The 2020 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumni Awards, Awarded to graduates who have achieved extraordinary achievements, Graduating with this award is the highest honor bestowed by the Institute.

And for the first time in the history of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, the only top award is presented to the health front liners to highlight and honor those who have sacrificed their lives to serve the masses and those who continue to sacrifice, risking their lives for others, The Most Distinguished Alumni Award is therefore presented to UP Health Frontliners not individually, but as a collective recognition

“In grateful recognition of their heroic service to the Filipino nation and the ire of its direst need, the coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the world in 2020 and which continues to this day, The University of the Philippines Alumni Association, presents its 2020 Most Distinguished Alumni Award to UP Health Frontliners… UPAA expresses its deepest gratitude and greatest pride, presented this 11th day of December 2021 in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Signed by the UPAA president, Reynaldo Laserna, and attested by Pacita Govino, UPAA Secretary.”
from UP Symphony Orchestra performing their piece entitled “Mahintay lang, Kaluluwa at Diwa”

Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.

Representatives to receive the award on behalf of all the frontliners are,

Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi. Director, of Philippine General Hospital; and

Gov. Melbret Reyes. President, Philippine Nurses Association, Inc.

In addition, Luiz “Junyee” Yee, Jr. has been selected to create the Sculptured Trophy for the 2020 UPAA, have crafted a Human Figure trophy, this has a head and a torso, with a head with identical hearts shaped head represented empathy and caring for others while all battling the pandemic, 3 heads that represent the 3 island groups which are the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. And the Torso, Filipinos belong to the brown race, which is symbolized by the bronze in the trophy.

“Thank you for your public service, thank you for living up to the oblation and UP’s brand of honor and excellence, thank you for walking the hall of brave sons and daughters, infinite blessings to all of you, we’re one of you in the call for your much-deserved recognition, Mabuhay po kayong lahat.” Engineer Romy Nones, 2nd vice president of UPAA, concludes the ceremony with a closing statement and the performance from UP Symphony Orchestra performing their piece entitled “Mahintay lang, Kaluluwa at Diwa”