UPERDFI held its 55th General Membership Meeting on May 15, 2024 at the Juinio Hall UP National Engineering Center and via Zoom. UPERDFI President Winnie Torres-Ordoñez, ED Tito Aliga and Treasurer Glen Tabios presented the 2023 highlights of the Foundation’s activities and financials and current activities. COE Dean Tonette Tanchuling provided a video presentation on the College Updates.
The members approved the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, which incorporated pertinent regulatory updates and aligned the organization’s governance framework with current best practices. They also voted to re-appoint SGV & Co as our independent auditor for 2024.
The members also warmly welcomed 10 new members who joined the Foundation between June 2023 and May 2024:
- Emmanuel “Noel” D. Bautista, ChE ‘86, Vice President of La Salle Green Hills
- Emmanuel “Emmy” V. Manlapig, MetE ‘71, Professor at University of Queensland in Australia
- Luis “Louie” R. Sarmiento, EM ‘79 (Mapua), President and CEO of Apex Mining, Co., Inc.
- Wilson “Sonsy” A. Sy, CE ‘87, Executive Vice President and Priincipal Architect of SY^2 + Associates, Inc.
- Raul L. Ignacio, CE ‘81, President and General Manager of Metro Pacific Tollways South Management Corporation
- Jaime “Jimmy” V. Mendoza, EE (PLM), MTechMgt (UP), Member of the Professorial Regulatory Board of Electrical Engineering at the Professional Regulation Commission
- Sherwin C. O, Psych (ADMU), President of CIIT College of Arts and Technology
- Genesis “Gen” D. Orozco, CoE ‘02, President and CEO of Advanced Computing Solutions, Inc.
- Rowena “Wengky” R. Quirimit, ChE ‘00, Manager of Projects at Fluor Daniel, Inc. – Philippines
- Justerienni “Ren” C. Tongco, Econ ‘04 (UPD), CEO of Craft Research Technologies, Inc.
UPERDFI Adviser and former DOST Secretary Nina Alabastro presided over the Oath of Membership to the new and reaffirming members.
Acknowledgement was made for 2023-24 Officers: Chairman Alex Sy, President Winnie Ordonez, Vice President Lito Bermudo, Treasurer Glen Tabios and Corporate Secretary Fred Chua.
The members elected two incoming Trustees to serve 3-year terms covering June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2027: Felipe “Pepe” Santiago, founder and Chairman/CEO of Trident Electronics; and Roberto “Bobby” Batungbacal, retired Managing Director of Dow Chemicals Asia Pacific and currently Executive Director of the Makati Business Club.
The 15-person Board for 2024-25 will comprise 11 elected Trustees:
- Bobby Batungbacal, Trustee till 2027
- Lito Bermudo, till 2025
- Fred Chua, till 2025
- Winnie Ordonez, till 2026
- Eric Paringit, till 2025
- Jeng Pascual, till 2026
- Ricky Pena, till 2025
- Gilbert Santa Maria, till 2026
- Pepe Santiago, till 2027
- Glen Tabios, till 2026
- Noly Torres, till 2025
Joining them are 4 ex-officio Trustees: Dean Tonette Tanchuling, UP VP Dan Peckley, UPAE 2024 President Rel Gomez, and UP COE Faculty Rep Alexis Acacio.
The Members passed a resolution to acknowledge outgoing Trustees Alex Sy and Val Reyes for their service to the Foundation during their terms as Trustees up to May 31, 2024: Alex served as Chairman, and Val Reyes was President in 2022-23, and continues to head the Membership Committee.
Post adjournment, and before a sumptuous lunch, a special ceremony was made where we handed over the Sundial Plaque to former UP President Danilo Concepcion. We acknowledged the support he extended to the College of Engineering in his positions as UP President, as Chairman of the UP Foundation, Inc (UPFI) and as Chairman of the Friends of the UP Foundation in America (FUPFA). He hosted numerous Donors Receptions at the UP Quezon Hall. And UPFI and FUPFA made significant donations for the UPCOE High Performance Computing Facility that was inaugurated in February 2023.
