BIZ BUZZ: Hail the top biz leaders, civil servants from UP

It’s that time of the year when the premier state university honors alumni who have made significant contributions in their respective fields and have continued to embody the ideals of honor, excellence and service to the nation.

Leading this year’s roster of Outstanding UP Alumni Awardees (UPAA) is Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (BA Political Science ’68), the sole recipient of the 2025 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The cohort also includes several business leaders and economic managers.

In community empowerment, LandBank of the Philippines president Lynette Josephine Ortiz (also an Inquirer 2025 Women of Power honoree) brings home the bacon.

The award is extra special for Ortiz as Landbank celebrates its 62nd anniversary this year.

Separately, Landbank and UP recently signed a deal to provide employee-funded scholarships, faculty development grants and campus-wide digital banking services.

This is uniquely fully funded by voluntary donations from more than 12,000 Landbank employees nationwide.

In the field of entrepreneurship, the honorees are Robert Go, Benjamin So and Jose Tapa Jr.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, on the other hand, is an honoree in the field of good governance, along with Anti-Red Tap Authority Director-General Ernesto Perez.

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This year’s UPAA Presidential Awardees are Solicitor-General Darlene Marie Berberabe (Inquirer 2025 Women of Power honoree), Rep. Marquez Go, Ambassador Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo and Atty. Rodrigo Libunao.

“These awardees have distinguished themselves through professional achievements, meaningful service and impactful leadership,” said the UPAA.

The 2025 UPAA Awards Ceremony will be held on Aug. 16 at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman.

Congratulations to all honorees!