2024 TEN OUTSTANDING ILONGGOS OF ILOILO CITY

Congratulations to the exemplary Ilonggos who have excelled in various fields, created an impact in the community, and Ten exemplary individuals from Iloilo City were recognized as the “2024 Ten Outstanding Ilonggos,” a prestigious accolade awarded during the city’s 87th Charter Anniversary celebration.

The event celebrates the diverse contributions of these honorees, each of whom has made significant impacts both locally and internationally.

1. Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo

Ret. Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo, a seasoned naval defense professional with 38 years of service, was appointed as Undersecretary of the Department of Energy in 2022. Prior to this, he served as the 38th Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy from February 2020 to June 2021.

During the pandemic, Bacordo oversaw naval operations for the repatriation of thousands of stranded tourists, locals, and overseas Filipino workers. Between 2013 and 2014, his team crafted national-level contingency plans, including countering the Chinese cabbage strategy in the Ayungin Shoal, setting up a blockade against MNLF reinforcements during the Zamboanga siege, mobilizing humanitarian assistance during Typhoon Haiyan, and responding to the sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas in Cebu.

Raised in La Paz district, Bacordo attended UP Visayas for high school and two years of college. He later entered the Philippine Military Academy, where he graduated magna cum laude and ranked second in the “Hinirang” Class of 1987.

2. Erlinda S. Ganzon-Naret

Dr. Erlinda S. Ganzon-Naret, affiliated with the College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences at UP Visayas, was conferred the title of Career Scientist 1 in 2014 by the Department of Science and Technology and the Civil Service Commission’s Scientific Career System.

She served as Host Scientist to Japanese researchers under the Core University Program as an Exchange Researcher with Prof. Shunsuke Koshio of Kagoshima University, Japan. Known for her exceptional scientific productivity, she has presented her research at several local and international conferences in Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Dr. Ganzon-Naret, who hails from the Jaro district, holds a master’s degree in Agriculture and a Ph.D. in Agriculture from West Visayas State University, the latter completed in 2013. She began her college journey as a scholar under the city government’s TIMAWA Scholarship, graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of San Agustin.

3. Rowen R. Gelonga, CESO II

Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga is celebrated for his exceptional leadership and innovative contributions to public health and technology. He spearheaded the development of the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PASS) system, which played a crucial role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. His work earned him and his team the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Under his guidance, the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) was successfully held in Iloilo City, the first time this event took place outside Metro Manila. Gelonga is also a key figure in Innovate Iloilo, an initiative aimed at establishing Iloilo as a leading innovation hub in the Philippines by 2030. Additionally, he was instrumental in developing OneExpert (1E), a one-stop portal for science and technology consulting and technical services.

A resident of Mandurriao district, Gelonga is currently the regional director of the Department of Science and Technology and has been elected president of the Region VI Association of National Government Executives.

4. Justice Francis H. Jardeleza (Ret.)

Justice Francis H. Jardeleza, a former Solicitor General, served as the 173rd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He has been pivotal in legal practice and public advocacy, championing individual rights in favor of justice and integrity.

He led the Philippine team in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitration with China, advancing the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea disputes. His legal expertise is well-regarded, particularly in challenging constitutional issues, including cybercrime law and reproductive health law.

Born in Jaro, Iloilo City, Jardeleza graduated cum laude and salutatorian from the University of the Philippines College of Law and placed third in the Philippine Bar Examinations in 1974.

5. Bernadette Jardiolin Madrid

Dr. Bernadette Jardiolin Madrid is a prominent advocate for child safety and protection. She currently heads the Child Protection Unit and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Pediatrics Department at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. She has collaborated with international organizations, published in peer-reviewed journals, and contributed to various advisory groups and technical consultations.

She is an active member of the National Network to End Violence Against Children and has partnered with national agencies such as the Council for the Welfare of Children, Department of Health, Supreme Court of the Philippines, and Department of Justice to convene a group of child protection leaders and experts. Among her numerous accolades are the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2022, Asia’s Most Influential in 2022 and 2021 by Tatler Asia, and the title of People of the Year 2023 by People Asia Magazine.

Raised in Iloilo City, Madrid earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1979 and completed her post-graduate studies at the University of the Philippines in 1983.

6. Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama, AFP (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama is a dedicated public servant with an extensive career in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Navy, serving from 1979 to 2012. He was the 32nd Flag Naval Officer-in-Command and held various significant roles, including Naval Inspector General and Commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), where he participated in numerous humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Pama also served as Undersecretary and Executive Director of the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) from 2013 to 2014, organizing member agencies for maritime security. In 2016, he became the Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). He has received multiple awards, including the Bintang Jalasema Utama Award from Indonesia and the Navy Guardian Award from the Royal Thai Navy.

Born and raised in Iloilo, Pama played a crucial role as a lead delegate and negotiator for the Philippines during the formulation of the United Nations’ Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction. He also chaired the APEC meeting that produced the APEC Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted in Iloilo City.

7. Jose Mari Benjamin Francisco U. Tirol Ll.M.

Atty. Jose Mari Benjamin Francisco U. Tirol has been practicing law for 25 years and has served as the Dean of the University of San Agustin College of Law since 2014. He is a skilled writer of newspaper articles, law journals, and law books, which have been cited in Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions, as well as in the opinions of the Philippine Senate and Department of Justice. He has lectured both locally and internationally and was a grantee under the Erasmus International Credit Mobility (ICM) for Staff Mobility for Teaching at the Universidad de Malaga, Spain.

Tirol also serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Agustin Inc. and holds similar roles in the Boards of San Jose Catholic School, Inc., and Shelterbox Operations Philippines, Inc., an NGO that provides emergency shelter for families affected by disasters.

Tirol was born and raised in Iloilo City. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History from UP Visayas in 1994, his Bachelor of Laws cum laude from the University of San Agustin in 1998, and later his Master of Laws cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas in 2004. He has been recognized as an outstanding alumnus in the field of law by the UP Alumni Association Iloilo Chapter and the University of San Agustin.

8. Clement Castigador Camposano, Ph.D.

Clement Castigador Camposano is the 11th Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas. He is also the President of the Philippines Studies Association and serves on the board of the Anthropological Association of the Philippines.

His work focuses on writing publications and conducting research in social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, and history. He has co-authored books in history and Philippine studies, including “The Nation as Project: A New Reading of Jose Rizal’s Life and Works” and “Plural Entanglement: Philippine Studies.”

Camposano, a native of Jaro, Iloilo City, earned his master’s in political science at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2009 and his doctoral degree in Philippine studies from the same university in 1992.

9. Hazel P. Villa

Dr. Hazel P. Villa is a respected academic and communications professional with significant contributions to culture and education.

She holds a Ph.D. in English (Literary Studies) from Silliman University in Dumaguete City and a Master of Journalism with high distinction from Bond University in Queensland, Australia, as an international fellow of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program in 2008.

Currently, an Associate Professor V and Director of Public Affairs, Marketing, and Communications at West Visayas State University (WVSU), Dr. Villa has enriched Iloilo City’s cultural profile through her writings in various publications and her involvement in projects of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

As a former news and features correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, she has highlighted Iloilo’s rich heritage and stories on national and international platforms. Dr. Villa’s extensive research includes studies on Hiligaynon texts and Panay Bukidnon folktales.

10. Jobert A. Peñaflorida

Atty. Jobert A. Peñaflorida is a respected journalist, entrepreneur, and civic leader.

As the Founding President of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc., Peñaflorida is also a Regional Governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Visayas, Co-Chair of the Regional Development Council 6, and Chair of the RDC-6 Economic Development Committee.

Peñaflorida received multiple awards during his tenure as a news anchor with ABS-CBN TV Patrol Panay and GMA 24 Oras Western Visayas.

Hailing from the Arevalo district, he completed his basic education at the Ateneo de Iloilo as Class Valedictorian. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, graduated summa cum laude, passed the CPA Board Examinations with a general average of 88.14%, and received the SGV Gold Medal of Excellence for the Highest National Rating in Auditing.

Peñaflorida completed his law degree magna cum laude and passed the 2000 Bar Examinations with a general average of 86.25%. He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Management, with a general average of 1.29, at the University of the Philippines Visayas.