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UP honors, calls on 2026 UPAA distinguished alumni to “lead with dangal”

| Written by Clariza Concordia

Recipients of the 2026 UP Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards in Human Capital Development and in Good Governance take a photo with this year’s UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus, Jorge Araneta (seated, second from left), along with UP President Angelo Jimenez (seated, leftmost), and UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton (seated, third from left). Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.

“Let us build institutions, but remember the people those institutions are meant to serve,” University of the Philippines President Angelo Jimenez called on the recipients of the 2026 UP Alumni Association Awards in a dinner hosted by the university in their honor, Aug. 12 at Atencio-Libunao Hall, UP Diliman — three days before the awarding ceremony.

 

This year, the awardees consisted of 52 alumni, two alumni chapters, and 13 multigenerational UP families who have exemplified leadership, excellence, and service in their respective fields, across generations, thereby bringing honor to the university and the nation.

 

Jorge Araneta, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group of Companies, is this year’s Most Distinguished Alumnus. His leadership in enterprise and civic engagement earned him UPAA’s highest level of distinction.

 

See the list of the 2026 UPAA Awardees here.

View scenes from the event below:
This year’s UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus is Jorge Araneta (BS Business Administration, 1958), chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group of Companies, one of the most recognizable business institutions in the country. Beyond his leadership, Araneta was honored for his civic engagement that has supported education, culture and heritage, and community welfare. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
This year’s UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus is Jorge Araneta (BS Business Administration, 1958), chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group of Companies, one of the most recognizable business institutions in the country. Beyond his leadership, Araneta was honored for his civic engagement that has supported education, culture and heritage, and community welfare. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Whatever success we achieve comes with a responsibility beyond ourselves,” says Jorge Araneta, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group of Companies, as he receives the 2026 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Whatever success we achieve comes with a responsibility beyond ourselves,” says Jorge Araneta, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group of Companies, as he receives the 2026 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
Elizabeth “Bibeth” Orteza-Siguion Reyna (BA English and Imaginative Writing, 1975), recipient of the 2026 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award in Culture and the Arts (Creative Writing). She was a founding member who later became chair of the UP Repertory Company, the official university performing group for Philippine theater at UP Diliman. Orteza is also the recipient of Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas and the National Achievement Award for Literature para sa Dulang Pampelikula in 2021. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
Elizabeth “Bibeth” Orteza-Siguion Reyna (BA English and Imaginative Writing, 1975), recipient of the 2026 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award in Culture and the Arts (Creative Writing). She was a founding member who later became chair of the UP Repertory Company, the official university performing group for Philippine theater at UP Diliman. Orteza is also the recipient of Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas and the National Achievement Award for Literature para sa Dulang Pampelikula in 2021. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
Dr. Rex Demafelis (MS Chemical Engineering, 1990; PhD in Environmental Science and Management, 2016), recipient of the 2026 UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Awards (Chemical Engineering, Biofuels, Renewable Energy, and Engineering Research). He is concurrently the UPLB vice chancellor for research and extension and the dean of the UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology. Demafelis is also the present chairman of the Interdisciplinary Biofuels Research Study Center and UPLB Interdisciplinary Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
Dr. Rex Demafelis (MS Chemical Engineering, 1990; PhD in Environmental Science and Management, 2016), recipient of the 2026 UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Awards (Chemical Engineering, Biofuels, Renewable Energy, and Engineering Research). He is concurrently the UPLB vice chancellor for research and extension and the dean of the UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology. Demafelis is also the present chairman of the Interdisciplinary Biofuels Research Study Center and UPLB Interdisciplinary Life Cycle Assessment Laboratory. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“To their remarkable achievements, their continuing service, and the lives they have touched and transformed,” says UP President Angelo Jimenez, inviting awardees and attendees to raise their glasses for a toast to the 2026 UPAA Awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“To their remarkable achievements, their continuing service, and the lives they have touched and transformed,” says UP President Angelo Jimenez, inviting awardees and attendees to raise their glasses for a toast to the 2026 UPAA Awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Malayong lupain, amin mang marating / ‘Di rin magbabago ang damdamin,” sing the UP alumni awardees in unison. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Malayong lupain, amin mang marating / ‘Di rin magbabago ang damdamin,” sing the UP alumni awardees in unison. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
The UP Concert Chorus moves to the groove for the alumni awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
The UP Concert Chorus moves to the groove for the alumni awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Wherever life takes us, we will be part of one university, bound by one eternal purpose: to serve the Filipino people.” — UP President Angelo Jimenez to the 2026 UPAA Awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Wherever life takes us, we will be part of one university, bound by one eternal purpose: to serve the Filipino people.” — UP President Angelo Jimenez to the 2026 UPAA Awardees. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Our awardees remind us that success is not measured only by what we achieve for ourselves, but also by what we give back and the difference we make in the lives of others,” says UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton in his opening remarks. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.
“Our awardees remind us that success is not measured only by what we achieve for ourselves, but also by what we give back and the difference we make in the lives of others,” says UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton in his opening remarks. Photo by Kevin Roque, UPS-MCO.