Scholarship Awarding and Contract Signing for the Orica Philippines Scholarship with 7 Orica scholars (seated) and (standing, L-R) Orica Philippines’ Joel Laqui, Gordon Matthew Wallace, DMMME Chairperson Mitch Oyales, UPERDFI ED Tito Aliga, COE Dean Tonette Tanchuling, Orica Philippines’ Arnel Tegelan, COE AD Kate Tungpalan and DMMME Faculty Christian Arranz
Orica Philippines, a leading provider of commercial explosives and blasting systems, proudly announced the commencement of its inaugural scholarship program in collaboration with the University of the Philippines College of Engineering (UP COE).
This landmark partnership between UPD COE and Orica Philippines, Inc. aims to provide scholarships and mentoring support to promising engineering students, demonstrating the company’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation in the field of mining engineering. Gordon and Joel stressed that they were not making a donation; rather, they were investing to develop better mining engineers for the country.
The signing of the contracts and handover of the scholarship benefits was hosted by the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DMMME) on April 11, 2024. Mr. Gordon Matthew Wallace, Area Business Manager of Orica Philippines, Inc., and Mr. Joel Laqui, Senior Territory Manager were joined by Arnel Tegelan and other representatives of the company.
The seven scholars are Mining Engg students John Warren Alarcon, Ivy Bautista, Josh Adrian Bautista, Winchu Galang, Lyan Cheasrel Mendez, Catherine Nadine Orense, and Ericka Penido.
UPD College of Engineering Dean, Dr. Maria Antonia Tanchuling, congratulated the students and thanked Orica, highlighting future potential collaborations. Also present were Dr. Djoan Kate Tungpalan, Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Faculty members from DMMME headed by Chairperson Mitch-Irene Kate Oyales and Christian Arranz, and UPERDFI Executive Director Tito Aliga and Deputy ED Norika Ishikawa were also present.
