University of San Carlos

For the similarly named university in Guatemala, see Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

University of San Carlos
Unibersedad ng San Carlos

Latin: Universitas Sancti Caroli
Motto	Scientia Virtus Devotio
Motto in English	"Witness to the Word" "Knowledge Valor Piety"
Type	Private, Catholic
Chairman	Dr. Conchita L. Manabat
President	Dr. Dionisio M. Miranda, SVD
Students	18,560
Location	Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Campus	Urban
Nickname	Carolinians, USC Warriors
Website	www.usc.edu.ph

The University of San Carlos is a private Catholic university in Cebu City which is administered and managed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935. It offers a Montessori preparatory academy, Basic Education, 80 Undergraduate, and 85 Graduate programs, with a broad spectrum of academic disciplines through its 8 colleges and 27 departments. The premier university in Cebu and one of the top 10 leading universities in the country and ranked by international Asian QS rating among the 200+ universities in Asia.

It consists of five campuses in different areas of Metro Cebu – the Main Campus along P. del Rosario St., the Talamban Campus (a.k.a. TC – Technological Center) along Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., the North Campus (formerly the Boys High) along Gen. Maxilom Ave., and the South Campus (formerly the Girls High) along corners J. Alcantara St. (P. del Rosario Ext.) and V. Rama Avenue and the newest is the Montessori Academy, along F. Sotto Drive, Cebu City (at the back of USC North Campus)

1 History
2 Recognition
3 Notable alumni
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

History [edit]

University of San Carlos in Cebu City, arguably the oldest in the Philippines

San Carlos traces its roots to the Colegio de San Ildefonso founded by the Spanish Jesuits fathers Antonio Sedeno, Pedro Chirino and Antonio Pereira on August 1, 1595. It was closed in 1769 at the expulsion of the Jesuits. In 1783, the initiative of the Bishop Mateo Joaquin de Arevalo opened the Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos. In 1852, the management of the college was entrusted to the Dominican fathers, replaced in 1867 by the Vincentian Fathers then, in 1935, the Societas Verbi Divini or the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). The Second World War led to the interruption of the courses in 1941 because several buildings suffered various amounts of destruction. The buildings reopened as repairs were made over the course of 1945 and 1946. The Colegio de San Carlos was granted its university charter in 1948. The University was named after St. Charles Borromeo.^[1]

However, this position is contested by some scholars. According to Fr. Aloysius Cartagenas, a professor at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos of Cebu, “following Church tradition, the foundation event and date of University of San Carlos should be the decree of Bishop Romualdo Jimeno on 15 May 1867 (turning over the seminary to the Congregation of the Missions) and the first day of classes in the history of what is now USC is 1 July 1867, the day P. Jose Casarramona welcomed the first lay students to attend classes at the Seminario de San Carlos.”^[2]^[3] Thus, he says that San Carlos cannot claim to have descended from the Colegio de San Ildefonso founded by the Jesuits in 1595, despite taking over the latter’s facilities when the Jesuits were expelled by Spanish authorities in 1769. According to him there is “no visible and clear link” between Colegio de San Ildefonso and USC. San Carlos was specifically for the training of diocesan priests, and it simply took over the facility of the former, a Jesuit central house with an attached day school.

In 1924, San Carlos split into two under a Vatican decree that seminaries should only be for priestly training.^[2]^[3] In the 1930s, the San Carlos college moved to a different location, P. Del Rosario Street, while the seminary remained at Martires Street. The Society of the Divine Word took over the college in 1935. It became a university in 1948. The seminary, meanwhile, was returned to diocesan control in 1998.

The Second World War saw the closure and occupation of CSC by Japanese troops. And shortly before Liberation, in 1944, bombs from US planes fell on San Carlos, almost reducing the school to rubbles. San Carlos became a university in 1948, three years after it reopened.

Following Communist persecution of the foreign clergy in China in 1949, the University of San Carlos would benefit from the migration of SVD priest-scholars to the Philippines. This accidental émigré culture in USC spawned pioneering research in anthropology, physics, engineering, philosophy, and other fields, here in the Philippines. This would have tremendous impact on the nation’s Post-War reconstruction.

Rapid expansion of the University during the 1960s under the leadership of foreign priest-academicians came with the decade’s wave of militant nationalism, which culminated in calls for the Filipinization of the administration of all Catholic schools in the country. In 1970, Fr. Amante Castillo became the first Filipino president of USC.

Recognition [edit]

Charter and founding member of the PAASCU, one of the first accredited universities in the country since 1961. The USC College of Engineering is the first PAASCU accredited engineering school in 1973.
USC has been granted with an autonomous status by Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) (CHED) in 2001,2005, 2009 up to present.
USC is recognized by CHED as Center of Excellence in Chemistry, the only one in the Visayas. CHED recognizes as well, its Teacher Education and recently it's Anthropology and Sociology program as Centers of Excellence.
USC is a Center of Development in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, the only engineering school recognized in Central Visayas. CHED recognizes its Business Education, Biology, Physics, Marine Sciences and Philosophy as CHED Center of Development as well. Thus, USC is among the universities nationwide with the most number of centers of excellence and centers of development recognized by CHED.
The Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) has ranked USC as one of the top performing schools for the past five years (2008-2012) in the board exams for Accountancy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Architecture, Pharmacy, Mechanical Engineering, among others.
The USC College of Law has been consistently in the Top Ten Law Schools in the Philippines (based on the Supreme Court Statistical Data), placing 2nd to Ateneo de Manila University in the 2005 Bar Exams and 4th in the 2006 Bar exams (based on new candidates).
The USC College of Engineering is the lone Philippine university member of the School on the Internet-Asia (SOI-Asia), a consortium of 15 universities situated in 11 countries across Asia. It can be noted that the Philippines was first connected to the Internet at the 1st International E- mail conference held at USC in March 1994.^[4]
The USC College of Commerce has been selected for the 2007/2008 EDUNIVERSAL 1,000 business schools that count on Earth by an International Scientific Committee.
The university's Accountancy, Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Law, Mechanical Engineering and Pharmacy programs are regarded as one of the best in the country, consistently topping the Board Examinations according to number of passers and producing board passers on the TOP TEN.
USC has been noted as among leading universities in the country with long tradition and track record of Research and Publications. Among it's Research Centers and facilities are; the USC Museum, Cebuano Studies Center, Business Resource Center, Kabilin Heritage Studies Center and San Carlos Publications which are located in the main campus downtown Cebu City.
USC academic excellence and research leadership in the sciences and technology is evidenced with its Research Centers / Laboratories located in the Talamban campus north district of Cebu City, these are; Water Resources Center, Water Analysis Laboratory, Office of Population Studies, Biotech/Bio-process research laboratory, Chemical, Environmental Research & Analytical Instrumentation laboratory, Microelectronics / PCB Design & Prototyping laboratory, CAD/CAE/CAM /CNC Machine Tool laboratory, Calibration, Repair & Maintenance laboratory, Hydrology & Soils Engineering laboratory, Materials Testing laboratory, Software Development laboratory, Applied Physics and Biophysics research laboratory, Natural Products research laboratory, Biological & Entomological Collections Museum, Marine Collections Museum, Botanical Garden and Nature Park, Affiliated Non Conventional Energy (Clean Energy) research center and Power Plant & Hydraulics Engineering laboratory. The Marine research station is located at Mactan island,Cebu. The College of Architecture & Fine Arts has specialized arts, multimedia design studios and performing arts theater. In 2012, USC inaugurated one of the country's biggest and largest Central Libraries and Learning Resource Center at the Talamban campus.

Notable alumni [edit]

DON SERGIO OSMEÑA SR.; Second President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines grandfather of Sen.Serge Osmeña and Rep. Tommy Osmeña. Patriarch of the Osmeña clan of Cebu.Youngest Speaker of the Philippine Congress, elected Senator,Congressman and Governor of Cebu.
Vicente Sotto; Former Senator of the Philippines, the "Father of Cebuano Literature" and grandfather of Sen.Tito Sotto.
Filemon Sotto; Former Senator of the Philippines and brother of Vicente Sotto.^[5]
Sotero B. Cabahug; he held varied top national government career positions as Justice of Peace, Secretary of Public Works, Secretary of National Defense, Administrator of Economic Coordinating Council, Associate Justice of Court of Appeals, Municipal Trial Court Judge, provincial fiscal and elected as member of House of Representatives and Provincial Governor of Cebu. He was born in Mandaue and studied at the Mandaue public schools, Colegio Seminario de San Carlos, San Juan de Letran College in Manila and the University of Santo Tomas where he graduated meritissimus with Licentiate in Jurisprudence.
Dionisio Abella Jakosalem; was a lawyer and a Provincial Governor of Cebu. He was appointed Secretary of Commerce and Communications by Gov. Gen. Francis. B. Harrison. He therefore became the first Filipino cabinet member during the American regime.He was also part of the first Philippine Independence Mission which was sent to the United States under the leadership of former president Manuel L. Quezon. He began his career in public service in 1900 as the municipal secretary of Dumanjug. In 1903, he was appointed justice of the peace in Cebu, a post he held only for a year as he was elected to the municipal council in 1904. He was born in Dumanjug, Cebu and gained his early education from the town’s school and went to Cebu to study at the Colegio Seminario de San Carlos where he was a classmate of Don Sergio Osmena Sr. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees at the University of Santo Tomas.
Sergio Osmeña III; Also known as Serge Osmeña, Senator of the Philippines. He campaigned for justice for victims of toxic wastes at the former U.S. bases in Clark Air Base and Subic Bay. He has extended assistance to victims in the form of hospitalization and financial support. He has earned the respect of many for his exposes on graft and corruption, among others the anomalous IMPSA-CBK, PIATCO, Tiwi-Makban, Marconi and Casecnan contracts, saving billions of pesos for the Filipino people. During his first year in the Philippine Senate in 1995, he was already recognized by the Phils. Free Press magazine as "Most Outstanding Freshman Senator" for these exposes.
Emilio Mario Osmeña; Also known as Lito Osmeña, is the former Governor of Cebu (1988–1992), founder and chairman of PROMDI Party (Probinsya Muna Development Initiative or Provinces First Development Initiative). A visionary, his term is credited for 'Ceboom'- a time of great economic growth for the city and province of Cebu. He ran for president but lost.
John Henry Osmeña; Also known as Sonny Osmeña. A former Senator of the Philippines, became Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Blue Ribbon Fact Finding Committee, Congressman, third district of Cebu and Mayor of Toledo City, Cebu. He was primary author of senate bills which created the Department of Energy (DOE) under RA 7638 in 1992 and the modernization of the energy industry sector with the passage of Republic Act 9136 or otherwise known as The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2000 signed into law by Pres. Ramos.
Antonio Abad; was a Premio Zobel winner in 1928 and 1929. He was a poet, fictionist, playwright and essayist from Cebu, Philippines.
Bishop Jose Maria Cuenco; He was vicar general of the Cebu Diocese in 1925 and founding parish priest of the city’s Santo Rosario parish in 1933. He became auxiliary bishop of Jaro in 1945. Six years after, he became Jaro Archbishop.
Mariano Jesús Cuenco; Former Senator of the Philippines (1941–1964). Served as Senate President and Chairman of the Commission on Appointments from 1949 to 1951. Titular head of the influential Cuenco clan, one of Parian Cebu's oldest families.
Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.; Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, March 2003. He served as the Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He is also the Truth Commissioner of the Philippines. He is also the father of defeated 2010 gubernatorial aspirant, Junjun Davide.
Raul Del Mar; Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. He represented the First District of Cebu City. A member of the Del Mar clan of Pari-an, one of the original twenty-eight wealthy families of Old Cebu, he is also the father of Rep. Cutie Del Mar.
Aniano A. Desierto; Former Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines.
Rene Espina; Former Senator of the Philippines.^[6]
DR. JESUS ESTANISLAO; Former secretary of the Department of Finance. He is the recipient of the 2002 International Corporate Governance Network Award (first and only Filipino to receive such award to date) and the Philippine Legion of Honor in 1992. He was the founding Dean (1998) of the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo. He also served as the founding president (1992–1997) of the University of Asia and the Pacific, which grew out of the Center for Research and Communication, of which he was the founding Executive Director (1969–1981).^[7]
DR. LOURDES REYNES QUISUMBING; is an educator par excellence who has been the first women Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports. She is the President of the Asia-Pacific Network for International Education and Values Education (APNIEVE). A high school valedictorian, she was a product of Catholic schools. She completed a degree in Bachelor of Science in Education as summa cum laude at Saint Theresa's College and her Master of Arts in Education again as summa cum laude from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. Dr. Lourdes R. Quisumbing gained her Ph.D. benemeritus from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila . She was sent as a Scholar of the National Science Foundation of America to the University of Colorado Summer Institute of Anthropology. She is the President of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Asia Pacific Network for International Education and Values Education. She is also a Professor Emeritus of Miriam College having been the president of then Maryknoll College. Dr. Quisumbing's Awards & Recognition include: Pro Excclesia et Pontifice (Sacred Cross for Church and Pope) Award in 1979, the highest award given to lay persons for outstanding service to the Church; and the Comenius medal- a prestigious award by the International Board of Education in Geneva, Switzerland on October 5, 1994, conferred only to the world's most outstanding educators.
Pablo P. Garcia; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines. Served as Governor of Cebu from 1995 to 2004. Consistent honor student and scholar, graduated valedictorian from elementary, high school and magna cum laude Bachelor of Laws at USC and topped first place in the bar exam.
Bishop Juan Gorordo; First Filipino bishop of Cebu.^[8]
Gregorio Larrazabal; Former Commissioner of the Philippine Commission on Elections.^[9]
Marcelo Briones Fernan; Former Senator of the Philippines. He is the only Filipino to have served as both Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and as Senate president. Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Carlos.
Ramon Fernandez;Former Philippine Basketball Association player, who bore various nicknames: "The Franchise", "El Presidente" and "Don Ramon" during his playing days. Considered by experts to be the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time.
Lauro Mumar; Is a former Filipino basketball player and later served as the national team head coach of India and the Philippines. He was one of the greatest Filipino players of his time, playing alongside compatriot legend Carlos Loyzaga. He led the San Carlos College of Cebu City (now the University of San Carlos) to the first post-war Inter-Collegiate basketball championship in 1946.
Napoleon G. Rama; was a journalist, columnist, publisher of the Manila Bulletin, member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, and in 1987, became the floor leader of the Constitutional Convention. He was awarded the Premio Zobel in 1992.^[10]
Vicente Rama; Former Senator of the Philippines and former mayor of Cebu City.^[11]
Julius Caesar Herrera; vice-governor of Bohol, 2001 to 2010.
Manuel Briones; In 1918 he began his political career with election as a member of the House of Representatives, where he for four consecutive legislative sessions until 1931, represented the interests of Cebu
Alvin N. Garcia- former Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Cebu City
Ernesto Herrera III; aka Ernest, son of former Senator and Congressman Ernesto Herrera Jr. became town mayor of Bohol.
ATTY. AUGUSTO GO; president and founder of the University of Cebu
WILFRED STEVEN UYTENGSU,SR.; he first founded General Milling Corporation in the late 50s, which would become one of the largest food companies in the Philippines. In the early 70s, Uytengsu established Holland Milk Products, Inc., the manufacturer of Alaska Milk. The company was a partnership between the General Milling Corporation and dutch-based Holland Canned Milk International. He later on merged Holland Milk and food group of General Milling and became Alaska Milk Corporation. The company went public in 1995 and has a market capitalization of P11.4 billion. Uytengsu also held key positions in other companies, he was a director of Mandarin Oriental and the Winsconsin-based Universal Food Corporation. In 2010, he was ranked by Forbes as among 40 richest Filipino with a net worth of USD65 million. Uytengsu finished elementary and high school at Colegio de San Carlos and Silliman University. He graduated BS Industrial Engineering from Stanford University in 1950 and BS Chemical Engineering at Indiana Tech University in 1951.
DON STEPHEN SY GAISANO SR.; the patriarch of the second generation Gaisano Brothers which own and manage one of the country’s largest and premiere retailing companies in Southern Philippines. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree-Honoris Causa in Education and Entrepreneurship by USC. Don Stephen heads the Gaisano retail empire in the country, is one of the five sons of the late family matriarch, Dona Modesta Singson Gaisano who founded the White Gold House Department Store in 1950’s. Stephen Sr. is the brainchild in establishing the Dona Modesta Gaisano Foundation, whose main and important undertaking is the granting of scholarship to hundreds of poor, but deserving Cebuano students. Stephen Sr. spent two years of his college education in the old Colegio de San Carlos, aside from that, most of the second generation Gaisanos and also the succeeding generations have gone to USC for their education. In fact, two of the third generation Gaisanos, Stephens' son Alexander, and nephew Benito, have been awarded as Outstanding USC Alumni.
JOHN L. GOKONGWEI, JR.; a Chinese Filipino businessman with holdings in telecommunications, financial services, petrochemicals, power generation, aviation and live stock farming. As of 2012, Gokongwei is the third richest entrepreneur in the Philippines with a networth of $3.2 billion, ranking behind only to Henry Sy and Lucio Tan.[1] He is the chairman of JG Summit Holdings, one of largest conglomerates in the Philippines. In 2005, his company spent $700 million of internally generated funds which was used to buy new aircraft for his airline, Cebu Pacific Air. From 2003 up to the present his telecom company Digital Telecommunications Philippines spent nearly $800 million for its mobile carrier, Sun Cellularwhich is the 3rd largest mobile operator in the Philippines as of 2008. He attempted a $1 billion takeover of UIC, a property giant from Singapore of which he owned in excess of 30%. UIC controls Singapore Land, one of the biggest property landlord in Singapore. Gokongwei also owns Universal Robina Corporation, one of the largest manufacturer of snacks in the Philippines. He also controls Robinsons Land one of the biggest property developers in the Philippines which also operates a chain of malls. In 2002 Gokongwei donated P200-million to the Ateneo de Manila University undergraduate school of management. He also gave donations to University of San Carlos, Xavier School, De La Salle University, Sacred Heart School and Immaculate Conception Academy. He took his elementary and high school education at USC Boys High School, business degree at the Ateneo de Manila and masters degree in Harvard. He was conferred by USC an Honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Business Management.
JAMES L. GO; Brother of John Gokongwei, Jr. He is the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGSHI).^[12]
BENITO GAISANO; the son of Francisca and Henry Gaisano, a well-known philanthropist. He graduated with a business management degree from the University of San Carlos in 1976. USC has given him the recognition of being the Most Outstanding Alumni with respect to his achievements in the field of Business. He started his own buy and sell business at the young age of 15, and in 1978, he was able to put up the first Gaisano store with his brother, Edmund. He used his savings and some capital they were able to borrow from a bank to build their first store in Colon St. GJ Gaisano South, now known as Gaisano Grand Group, were then established. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded him as “Entrepreneur of the Year” distinction as founder of the prominent Gaisano Grand Group of Companies.
EUGENE ACEVEDO; banker and treasury veteran guru was former president and CEO of the Philippine National Bank (PNB). He has over two decades of experience in the field of treasury operations, he boosted PNB’s presence in financial markets and beefed up the bank’s treasury team through the addition of several high-profile market practitioners. He was managing director for Asia-Pacific of the Citigroup in Hongkong, Macua and Singapore. He graduated magna cum laude B.S. Physics at USC in 1984 and finished a Master in Business Management with highest distinction, first honor at the Asian Institute of Management, Makati City in 1987.
JUSTIN UY - founder and CEO of Profood International, the largest tropical fruit processing, manufacturer & exporter of dried mangoes in the Phils and Asia with 50 countries marketed, awarded as one of Top Entrepreneurs and Exporter of the country and diversified his business into real estate and tourism, built and own a new modern mall in Mandaue City the JCenter and partnership with Korean company the Imperial Resort Hotel in Mactan island. He graduated B.S. Chemical Engineering at USC in 1983.
ENGR. NAPOLEON L. NAZARENO;President and CEO, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and President and CEO, Smart Communications. His experience spans several countries in over 3o years across a broad range of industries including: packaging, bottling, petrochemicals, real estate, telecommunications and information technology. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City and completed his Mater in Business Management at the Asian Institute of Management, Makati City followed by the INSEAD Executive Program in Fountainbleau, France in 1983. In 2004 and 2005, Mr Nazareno was voted Corporate Executive of the Year in the Philippines (PLDT and SMART) at the Best-Managed Companies and Corporate Governance Polls conducted by Asiamoney, one of Asia's most influential magazines. Asiamoney also cited PLDT/SMART as Best Managed Company in the Philippines in 2004 and 2005 and Mr. Nazareno as the Best CEO in the Philippines in 2005. His professional membership and appointments include among others : Private Sector Representative of the Public-Private Sector Task Force for the Development of Globally Competitive Philippine Service Industries Board Member of the GSM Association Worldwide; Non-executive director of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Company Ltd; Governor of the Management Association of the Philippines and member of the Council of Advisors of the De La Salle University - Graduate School of Business, Philippine-Thailand Business Council; and member of the Board of Trustees of Asian Institute of Management.
DR. PERICLES DAKAY (B.S. Civil Engineering at USC; PhD Structural Engineering, Washington Univ.) former Trustee of the USC Board of Trustees; CEO and President of Dakay Construction and Development Corp. one of Cebu’s top construction company, built the largest libraries building in the Phils. The USC Learning Resource Centre in Talamban Campus.
ENGR. JESUS ALCORDO; former President of Global Power Corporation, Cebu Energy Development Corporation, Panay Energy Development Corporation; Director of Toledo Power Company and Chemical Industries of the Philippines; Trustee and Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors; and Member of the Advisory Council, UP Cebu Chapter. Held different positions in the power industry both in government and private companies, such as Commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission, Special Advisor at the Department of Energy, and President of National Power Corporation. He was Manager, Consultant and Engineer in the Philippines, Asia and Central America. In 2010, he put up the Cebu Energy Development Corp. to help alleviate the power requirements in the islands of Cebu and the Visayas. The Cebu Energy consortium is composed of Global Business Power Corporation, Aboitiz Power Corporation, Vivant Energy Corporation, and Formosa Heavy Industries Corporation (FHIC). Former Chair of the USC Board of Trustees, he was conferred by USC an honorary degree of Doctor of Technology in Energy Management honoris causa in recognition of his professional achievements and exemplary leadership in the energy industry development and service to academe. He graduated magna cum laude B.S. Mechanical Engineering at USC.
ENGR.ANTONIO V. ENRIQUEZ II; former vice president for corporate exports sales & development, San Miguel Corp. where he was responsible for the overseas expansion and exports venture of San Miguel beer, food and packaging products. Presently, he is the managing director of Sensient Technologies a leading manufacturer of food flavors, natural food essences and additives based in Wisconsin, USA. He graduated magna cum laude B.S. Chemical Engineering at USC and topped the chemical engineer's board exam. He was awarded as one of the Outstanding Chemical Engineers of the Philippines for Industry Export development.
ENGR. REBECCA S. FLORES; first female Brewmaster in Asia, Assistant Vice President and Head of Brewing Technical Group of San Miguel Brewery Inc since 2008. She was previously Plant Manager of San Miguel Baoding Brewery, North China Operations (2006-2008) and Mandaue and Bacolod Breweries (2001- 2006), San Miguel Beer Division; and Brewmaster and Brewing Manager of Mandaue Brewery of San Miguel Brewing Philippines (former name of the San Miguel Beer Division) (1996-2000) of SMC. She graduated BS Chemical Engineering, summa cum laude 1979 and topped first place in the chemical engineers board exam.
JACK GAISANO; CEO and president of the VISCAL Group of Companies which own and manage the Metro Gaisano stores amd malls branches nationwide, luzon, visayas and mindanao. He is active with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce promoting trade and commerce between the Phils., Canada and US being an honorary consul for international trade of Canada in Cebu.
BENSON DAKAY founder and ex-CEO, Chairman of the Board, President of the Shemberg Group of Companies, the largest seaweeds processing, carageenan manufacturer and exporter in the Phils. He was the forefront in promoting and gaining international acceptance of the Phil. grade carageenan and was president for several years of the Seaweeds Industry Asso. of the Phils. (SIAP) of which he helped organized. He was internationally, nationally and locally awarded for his outstanding leadership in business and export industry and bestowed the title as "seaweeds king of the Phils."
PIO B. CASTILLO and DENNIS B. WONG; CEO & president and COO, vice-president, managing director & general manager respectively of International Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(IPI). They belong to the third generation of the Castillo Wong family which founded, owned and managed one of the largest filipino owned pharmaceutical company in the country which is based in Cebu City. In 2000, the Center for Traditional and Alternative Medicine Health Link, Inc. (CTAM) was created. The center provides methods and ways in addressing health conditions and utilizes an array of new state of the art technologies to check, screen and treat ailments. The IPI has been awarded by the Cebu Grand Chamber Awards, Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Philippine Pharmaceuticals Association, USC Carolinian Pharmacists Alumni Association, DECS, TESDA, CITE, DOST and COSPO Region 7.
Lilian Yared Overs; partner, co-founder of Pizza Pizza Canada, founded by her late husband Mr. Michael Overs in Toronto, Canada the largest fast food pizza chain in Ontario, Canada with 600 franchise restaurant outlets in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saaskatchewan, Alberta and British Colombia. Pizza Pizza Canada is among the top 200 corporations traded in the Toronto Stock Exchange. A socially responsible corporation, she and her late husband founded a charitable foundation in Toronto Canada, the TESARI Foundation which finance and support various socio-economic projects in developing countries such as in Cebu, the Lebumfacil Sta. Ana Medical Foundation in Toledo City, Cebu which provides free medical assistance & services, free clinics, day care and livelihood training to poor families in the barangays. Together with fellow Carolinians in Ontario, the Carolinians Asso. of Ontario was organized with her as founding president, the association has sponsored scholars at USC since 1980's.
Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung; founder and chairperson of a humanitarian organization that bears her name, the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung Charitable Foundation Inc. or MSYCFI. Established in 1991 with a few of her close friends, the foundation is the local partner of Operation Smile, the international volunteer organization providing free reconstructive surgery for cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial malformations. She was conferred the title Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester on May 25, 2011, for charity work and service to the church. This conferment is one of the five Papal Awards of Chivalry. In addition to her charity work, Yeung leads the Cebu Beautification Movement and the Osmeña Boulevard Beautification Project.
Julia R. Gandionco; established Julie's Bakeshop and, eventually, Julie's Bakery Franchise Corporation.
Philip N. Tan; Chairman & CEO of Wellmade Motor & Development Corp., President of Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Benjamin and Rosario Lim founders, president and CEO of Rose Pharmacy Chain of drugstores, one of the largest pharmaceutical and drugstore company in the Phils. which was established in Cebu City. It has about 200 branches nationwide in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Their first drugstore was located at P. del Rosario St. across USC main campus.
Luz Mancao Sandiego; pioneer researcher and conservator of indigenous Cebuano folk dances. She was awarded for her exemplary achievements in performing arts. Luz Mancao-Sandiego graduated from high school at St. Catherine School in Carcar as salutatorian and college, at the University of San Carlos (USC). Luz had her formal lessons in ballet under Kate Hauser and Ricardo Cassel. She is the founder of the Sandiego Arts Dance Studio, formerly the Cebu Ballet Studio. In late 1960’s, she was the president of the Lioness Club of Lions International Cebu Chapter. By 1971, she received the Most Outstanding Alumni award from the USC after having been appointed head of the P.E. dept. she organized the USC Dance Troupe. In 1979, Luz, with the help of the Cebu P.E. Teachers Association, was requested by Cebu City Mayor Florentino Solon to organize the first Sinulog of Cebu City with Estelita Diola as the resource person. She moved to the U.S.A. and was the official choreographer of the Ang Bisaya, Inc. in Washington D.C. and the Filipino Doctor’s Association of Richmond Virginia. Other awards she has received over the years are for her exemplary achievements in performing arts and for the preservation of the Filipino culture and heritage.
Fe Sala Villarica; founder of the Ballet Center in Cebu, and organized the Queen City Junior Ballet Company. Founder, TeatroFolklorico Ballet Center West in San Diego, California,USA Fe Sala-Villarica was born to a Filipino-Spanish family in Barcelona, Spain. She grew up in Cebu: earned a degree in commerce and graduated summa cum laude from St. Escolastica’s College Manila, did graduate work in accounting at Sto. Tomas University, Manila and trained in production arts at New York University and hunter College in New York. She holds a Master’s Degree in Literature at the University of San Carlos, Cebu. The Ballet Center came to be the focal point for such productions as Giselle (1956), Nutcracker (1962). In 2004, in cooperation with the Arts Council Foundation of Cebu, she produced the full-length “Sleeping Beauty” ballet, never before produced in its entirety in the country, outside of Manila, as well as Villarica’s own original works. In 1962, she organized the Queen City Junior Ballet Company and, toured all over the Visayas and Mindanao for the next 20 years. She also founded Teatro Folklorico in 1981 and Ballet Center West in San Diego, California in 1986.
Concepcion Rodil Martirez; founder of St. Martin de Porres School for the Mentally Retarded and Hearing Impaired in 1966. She established the school at an inherited property in Tres de Abril, Labangon, Cebu City, which she later donated and is now run by the Special Child Association in Cebu, Inc. She had a brilliant record in academics, being a holder of two doctoral degrees from prestigious universities in the US. Her service record has earned her many awards, including Most Outstanding Alumni of the University of San Carlos for Humanitarian Service in 1972; a Plaque of Cooperation, Dedication and Selflessness from Zonta International and a nomination for the Mother Teresa Award in 1999 for establishing St. Martin the Porres; as well as recognition for her other charitable works with Zonta Club of Cebu.
Lelani E. Paredes; Pacesetter Communicator, recognized by her peers for her dynamism and leadership, she was elected as the first woman president of the National Press Club, Cebu Chapter. She conceptualized, initiated and institutionalized twelve (12) official publications in various government, academe and corporate sectors. She was recognized for her media work by five countries (U.S., China, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Germany) through observational travel and study grants. She also pioneered hosting and/or producing public affairs talk shows on Cebu television (1982-1990). The University of San Carlos awarded her as Most Outstanding Alumna for communications in 1989.
Dr. Araceli G. Almase ; a Ph.D in Science Education at Michigan State University has made Ma’am Cel the most sought-after Regional Director of DOST in the Philippines for several years. Mentoring the trainors’ and teaching the teachers’ became the call of the hoCentral ur after science and math became the nexus of development. She was instrumental in the development of science and technology in Visayas with the establishment of the first DOST Regional Standards and Testing Center; upgrading and expansion of Technology Transfer and Commercialization centers in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. The Confederation of Scientific and Professional Organizations recognized her with a Leadership Award for pioneering in the organization of scientific and professional organizations in Region 7; which served as the model for other regions in the country.
Archt. Melva C. Rodriguez Java; Architect and Keeper of Heritage, former Dean, College of Architecture & Fine Arts, University of San Carlos; Cebu Provincial Consultant on Heritage, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation. She is an alumna of St. Theresa’s College, is a multi-faceted woman. As an architect, anthropologist, educator, media practitioner or fulfilling her tasks as a mother and family matriarch, she has also proven her best as lady custodian of Cebuano heritage.Her rich background as an architect, specializing in Architectural Conservation, catapulted her to more challenging roles as Dean (for 12 years), College of Architecture & Fine Arts (CAFA), University of San Carlos; Head, Conservation Studies, and a host of other career demands, the most dynamic of which is Cebu Provincial Consultant on Heritage, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation.The measure of her professionalism as a media practitioner/TV anchor is also proven by her having been selected as CAMMA Awardee for Best TV News for three (3) consecutive years. She is also writes “Heritage”, a column in the Cebu Daily News.
Dr. Montana C. Saniel; Lodestar of Graduate Education, An indefatigable academic leader, Dr. Montana Saniel tirelessly worked to uplift the standard of graduate education in the country. As an active member of the Philippine Association of Graduate Education, she continually held seminars and trainings on thesis and dissertation advising. For her contribution to the growth and development of the graduate school of the University of San Carlos and the USC Alumni Council she was awarded as outstanding alumna in August 2008.
Zenaida R. Uy;led the Open Mass Movement during the Marcos dictatorship, “In extraordinary events, there are extraordinary people who are called to do something extra-ordinary”. This was during the last years of the Marcos dictatorship when the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was formed here in Cebu..ProfessorZenaidaUy, the then Chairperson of the Socio-Anthropology Department of the University of San Carlos was elected as BAYAN Cebu’s Chairperson. In rallies and demonstrations which characterized the political mood of the times, Ma’am Zeny , as she was fondly called, was the feisty speaker who can hold a crowd of thousands, explaining to them why people had to continue the struggle for the restoration of freedom and democracy in the Phils. In the height of her activism, she had to give up her teaching post for security reasons. She indeed is a woman of courage and commitment. Presently, she plays an role as Filipino-Canadian providing social welfare and support services for Filipino community in Ontario, Canada.
Grace J. Cenas; Seed Sower for Rural Development Through a Glass of Milk, she finished a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from St. Theresa’s College, Cebu and a Master’s degree from the University of San Carlos. She was totally unaware that her real passion was in the development of the local dairy industry in Cebu and in the Visayas. Aside from providing livelihood to small farmers and their families through the establishment of dairy enterprises, Grace tapped various government and private entities in the launching of milk feeding programs for thousands of malnourished children using the milk products of dairy farmers. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Grace now serves as the first Cebuana Administrator of the National Dairy Authority, under the President Benigno C. Aquino’s administration.
Dr. Erlinda Kintanar Alburo; The “Schovocate” of Heritage and Literary Scholarship, She is a contemporary scholar and advocate of Cebuano language and literature. As director of the Cebuano Studies Center since 1996, she has consistently worked for the advancement of heritage studies in Cebuano culture. An active member of the Women in Literary Arts (WILA), she writes poetry and fiction in both English and Cebuano. She has published numerous papers and primary texts which she wrote and/or edited on Cebuano literature. A significant contribution to Cebuano scholarship are her two compilations of purely indigenous terms: Dictionary of Cebuano Arts (2006) and Dictionary of Bisayan Arts (2009).
Archt. Socorro Borromeo Atega ; Leading Force for a Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water, concretizes and trailblazes the role of civil society toward effective governance and authentic community empowerment as she guides the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water ( CUSW) and the Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board (CCPL-PAMB). The CCPL encompasses 29,000 hectares and is composed of 3 water shed areas: Buhisan, Mananga, Kotkot Lusaran and 2 national parks, Central Cebu and Sudlon. As lead of CCPL-PAMB, she helps draft and implement policies and activities to ensure the effective management of the protected areas. So, with her zeal toward the earth’s conservation and sustainability being the head of CUSW for the past years, Cebu’s stake toward survival is secured. She graduated magna cum luade B.S. Architecture at USC; M.S. Architecture at UST and Master’s in Landscape Architecture at Harvard University.
Dr. Resil Mojares; a Filipino literature ambassador, historian and critic. He has a Ph.D. in Literature from the University of the Philippines. He is retired as Professor at the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City. He was founding director (1975–1996) of USC's Cebuano Studies Center, a pioneering local studies center in the Philippines. He has authored books in Philippine history, literature, and politics. His most recent book is Waiting for Mariang Makiling: Essays in Philippine Cultural History. He has worked on the emergence of modern disciplines in the Philippines through the careers of three Filipino intellectuals (Pedro Paterno, T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Isabelo de los Reyes), whose writings span the years 1876-1933 in fields like history, anthropology, linguistics, and sociology. He has been a recipient of six Philippine National Book Awards. His other books include The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu Province; Aboitiz: Family & Firm in the Philippines; House of Memory: Essays; and Vicente Sotto, The Maverick Senator, Cebuano Studies Center (1992). Mojares has been a visiting professor at the University of Kyoto, The National University of Singapore and the University of California at Los Angeles where he lectures on "The Philippine Novel," and "Topics in Philippine Cultural History". He is writing the History of Cebu Province for the Cebu Town History Project.