By Cyrus A. Natividad
The Outstanding Alumni Awardees posed with the CPU officials and Board Trustees.
This year’s Awarding Ceremony for the Outstanding Alumni of Central Philippine University was held on September 28, 2023 at the Jade Ballroom of the Grand Xing Hotel in Iloilo City. Dinner was served at six in the evening with an entertainment by the CPU Dance Company – a prelude to the awarding ceremony of Central Philippine University’s Outstanding Alumni. Engr. Eddie P. Cañuto, Member of the CPU Board of Trustees led the Prayer of Thanksgiving.
Present at the ceremony were, CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, Dr. Elmer Q. Pedregosa- Chairman, Selection for Outstanding Alumni of CPU Award Committee; Dr. Florentino Alerta, Dr. Oseni Millamena, Mr. Expedito Señeres and Dr. Perla Suyo (among members of the Search Committee), Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera-Chairman, CPU Board of Trustees; Atty Von Lovel Bedona- Vice Chairman CPU Board of Trustees, and CPUAAI President Atty. Jeremy Bionat.
Also present were CPU Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Florence P. Bogacia, VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio and VP for Student Affairs Dr. Esther Rose Romarate; The awardees and members of their families.
Part II of the program started at 6:45 PM, with the Pambansang Awit conducted by Mrs. Crista S. Huyong-Coordinator Cultural Affairs Office and Department of Music. The singing of Alma Mater song Central, My Central followed. Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director Office of Communications led the Invocation.
Dr. Teodoro Robles and Atty. Peter Irving Corvera welcomed and greeted everyone. Dr. Elmer Pedregosa delivered his opening remarks.
Six Outstanding Alumni Awardees were given plaques and medallions based on their outstanding achievements, academic excellence, and Christian values- with positive impact to society. Each one delivered their responses after receiving their awards.
Following are the awardees in alphabetical order:
ATTY. SALEX ALIBOGHA, CPU Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Laws (Juris Doctor), magna cum laude at Central Philippine University in 1992 and in 2001, respectively; completed his Master of Arts in Nursing at CPU in 1996 and Master of Laws at San Beda University in 2017 – was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University in Nursing and Law, in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a nurse and as a Lawyer.
After his college graduation, he began serving his Alma Mater as faculty member of the College of Nursing and later, the School of Graduate Studies and the College of Law. He was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Nursing in 2016-2017, Acting Dean in 2017-2018 and Dean in 2017-2018.
A recipient of numerous fellowship grants for leadership, research, nursing, and legal education from different organizations in the Philippines and abroad, he worked tirelessly to hone his skills. His active involvement in research led him to be recognized by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology as Outstanding Researcher for HIV/AIDS in 1998 and was awarded a certificate of recognition for his Outstanding Research in Behavior– related factors in HIV Transmission in 2000.
He has other achievements and participations in various capacities, in several organizations and agencies in the Province of Iloilo and in the Philippines. On March 1, 2022, he was appointed by former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a Regular Member, representing the ranks of active law practitioners, of the Legal Education Board, for a term expiring on January 14, 2025.
DR. MAREDIL RAFAEL AMBOS, was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University Award in Education, in recognition of his outstanding achievement as an Educator. From his humble beginnings as a student assistant, he finished Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Computer Science Education, cum laude at CPU in 2001; Master of Arts in Teaching, major in Computer Science at Southwestern University in 2013; and Doctor of Education, major in Educational Management at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation in 2016. He taught at CPU and received the Most Outstanding CPU High School Teacher and Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009; among other awards in Region 6, and four Professorial Chair Awards from CPU in 2009, 2016, 2019 and 2023.
Dr. Ambos initiated the “Dictio-Crayola at Iba Pa” project which aims to provide dictionaries and school supplies to school children in far –flung areas in Iloilo and neighboring provinces in in Region 6. Through his initiative, he has inspired underprivileged students to pursue and complete their education despite life’s adversities. He is a recipient of several awards from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and recognized as Outstanding Scoutmaster of Iloilo and Scouter of the Year Awardee in 2012.
MERIAM GARRIDO AMY, was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University Award in Nursing, in recognition of her outstanding achievement as a Nurse and as an Educator. She finished Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Central Philippine University in 1981 and her Master of Science in Public Health Education at the University of Toronto in Canada in 2020 as a recipient of the Education Scholars Program. She published a qualitative research entitled, safe Transition of Novice Nurses into the Surgical System and co-authored a section on the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Patient care Manual and Guidelines, the first document used as a resource on public health for hospitals, communities, and long-term care facilities in Canada. She is a member of several medical and nursing organizations and missions. As a loyal Centralian, she hosted the Nursing Summit in 2019 and organized the first Central Philippine University, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital Nurses’ Alumni Association (CCINAA).
FLORA GRACE GUILLERGAN CUDIAMAT, was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University Award in Nursing, in recognition of her outstanding achievement as a Nurse and as a Leader. The highest award for a college graduate of Central Philippine University – The Alton Bigelow Memorial Award or the Alma Mater Prize was bestowed upon her when she finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, cum laude in 1973. A student of Central since Kindergarten, she consistently excelled in academics, graduating Salutatorian in both Elementary and High School. She exhibited outstanding leadership skills highlighted by her stint as President of Intermediate class and Vice President of the Philippine Nursing Students Association, CPU Chapter on her final years in college.
After working as clinical instructor in CPU College of Nursing in 1975, Flora Grace explored the world of nursing abroad. From being a staff nurse to head nurse and eventually getting certifications in Medical-Surgical and Ambulatory Care Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, she blessed hundreds of patients in North American Hospitals with her Centralian brand of Nursing Care. To express her love and loyalty for her Alma Mater, she generously gave her time and resources.
An active member of the CPU Alumni Association of Midwest U.S.A. since 1979, she served it as President for eight years. She was one of the prime movers of the 2008 CPU Global Reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Chicago, Illinois in 2018. She was elected President of the CPU Federation of Overseas Alumni Associations (CPUFOAA) for two terms, 2017-2018 ad 2019-2020. During those terms she sat as Ex-Officio Member of the CPU Alumni Association, Inc. Board of Trustees (CPUAAI-BOT). Since 2019 to the present she has been an elected trustee of the CPUAAI-BOT.
HILARIO DINGLASAN LEBIGA, was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University Award in Accountancy, in recognition of his outstanding achievement as a Certified Public Accountant and as a Financial Expert.
The first Centralian graduate to be in the Top 10 of the Certified Public Accountant Board Examination, Lebiga placed second in the 1977 CPA Board Exam, just a year after he completed his Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting cum laude. Lebiga also graduated valedictorian in Elementary and High School at CPU.
He pursued a sterling career in finance and auditing after finishing a World Bank-funded fellowship program at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, U.S.A. in 1978. He served the Philippine government as Special Assistant to the Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner and later took on important roles in the private sector- as Senior Financial Analyst, Auditor and Controller in various closely held U.S. Companies and as Director of Finance of a multi-specialty pharmaceutical company in the United States, among others. Inspired by the Central Spirit, he served as President of the CPU Federation of Overseas Alumni Association (CPUFOAA) from 2015 to 2016. Lebiga is currently an active member of the CPU Alumni Association of Southern California (CPUAASC). He is instrumental in the fund -raising and eventual creation of the CPUAASC Endowment Fund which has been supporting deserving CPU students since 2017.
NELLIE BERMEJO OBLIGACION, was presented the Outstanding Alumnus of Central Philippine University Award in Pharmacy and Microbiology, in recognition of her outstanding achievement as a Pharmacist and as a Microbiologist. A committed loyal Centralian, Obligacion started her academic journey at the former Central Philippine College (CPC) as a high school student in 1946. She took up Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and during her college days exhibited commendable leadership skills serving as President of the Junior Philippine Pharmaceutical Association, CPU College of Pharmacy MU Chapter from 1941 to 1951. After passing the Licensure Examination in Pharmacy in 1951, she began her 20-year teaching career at the CPU College of Pharmacy and Life Science Department.
In 1972, she embarked on a new journey outside the academe and her home country, the Philippines, to pursue what became a remarkable career as a microbiologist at the New York Medical College, an institution affiliated with Lincoln Hospital. Blessed with a successful practice as a licensed microbiologist of the New York Department of Health, she remained committed to her Alma Mater, and in 1977, with her husband, she organized the CPU Alumni Chapter in New York, which presently is the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia Chapter.
Her love for Central is steadfast and her commitment to give back is best attested by her numerous contributions to the University. She has donated scholarship endowments for students of the Collee of Theology, and has sponsored the Junior High School Values Formation Retreat through the M & N Obligacion Ministry which she and her children established to continue the legacy of her husband. She is one of the first Centralians to start the God’s Grace Program, a project that has provided meals for Centralian work students since its inception in 2003. She served Iloilo Mission Hospital, a sister institution of CPU in different capacities; as member of the Corporation and as secretary and member of the Board of Directors. She has served as a coopted member of the CPU Corporation from 2015 to 2020 and 2021 to the present.
The Outstanding Alumni Awardees have reached new heights in their respective fields, with deep sense of social responsibility and hard work. The last time there was an awarding ceremony for outstanding alumni award ceremony, was accordingly ten years ago.
Rev. Dr. Bernabe C. Pagara, Dean, College of Theology delivered a Prayer for the Awardees. Mr. John Bryan Carnaje and Ms. Khazandra Carizz B. Ypil rendered a special number. Atty. Jeremy V. Bionat – CPUAAI President delivered the Closing Remarks. Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor, University Church led the closing prayer.
Prof. Kay Arden Q. Gallo, Director, Local and International Linkages and Affiliation Center was Master of Ceremonies.