UPIEAA Welcomes 81 New BSIE and Four MSIE Into UPIEAA Ranks

81 new BSIE graduates and four MSIE graduates swelled the ranks of the existing 2,600 IE alumni of UP Diliman’s College of Engineering. They were formally recognized at the College of Engineering Recognition Rites last June 27, 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center, or PICC. The group of 81 were led by two summa cum laudes, James R. Domingo and Dominic A. Ecat.  There were six magna cum laudes – Daniel D. Agustin, Art P. Cerio, Anne L. Go, Arizza S. Nocum, Francesca M. Rivera, and Carlo A. Sonday. In addition, there were 15 cum laudes in this bright batch – Kisko V. Apeles, Cyril W. Buscit, Maxine Y. Chan, Theresa S. De Pano, Earvin T. Go, David G. Gomez, Patrick I. Hermogenes, Virgil T. League, Jeronimo F. Lumague, Jomiguel M. Matanguihan, Joshua B. Ramirez, Nestor P. Rasco, Claudine S. San Miguel, Nicole G. Sanchez, and Domini L. Tamayo. Ecat and Nocum were also recognized as two of six surviving Oblation scholars. Nocum also received the Yao Service Award, in addition to having earlier received the Gawad Chancellor Award for Outstanding Student.

Two days later, on June 29, four MSIE graduates were recognized at the National Graduate School of Engineering Recognition Rites at the Bahay ng Alumni. These were: Ace O. Angeles, Benette P. Custodio, Mark M. Baldoz, and Rea C. Castro. Benette is incidentally the current UPIEAA Professorial Chair recipient.

In a fitting tribute, the UPIEAA, in cooperation with the IE representatives to the ESC, co-hosted the IE Graduation Dinner four days before the Recognition rites, on June 23, Thursday, 6pm at the Studio Bar, Celebrity Sports Plaza. This was the second time that UPIEAA assisted the IE reps with the IE graduation dinner, the first being last year, also at Celebrity Sports Plaza. Aside from formally welcoming the new graduates into the ranks of the alumni, and into the UPIE Alumni Association, it’s also a chance for UPIEAA to rally participation of the graduates in the various UPIEAA programs and projects, as well as to inspire the new grads as neophytes in the IE profession.

The program included testimonies from the two summa cum laude graduates James Domingo and Dominic Ecat, awards for best IE projects, an inspirational talk by director Ricky Banaag, and the taking of oath of membership into UPIEAA, led by UPIEAA VP Benjie Mirasol.

UPIEAA provided P25,000 for the event plus Smirnoff Mules drinks, each of the directors chipped in P1,000 each, while director Malou Esguerra generously donated P17,000 of her own money to make up the difference.

The theme for the evening was ‘Reverie’ and the dress code was semi-formal in pastel shades.