IN CELEBRATION OF Bedan “pride and glory,” the San Beda University Alumni Association (SBUAA) awarded various distinguished alumni at the Red and White Ball 2024 held last February 1 at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.
Serving as a prelude to SBUAA’s Grand Homecoming, the Ball recognized the efforts of Bedan alumni who “excelled” in their respective fields since their time in the University.
Over 50 awardees were selected to receive recognition for their excellence in various fields. Among them, SBU’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Manny V. Pangilinan, was honored with special recognition for his outstanding service to the University. Additionally, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Romando Artes received the Raul S. Roco Award for Public Service Excellence. Furthermore, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Christian Bryan Bustamante, Ph.D., was acknowledged by the SBUAA and honored as one of the recipients of the “Distinguished Bedans in the Field of Education.”
Dean Bustamante, who graduated from the CAS in 1997, began his teaching career in 1999. He expressed his gratitude for the recognition bestowed upon him by SBUAA and the University, describing the award as something that “inspires you and motivates you to continuously work hard as an educator, kumbaga at least na-realize mo na hindi useless lahat ng in-invest mo [na] oras and resources in your chosen profession.”
Another distinguished Bedan recognized for his excellence in the field of media and journalism was Raymund Villanueva, the Chairman of the People’s Alternative Media Network (Altermidya). A former editor-in-chief of The Bedan, Villanueva reminisced about his entry into the field of journalism when a theology professor strongly objected to a piece about a drummer boy and filed a lawsuit. With the support of his adviser and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), he decided to become actively involved in the CEGP, eventually rising through its ranks after completing his degree in the CAS.
From his beginnings as an active member of the CEGP, Villanueva embarked on various roles in journalism, serving as a reporter, radio anchor, and briefly as a spokesperson for the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), before eventually being elected as ACT’s secretary-general. In 2012, Altermidya was established, with Villanueva assuming the role of chairman in 2022.
The award came as a surprise for Villanueva, as the person who nominated him for the award was not even a Bedan. Nonetheless, Villanueva still expressed his gratitude to SBUAA for the recognition, stating, “Napakahalagang affirmation nito sa aking pagiging Bedista at aking life choices. Conscious naman ako lagi na kailangang hindi ko bigyang kahihiyan ang San Beda at lagi kong ipinagmamalaking Bedista ako. Kakaunti lamang kaming Bedista na naging aktibista.” He concluded his interview by wishing that there be more activists as recipients be recognized for the award in the future.