Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
The Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Engineering held a grand celebration of its 85th Anniversary culminating with the 2nd General Assembly of the UST Mechanical Engineering Alumni Association (USTMEAA). The UST Faculty of Engineering, which was founded in 1907, started offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) in 1940. Meanwhile, UST is the oldest university not only in the Philippines, but in Asia, since it was established in 1611 as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario by Miguel de Benavides, the third Archbishop of Manila.
THE UST ME alumni listen to the Regent of the UST Faculty of Engineering, Rev. Fr. Roberto LLuanzon, Jr., O.P., SThD, DL,
The hardworking Mechanical Engineers and UST ME students who made the 85th Anniversary celebrations and USTMEAA General Assembly a huge success.
This year’s annual General Assembly of Mechanical Engineers, dubbed as “G.A.M.E. Na!”, was held at the 2nd Floor Ballroom of the BGPOP inside the UST Campus along España Avenue in Manila. USTMEAA President Engr. Bernard Jose Lachica, RMEE, announced several key programs of the alumni association, including the formal launch of their first-ever scholarship program dubbed as PUSONG M.E. or “Pursuing Upliftment & Support for Outstanding Next Generation of Mechanical Engineers”.
USTMEAA President Engr. Bernard Jose S. Lachica, RMEE, enumerates the various plans and programs instituted by the Association to promote the Thomasian Mechanical Engineers values of Competence, Campassion and Commitment…
… including strategic partnerships with industries, corporate alliances, and capacity-enhancement initiatives…
… as well as a scholarship program aptly labeled as “PUSONG M.E.” (Heart of an ME).
Engr. Lachica called to stage the nine outstanding alumni of UST ME, who were the recepients of this year’s MEASURE awards. MEASURE is the acronym for “Mechanical Engineering Awards for Service to the University and/or Recognition for Excellence” recognizes UST Mechanical Engineering Graduates who have demonstrated and promoted excellence, competitiveness and active engagement to the alumni community and/or to the University and/or to the Industry/Community while living the Thomasian core values of Competence, Compassion and Commitment.
USTMEAA recognizes outstanding UST ME alumnus with the MEASURE Awards.
The MEASURE Awards 2025 recepients posed with the UST ME and Alumni Association officers.
The nine receipients of this year’s MEASURE Awards include Engr. Wilson H. Valdez (Batch 2001), President & Founder of Photonergy Inc. and Uniworld Global Tech Manufacturing Corporation; Engr. Ramil I. Bernabe (Batch 1998), business leader, pastor & internal consultant at Procter & Gamble; Engr. Jeffrey M. Sevilla (Batch 1996), Executive Vice President of F.R. Sevilla Industrial & Development Corporation; Engr. Avedel V. Francisco (Batch 1994), General Manager at the Obando Water District; Engr. Glenn P. Flores (Batch 1993), President & CEO of TEXIN Inc., former Municipal Mayor of Alaminos, Laguna, and global representative in ASEAN and UN Mayors’ Forums; Engr. Alvin F. Mangona (Batch 1992), Six Sigma Green Belt, TPM Champion, Certified Leadership Coach, Project Director of the “Beautiful Smile” Project of the Rotary Club of Kagitingang Cubao, and Coordinator of Couples for Christ; Engr. Juanito L. Mateo (Batch 1990), Officer-in-Charge of the Refinery Solid Fuel-Fired Boilers & Utilities Department at Petron Corporation, Past President of the PSME Bataan Chapter, and co-founder of the PSIM Bataan Peninsula Chapter; Engr. Arturo C. Yan (Batch 1981), President & Chairman of Phil-Nippon KYOEI Corporation; Engr. Nelson M. Pasamonte (Batch 1980), former professor and chairperson of the UST ME, CHED Technical Committee on Mechanical Engineering member, and CHED-NCR Regional Quality Assessment Team for Engineering and Technology member.
From left: UST Engineering Alumni Association President Engr. Rommel Diño; UST ME Department Chairman Engr. Eisson Marcelo; USTMEAA Treasurer Virgil Aychoco; MEASURE Awardees Engr. Avedel Francisco, Engr. Ramil Bernabe, Engr. Glenn Flores, Engr. Nelson Pasamonte, Engr. Juanito Mateo, Engr. Alvin Manona, Engr. Arturo Yan, Engr. Wilson Valdez, Engr. Jeffrey Sevilla; Regent of the UST Faculty of Engineering Fr. Roberto Luanzon; and USTMEAA President Engr. Lachica.
There were booths at the venue representing various companies whose services are related to the Mechanical Engineering profession that attracted the attendees of the General Assembly. After a hearty dinner, some wonderful entertainment, and some well-deserved toasts, most of the attendees went around the Hall to fraternize with fellow engineers and alumi from different batches.
RK Industries is the country’s leading rubber manufacturing company while FH Commercial Inc. is a reliable source and distributor of various brands of gaskets, packings, and seals.
Panasonic Philippines offers FSV VRF systems for offices with their proprietary “nanoe X Technology” to enhance comfort.
Rencor Refrigeration Equipment Corporation provides A/C, commercial refrigeration, and ventilation fabrication works, sales, parts & service while AeroPlast Industries provide customized PET bottling solutions.
Christian Lacsamana Management & Construction Corporation promises commitment, learning, mastery, and collaboration while Hisense is the leader in HVAC systems.
Imperial Nova Corporation showcased their Novo Japan engine oil and lubricants with the tag line “Strong Like New”.
The author (2nd from left) with former classmates Engr. Mon Del Rosario, Engr. Donald Manalo (now a professor at UST ME), Engr. Ruel Relova, and Engr. Roberto Rosales from UST ME Batch 1988. (Photo courtesy of Engr. Ruel Relova.)
Fun-loving Mechanical Engineers: The author hams it up with former classmates and professors from UST ME.
(Aside from being an award-winning motoring and motorcycle journalist, entrepreneur and business owner, the author, Engr. Lester R. Dizon, is a licensed Mechanical Engineer and a proud Thomasian, having studied at UST from Prep School, Elementary, High School and College (ME Batch 1988). He once joked that during his college graduation, UST presented him with a Loyalty Award, a gold medal with an inscription at the back: “We’ve had enough of you. Please do not come back.” He’s always engineering a barrel of laughs. – Ed.)
