A Senior Fellow and four former scholars of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) were among the awardees of the University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Association (UPLBAA) for 2019.
The UPLBAA honored Dr. Cielito F. Habito, SEARCA Senior Fellow, with the Presidential Award, its highest accolade. He was recognized for his contributions to shaping sound economic policies for the Philippines and other countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and to promoting economic literacy through his writings. Currently, he is a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University and chair of the consultancy firm Brain Trust: Knowledge & Options for Sustainable Development, Inc.
Dr. Weerapon Thongma, President of Maejo University in Thailand, was the recipient of the Outstanding UPLB Alumni Award for Educational Leadership as well as the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) College Distinguished Alumnus Award for Educational Leadership. He was a SEARCA scholar during his PhD in Extension Education program at UPLB, which he completed in 2001.
Dr. Josefina T. Dizon, a UPLB Professor, was hailed a CPAf College Distinguished Alumna for Community Development Teaching and Research. She obtained her PhD in Community Development in 1997 under SEARCA scholarship.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rodelio F. Subade, Professor and Scientist at the UP Visayas in Miag-ao, Iloilo, was awarded as the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) College Distinguished Alumnus for Research in Environmental Economics. Through a SEARCA scholarship, he earned his PhD in Environmental Science from UPLB in 2004.
Now a Professor at Florida State University in the United States, Dr. Mia Liza A. Lustria was named the College of Development Communication (CDC) College Distinguished Alumna for Health Communication. She finished her Master's in Development Communication in 1996 as a SEARCA scholar.
The five awardees are among the 63 UPLB alumni who were honored for their significant contributions in their respective spheres of work. The awards were presented during the 2019 Loyalty Day Alumni Homecoming and Awarding Ceremonies held at the UPLB Baker Hall on 9 October 2019, on the eve of the 101st UPLB Loyalty Day.