The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) community mourns the passing of 14th University President Emanuel Valdez Soriano, who passed away on April 22, 2023. The Philippine Flag and the UP Flag in the UPMin campus have been lowered to half-mast in his honor. 

The sad news was conveyed in a memorandum from incumbent (22nd) University President Angelo A. Jimenez.

As a student, Soriano earned his BS Mechanical Engineering and MS Industrial Management from UP. He also served as vice-president and acting president of the University Student Council under the UP Student Catholic Action (UPSCA) Party.

Soriano became a pioneer faculty member of the UP Business Administration program upon his graduation, and earned his Doctor of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. In his academic career, he published numerous books and papers on Asian business management and policy.

Soriano served as UP Executive Vice President during the term of President Onofre D. Corpuz. He eventually succeeded Dr. Corpuz when the latter was appointed Education Minister. Soriano  served as University President in 1979-1981. 

During the succeeding terms of Corpuz and Soriano, the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, the Transport Training Center, the National Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, and the Third World Studies Program were established at UP.  

Afterwards, Soriano also joined the political opposition and supported the candidacy Corazon Aquino and also served as her National Security Adviser. 

Soriano remained in active service at UP after his term as UP President. 

He was recognized as one of the 100 Outstanding Engineers by the UP College of Engineering and the UP Alumni Engineers. 

Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao (sixth from left) joined Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Maria Belen "Mabel" S. Acosta (fourth from left) on March 30, 2023, for the project launch of the "Sustainable Agricultural Environment Establishment through Durian Producer Organization in Mindanao, Philippines." The project was initiated by Rev. Lee, Chul Yong (fifth from left) of the Center for Asian Mission for the Poor (CAMP) and assisted by Ms. Cho, Buyoung (second from left). The Korea International Cooperation Agency supports the project.

The CAMP team of Rev. Lee and Ms. Cho visited UPMin on March 13, 2023 (in the photo below) in the company of MinDA's Mr. Sylvester Sales, Ms. Chrisel Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao, and Ms. Ronita Buenaventura of UNORKA-Mindanao (6th, 7th, and 8th from left, respectively). On that occasion, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Annabelle Novero (third from left) received the team, together with Joel Sagadal of the Land Reservation Management Office and Mr. Allan Villanueva of the Office of the Chancellor. The project addresses poverty alleviation, food security, the food supply chain, employment equity, and contributes to economic growth through partnerships.

Women working in the domains of information and communications technology and artificial intelligence will lead online discussions on the theme, "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality" on 27 March 2023 through the Zoom online platform. Dr. Armacheska Rivero Mesa-Satina, director of UPMin’s Information and Technology Office, and Ms. Trisha N. Lopena, project officer of Sky Artificial Intelligence-Automated Labeling Machine-Large-Scale Initiative (SkAI-ALaM) are among the speakers. Dr. May Anne E. Mata of UP Mindanao will lead the discussion on “Bridging the Gap: Women Leading the Way for Rabies Research in Davao City with Digital Solutions.” Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Kristine M. Adlaon from the University of Immaculate Conception will discuss “Exploring Gender Bias in Natural Language Processing and its Real World Application.” Interested participants may register through https://tinyurl.com/UPMinGenderResearchForum or watch live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPMinGAD.

Mr. Sebastian Angliongto led a group of alumni to UP Mindanao on March 21, 2023, to explore opportunities to contribute to UPMin’s development. The visiting group was composed of Gie Monje, Quirico S. Monje, Edgardo F. Quisumbing, Rey F. Quisumbing, Ameurfina D. Santos, Benjamin M. Garcia, Carlos B. Agulto, Anthony Alexander N. Valoria, and Mr. Angliongto. 

Prof. Leo Manuel Estana, vice-chancellor for administration and OIC of the Ofice of the Chancellor, and Prof. Jean Marie Juanga, architecture faculty member and head of campus planning, shared UPMin’s development plans for the alulmni. 

The visiting group expressed their interest in providing scholarships, funding for learning spaces, and campus lighting needs. Mr. Quisunbing also pledged to donate Agarwood seedlings and Sweetwater coconut. The group also visited the offspring of the miniature cattle project initiated by Mr. Cecilio Felix.