News
Jun 8
Boardroom Dedication to UPAA’s Longest-Serving President
On June 8, 2025 the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) held a solemn and meaningful ceremony to officially rename its boardroom in honor of one of its most esteemed alumni—Ambassador Edgardo B. Espiritu.
A respected public servant, diplomat, and educator, Ambassador Espiritu was a former Secretary of Finance, University of the Philippines (UP) Regent, and the longest-serving President of the UP Alumni Association. His remarkable contributions to the University and to the Filipino nation were remembered with deep admiration during the tribute, attended by fellow alumni, university officials, family members, and friends.
Among the University of the Philippines alumni, few have left as indelible a mark on the institution as Ambassador Espiritu. His leadership in the UPAA spanned decades, marked by visionary decisions that have shaped the organization's present identity.
He was a driving force behind the planning and construction of Ang Bahay ng Alumni, the UPAA’s headquarters and symbolic home for all UP alumni. Today, it stands as a hub for programs, events, and collaboration among generations of UP graduates and the surrounding community.
Held within the very halls he helped establish, the boardroom renaming was both a tribute and a call to remember the values Ambassador Espiritu championed: thoughtful governance, public service, and educational advocacy.
The ceremony included a ribbon-cutting, the unveiling of a commemorative marker, and a heartfelt video tribute that recounted Ambassador Espiritu’s lifetime of service. Speakers highlighted his integrity, humility, and commitment to education as tools for nation-building—values deeply rooted in the UP tradition.
As UP alumni, we inherit not only the academic excellence of our alma mater, but also the legacy of those who came before us—trailblazers like Ambassador Espiritu who showed that service does not end at graduation.
Through the UPAA, the University of the Philippines alumni continue to find ways to give back, whether through mentoring younger generations, supporting scholarships, or championing good governance. The renaming of the boardroom reminds us that the spirit of “Honor and Excellence” lives on, not just in classrooms, but in boardrooms, communities, and public institutions.
This event is part of the UP Alumni Association’s ongoing mission to honor alumni who have uplifted both the University and the nation. It also highlights how the organization continues to serve as a bridge between past and future, tradition and progress.
Moving forward, the Ambassador Edgardo B. Espiritu Boardroom will host meetings, planning sessions, and key discussions that guide the UPAA’s programs and national initiatives. It will also stand as a quiet yet powerful reminder of what one individual: fueled by integrity, education, and purpose - can accomplish for the many.
For all UP alumni who enter the room, it will offer a moment to reflect: How can we continue the work of those who paved the way before us?
Ambassador Espiritu’s legacy lives on: not just in the boardroom that now bears his name, but in every act of service and leadership inspired by his example. His life reminds us that being part of the UP alumni community means staying connected to something larger than ourselves.
If you’re not yet a member of the UP Alumni Association Main, this is a meaningful time to get involved. Help continue the work of those who came before us, and carry forward the values that define us: honor, excellence, and service.
