Six Accept DL

Read this in no particular order. An engineering power player. The top honcho of the largest life insurance company in the country. An educator who served in all, but one, Lasallian school in the Philippines. A business success story. An actor heading the country’s body for culture and arts. Last but not the least, an entrepreneur who served for the government and an education advocate. What do you get? A cocktail to honor them and enlist them to be a part of the club of distinguished Lasallians.

Last May 15, six notable Lasallians in different fields were conferred to the Distinguished Lasallian Awards at the DLSU Marilen Gaerlan Conservatory. The six were Edgardo “Ed” A. Bautista, Jose “Joey” L. Cuisia, Jr., Rafael “Rafe” S. Donato FSC, Oscar J. Hilado, Victor “Vic” M. Ordoñez, and Jose “Titoy” T. Pardo.

All the awardees were present but one – Cuisia was not able to attend because he was in New York to attend his daughter’s graduation in Columbia University. Instead, Justine Cuisia, his youngest daughter, attended and delivered the speech in his behalf. Current DLSAA President Jay Gervasio commenced the evening with adelightful preface, acknowledging the day as also being the feast day of St. John Baptist de la Salle.

Before the awarding, there was a mass held and was led by Fr. Pat Lim, a DLSU alumnus.
The evening's Master of Ceremonies was Henry Atayde, 2007 Homecoming Chair, who lent a jovial air to the evening's otherwise solemn atmosphere. Dinner was peppered with lovely renditions from the DLSU Chorale Alumni, who provided for the night's musical entertainment.

Lito Tanjuatco, chairman of the DLSAA delivered the Invocation and his Welcome Address.

Mr. Edgardo Lucero [DLSAA Vice-President], Mr. Manny Blanco [DLSAA Vice-President for Honors and Awards], and DLSU-Manila Executive Vice-President Dr. Carmelita Quebengco presented the awards to the six.
Br. Armin Luistro FSC, DLSU-Manila President, gave the closing remarks. It was followed by the singing of the Alma Mater Hymn led by the internationally acclaimed DLSU chorale. The event also serendipitously coincided with the 71st birthday of awardee Ed Bautista.


The Distinguished Lasallian awards are given to selected Lasallian in recognition of their exemplary efforts to serve as inspirations to their colleagues and fellowmen. This award is the highest and most prestigious non-sports award given by the DLSAA.

Any Distinguished Lasallian awardee must have been a qualified alumnus for at least twenty [20] years prior to selection and may receive the award only once.

This award honors a Lasallian who has achieved multiple and earned distinction and unusual positive recognition for their vision, leadership, management, and integrity in their chosen fields, professions, or public service, reputed nationally or internationally, and those who serve both as professional and personal role models for Lasallian students and other Filipinos.

For the past 55 years from 1950 to 2005, the DLSAA has given 126 Distinguished Lasallian Awards or their equivalents for their exemplary professional achievements.