{"id":137221,"date":"2023-03-08T00:35:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T00:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xs.edu.ph\/?p=137221"},"modified":"2023-03-08T00:51:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T00:51:49","slug":"a-night-full-of-stars-8th-xavier-alumni-excellence-recognition-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xs.edu.ph\/index.php\/a-night-full-of-stars-8th-xavier-alumni-excellence-recognition-night\/","title":{"rendered":"A Night Full of Stars: 8th Xavier Alumni Excellence Recognition Night"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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by Jonathan Richie Yap ’94<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>

Typically, most if not all Xaverians shun the limelight.\u00a0 They prefer to go under the radar and let their good deeds speak for themselves.\u00a0 There is a slight exception to this unwritten rule as the Alumni Association of Xavier School (AAXS) makes it a point to acknowledge alumni who have been recognized externally for their excellence or significant\u00a0 contributions to society.\u00a0 These awardees are cited and held up\u00a0 as examples to inspire the rest of the Xavier community, especially the younger alumni and students.<\/span>After a three-year absence, the AAXS held the 8<\/span>th<\/span> edition of the Xavier Alumni Excellence Recognition Night (XAERN) last 7 December 2022 (Wednesday), 7:00PM at the Angelo King Multi-Purpose Center (MPC) in Xavier School San Juan.\u00a0 There were a total of 28 alumni honored during the red-carpet event and Japanese-themed dinner presented by the W Group.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Academic Awardees<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The fifteen XS99 Excellence in Academics and Scholastics awardees were led by <\/span>Jacob Johann G. Wee ’17<\/b> and <\/span>Alexander Bernard D. Go ’18<\/b>.\u00a0 Both Jacob and Alex graduated with double <\/span>Summa Cum Laude <\/span><\/i>honors from the Wharton Business School and the University of Pennsylvania.\u00a0 President and CEO of JG Summit Holdings Lance Gokongwei ’83 achieved this feat back in 1988 before joining the family business.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

The other academic honorees included Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) First Class Honours graduates <\/span>Kyle Garret S. Lee Uy ’17<\/b>, <\/span>Mark Christopher S. Uy ’17<\/b>, <\/span>Matthew Johann S. Uy ’17,<\/b> and <\/span>Sedrick Scott S. Keh ’17<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Hong Kong University\u2019s (HKU) <\/span>Antonio Miguel L. Velasco ’17<\/b> (youngest son of former AAXS Past Pres. Arnold \u201cJing\u201d Velasco ’83) also graduated First Class Honours, while National University of Singapore (NUS)\u2019s <\/span>Robin Christopher C. Yu ’17<\/b> (youngest son of AAXS Past Pres Reginald T. Yu ’84( graduated With Honors (High Distinction).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

From the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, there were <\/span>Jian Lorenzo G. Chan ’16<\/b>, <\/span>Kobi Christian S. Go ’16<\/b>, <\/span>Nathan Joseph P. Oranga ’16<\/b>, <\/span>Spencer Shaun S. Keh ’16<\/b>, and <\/span>Trenton L. Tan ’16 <\/b>graduating <\/span>Summa Cum Laude<\/span><\/i>. Engr. Kobi Christian S. Go\u00a0 went on to place sixth in the May 2022 Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Ryan Carl Y. Yu ’11<\/b> graduated with High Distinction (Gold) for his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. He was the Valedictorian of the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools class of 2015, graduating with a degree in Management Engineering with a quality point index (QPI) of 3.99, the highest in recent history.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

AAXS Past Pres. <\/span>Reginald T. Yu ’84<\/b> received the UP Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (formerly UP College of Business Administration and Accountancy) Distinguished Alumni Award.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Vesbo Pipes Excellence in Business and Entrepreneurship was bestowed upon 4th Mansmith Market Masters Awardees <\/span>Michael G. Tan ’83<\/b> and <\/span>Jeffrey Stewart L. Go ’86<\/b>; Rice Bowl Awards Startup Investor of the Year <\/span>Francis Joseph Augustine Y. de Leon ’92<\/b>; and 40th Agora Awards Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship <\/span>Sam Christopher T. Lim ’99<\/b>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sports Awardees<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2020 PBA Philippine Cup Rookie of the Year <\/span>Norman Aaron D. Black ’14,<\/b> 2018\u201319 MPBL Datu Cup MVP <\/span>Gabriel M. Banal ’08<\/b>, 2019 SEA Games – Jiu Jitsu Bronze Medalist <\/span>Gian Taylor C. Dee ’06<\/b>, and International Bowling Federation (IBF) Under 21 World Championship (Sweden) Bronze Medalist <\/span>Marc Dylan O. Custodio ’21<\/b> comprised the Orocan Excellence in Sports honorees.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

HYE Enterprises Excellence in Arts and Literature recognized <\/span>Teddy O. Co ’75<\/b> for the Best Book on Art at 39th National Book Awards, <\/span>Enrico Miguel P. Perez ’19<\/b> for 2019 Palanca Awards First Prize – Kabataan Essay Category, and <\/span>Antonio Daniel M. Bernas ’09<\/b> as Tiktok Philippines Awards 2022 Top Sports Creator Awardee.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Crown Pipes Excellence in Government and Public Service was given to Atty. <\/span>Michael Kristian R. Ablan ’96<\/b> for being the 2020 Presidential Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Award from the Office of the President, and Emerald PVC Pipes Excellence in Health and Medicine was presented to Dr. <\/span>Marc Paul J. Lopez ’96 <\/b>for being 2019 The Outstanding Young Men Awards (TOYM) Awardee in Medicine for Colon and Rectal Surgery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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AAXS Pres. Artemio Victor \u201cToti\u201d A. Sanchez III '86 and team<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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During his speech, AAXS Pres. Artemio Victor \u201cToti\u201d A. Sanchez III ’86 remembered Fr. Joseph S Ly Ching-Mei, SJ who passed away last 13 November 2022.\u00a0 Fr. Ly was assigned to Xavier back in 1957 and served as Principal, Math teacher, Chinese teacher, department head, and chaplain.\u00a0 Recognizing Fr. Ly\u2019s various contributions to the formation of Xavier alumni, Pres. Sanchez mentioned that the event will now be known as the Fr. Joseph Ly SJ Awards.<\/span><\/p>

The awardees were given an antique lantern instead of the usual trophy or medal to symbolize Xavier School\u2019s motto — \u201c<\/span>Luceat Lux<\/span><\/i>\u201d (Let your light shine!), and to remind the honorees to be \u201cpersons fully alive, endowed with a passion for justice, and the skills for development\u201d in all their endeavors.\u00a0 The concept was also a brainchild of Pres. Sanchez who likes to think outside the box.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Pres. Sanchez also took time to honor some alumni who contributed greatly during his term.\u00a0 The honorees included Past Excellence Recognition Night Chairman Arun Hemandas ’01, Xavier Alumni Basketball League (XABL) Chairman Brian Brenton Chua ’94, <\/span>Kalinga Kontra Korona <\/span><\/i>(KKK) Project Head Dr. Edgar Michael Eufemio ’83, 2021 Homecoming Chairman Fritz Reinhardt Dy ’96, Special Advisor John Cheng ’94, San Juan CoVid-19 Kalinga Center (SJCKC) Manager Dr. Jonathan Dy ’86, Brgy. Greenhills <\/span>Kagawad <\/span><\/i>Jonel Ong ’86, and 2022 Homecoming Chairman Joseph Ngo ’97.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

The event was first held in December 2013, when five (5) Xavier Alumni comprised the twenty-five (25) <\/span>Summa Cum Laude <\/span><\/i>graduates from esteemed University of the Philippines Diliman Campus, including Batch Valedictorian and Highest Grade Point Average (GPA).\u00a0 This inspired then AAXS Pres. Diosdado T. Ng \u201885 to come up with the annual event to celebrate the achievements of various Xavier alumni.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

To be recognized as an academic awardee, the alumnus must have graduated with Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal, First Honors or related award from any local or international academic institution.\u00a0 For sports, the athlete should have won a Gold Medal or First Place in a local contest, or a podium finish for international competitions.\u00a0 For the other categories, the award should be conferred by a prestigious organization.\u00a0 The Organizing Committee and the AAXS Board of Trustees have the final say on the composition of the awardees.<\/span><\/p>

The 2022 edition of the event was chaired by 2024 Homecoming Chairman David Joseph Atienza ’99 and Co-Chaired by AAXS Secretary General Jonathan Richie Yap ’94.\u00a0 Other members of the committee include Xavier School Parents Auxiliary (XSPA) Vice-Chair Wilson Lui Tan ’87, Jim Howard See ’94, Atty. Anthony Lemuel Lim ’99, and Arun Hemandas ’01.\u00a0 The event partners included Gorenje, Maximus, and Luftonic.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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HKUST\u2019s Mark Christopher S. Uy ’17 and Matthew Johann S. Uy ’17 are twin brothers, while UP Diliman\u2019s Spencer Shaun S. Keh ’16 and HKUST\u2019s Sedrick Scott S. Keh ’17 are brothers. \u00a0<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"National<\/figure><\/div>
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