landi : Monchai Leyretana
- Rick Astley : Joyce Manaloto and Phillip Galacio
- Do you even lift? :Wendell Millan
- Tito and Tita of IE : Troy Canicosa and Pauline Dizon
- Jollibee : Pauline Dizon
- IE Paragon : Beto Arellano
CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS
- UP IE Club President 1718 : Beto Arellano –
- UP ESC IE Rep 1516 : Ramon Perez were also recognized as the
- UP CIEM Chairpersons : Crescent Cuenca and Thony Senina, for 1617 and 1718 respectively (unable to make the event)
ACADEMIC AWARDS
- Summa Cum Laude : Renzo Lim
- Best IE 153 Project (Ma’am Gina) : Shawn Lee, Maj Domingo, Renzo Lim, Carlo Figueroa
- Best IE 155 Project (Ma’am Mitchay) : Lily Santos, Paula Sanchez, Sam Concepcion, Joey Torres
- Best IE 156 Project (Sir Pampam) : Shawn Lee, Maj Domingo, Renzo Lim, Carlo Figueroa
A highlight of the evening was the talk by the Jomari Mercado ’80, IT professional consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software and business process outsourcing industries. Jomari started his IT career as a computer training specialist in Coca-cola Bottlers Phils. He confesses that, back then, he simply volunteered to do the training armed only with cursory knowledge of the system, but proceeded to study and master it. He then moved on to serving IBM Philippines for close to 2 years as Manager for IBM Direct. Jomari then joined Convergys, rising to Senior Director, Business Development. He narrated what was accomplished during his 9 years with Convergys at the upsurge of the BPO industry, employing over 30,000. For the next 3 years, Jomari then served as President and CEO of Information Technology & Business Process Association of the Philippines before moving to Microsoft in 2016 as its National Technology Officer. The graduates were visibly encouraged by his brief yet inspiring message. “If you find what you like to do, you will do well,” Jomari asserts. “And when you do well, the money will follow.” UP IEAA president Ricky Banaag followed Jomari with the Oath of Membership to UPIEAA, as he officially inducted the 2018 graduates of the BSIE program into the IE alumni community. The event culminated in a congulatory toast. Despite formally ending the program, the graduates remained in the venue and mingled, chatted and groufie-ed away for another hour or so.
