01 July 2014 - The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) conferred on Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. the 2014 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service for demonstrating exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions in his chosen field of endeavor.
Co-awarded by the UPAA with the Ambassador in the field of public service are Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Teresita J. Herbosa and Hong Kong-based publisher and activist Atty. Daisy Mandap.
The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are conferred on alumni who have demonstrated in their chosen field of endeavor exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. Recognition is given to achievements and contributions that impact the community in which the alumnus/alumna is or has been active, whether this is at the local, national or international level.
The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are meant to be a cut above those given to alumni who have achieved successful professional careers. To deserve the award, all nominees, over and above the highly successful careers they may have attained, must still meet the criteria of Service Orientation, Leadership, Impact and Integrity.
Ambassador Reyes is the incumbent Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Italian Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Albania, Republic of San Marino and Malta.
He is also the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); World Food Programme (WFP); and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He was likewise elected member of International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), whose tenure runs from 2013 to 2017.
The Ambassador has served the Philippine Government in various capacities in several countries. He was the Philippine Ambassador to South Africa with jurisdiction over eight other countries, 2003-2009; Minister and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy, Santiago, Chile, 1998-2000; Minister Counselor and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, 1997-1998; Minister Counselor and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar 1994-1997; Third Secretary, then Second Secretary, later First Secretary, at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, New York, 1983-1991.
Ambassador Reyes was chosen by the UPAA for having fully satisfied the criteria for the Distinguished Alumni Award:
Service Orientation – his work has clearly benefited other people, groups and society at large, and not merely private or personal interests;
Leadership – he has demonstrated effective and inspiring personal leadership in accomplishing the work for which he is being awarded;
Impact – his work has had a substantial impact on the public, both qualitatively and quantitatively;
Integrity – there is no serious concern about, or challenge to, his personal integrity.
Ambassador Reyes holds a Master of Arts degree in Communications from the University of the Philippines in 1978.
Ambassador Reyes, Chair Herbosa and Atty. Mandap were awarded by UP President Alfredo Pascual together with the UPAA officers headed by Ponciano Rivera, Jr. The awarding ceremony was held during the U.P. General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion on Saturday, June 21, at the Luciano E. Salazar Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, U.P. Diliman Campus. END