UPIEAA celebrates 4 Distinguished Alumni and 2 Distinguished Professors for 2019

Last 19^th of October, 2019, the UPIEAA honoured four distinguished alumni for their significant and exemplary achievements in their respective professional fields and distinguished professors for their significant contribution and service to the UP IE Community. (The other award was given posthumously to Prof. Nes Rañeses† who passed away and whose plaque was presented during his wake).

Former UPIEAA Board President, Bing Del Rosario, presented the awards during the alumni homecoming event, together with incumbent UPIEAA Board President, Ricky Peña, and Head of the Selection Committee, Jop Yap.

Below are the citations for the respective awardees.

Robert U. Sun in Retail Marketing

for his achievements in the field of Marketing and Retail in a career that spans over 30 years in diverse and leading companies in FMCG, Retail and Logistics. Currently Regional Managing Director of Asia of the A.S. Watsons Group, he oversees the Health and Beauty omni-channel businesses in Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.  He provides strategic direction in managing the current portfolio of 1,578 physical stores including its emergent online business, ensuring profitable business growth and meaningful differentiation in the markets he leads.

Elzar “Dodjie” L. Simon in Information Technology

for his achievements in the IT field spanning over 30 years where, as a strategic and hands-on leader, he directed large and complex programs and projects, headed teams that supported 24×7 global business operations in multiple industries such as Higher Education, Finance, Logistics/Shipping, Healthcare, Government and IT. His work in the design and implementation of IT strategies, systems and procedures, production planning, project management and queueing systems, among others, resulted in multimillion-dollar cost savings, enhanced service quality and consistency, as well as improved efficiencies.

Joseph Michael V. Castro in Restaurant Chain Management

for his successful application of IE principles in his work with various firms, notably at his current assignment as General Manager at Greenwich Pizza and previously as Regional Business Unit Head of Jollibee Philippines. Through his work which entailed leading many branches to achieve excellence in store operations, customer service, franchise relations and store profitability, he helped build a high performing organization and grow effective operations leaders.

Benjamin B. Azada for Management Consulting

for his achievements during his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he is currently Managing Principal with the Southeast Asia Consulting practice. Over the past two decades, he has driven numerous multidimensional transformation projects for clients in both the public and private sectors, using his Industrial Engineering skills and mindset. Having spent 13 years of his career in Hong Kong, he has demonstrated that a UP IE education is indeed world class.

Professor Edgardo G. Atanacio

for his significant contribution to the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, College of Engineering, National Engineering Center, and the University of the Philippines System as a Professor, Department Chair, Dean, Executive Director, and Vice-President for Planning and Finance during his 42 years of service to the University. He also provided technical expertise to the Commission on Higher Education in the development of plans, policies, standards, and guidelines for IE and other engineering programs in the country as Chair of its Technical Committee for Industrial Engineering and Co-Chair of its Technical Panel for Engineering and Technology.