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ABOUT
The Australian Embassy in the Philippines recognises Australia Alumni who have used their Australian education to make positive contributions in their profession, industry, community or the Philippines during the annual Australia Alumni Excellence Awards.
The Australia Alumni Excellence Awards:
- recognise the significant contributions of alumni in their professional fields, industry and communities;
- showcase the impact of an Australian education in fostering innovation and the pursuit of excellence;
- inspire other alumni to create significant impacts in their respective organisations and/or communities as well as the Philippines;
- foster and strengthen people-to-people links between Australia and the Philippines; and
- raise the profile of awardees, open wider opportunities for international engagement, and expand their professional networks.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Alumnus of the Year Award
- Demonstrated visionary leadership and best practices at a local or international level; and
- Evidence of outstanding contribution to their profession or industry.
Excellence in Innovation Award
- Demonstrated innovation in their field or industry, which may include establishing of a successful enterprise or project; crafting creative ideas, designs or products for industry or government; or conducting pioneering research; among others; and
- Evidence of outstanding contribution to their profession or industry.
Young Achievers Award
- Demonstrated achievements or contributions of alumni under 35 years (as of 1 July 2025) in their respective fields; and
- Demonstrates potential to create future impact.
Special citations may be given to alumni for specific initiatives or significant achievements outside of the award categories.
ELIGIBLITY
The Australia Alumni Excellence Awards are open to all Filipinos who have graduated from a recognised Australian educational institution or Registered Training Organisation. This includes participants in short courses.
All alumni except past winners may apply or be nominated. Nominees or applicants must reside in the Philippines at the time of nomination and selection and their achievements and/or projects must have created significant impact in the Philippines.
NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
How to apply?
Applications may be done through self-nomination or third-party nomination.
We also encourage nominations from Australian educational institutions, employers, industry colleagues, and community members.
Nominators, whether individuals or organisations, must complete and submit an Australia Alumni Excellence Awards Nomination Form at this link: FORM
An alumnus may be nominated for all award categories.
To further support the nomination, the following documents and information are encouraged to be submitted online:
- Curriculum Vitae
- List and contact details of individuals, organisations or institutions who have benefited from contributions made by the alumni.
- Personal stories (experience of studying in Australia and how this has contributed to achievements)
- Copies of awards or certificates of achievement
- Links to research publications, news articles, multimedia content, project websites
Selection Process
Nominations/applications will be accepted online until 31 October 2025. Nominations will undergo a rigid screening process which includes document verification, validation of achievements and interviews with referees and nominees. Awardees will be selected by a panel chaired by a senior Australian Embassy official and comprised of former AAEA awardees and distinguished leaders in the industry/community.
Should an individual receive several nominations in a particular category, only the first submission will be reviewed by the selection committee.
AWARDS
Selected awardees will be honored during a Gala Night hosted by the Australian Embassy on the 4th quarter of 2025 and will receive a plaque and potential professional development incentive in Australia.
ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Dr Jaime Manalo IV
Dr Jaime Manalo IV won the Alumnus of the Year for his pioneering agricultural education and campaign. Dr Manalo's initiative trained young people about modern rice cultivation practices and empowered them to share this knowledge with their farmers parents.
The "infomediary campaign" has reached over 200 schools and 4,000 youth in remote rice-farming communities across the Philippines. It has led to increased rice yields and reduces pesticides use - contributing significantly to the country's food security and climate resilience goals.
Dr Manalo developed the campaign during his Australia Awards Master's scholarship at the University of Queensland, where he also earned his Doctor of Philosophy.
EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION
Dr Santiago Pena Jr
Dr Santiago Pena Jr received the Excellence in Innovation award for his advanced agricultural solutions in the Philippine pig industry. He established the Visayas State University Boar SemenLAB (Semen Laboratory Applications and Biotechnology) in Baybay City, Leyte province, to improve hog productivity and conserve local swine genetics.
"Our work at the Boar SemenLAB is crucial for the economic viability and food security of the Philippine swine industry," said Dr Pena.
Dr Pena completed his Master's degree in Tropical Veterinary Science and Doctor of Philosophy at James Cook University in Queensland as an Australia Awardee.
YOUNG ACHIEVER
Ramon Carlo Pio Roda
Mr Ramon Carlo Pio Roda was awarded Young Achiever for creating the first financial technology (FinTech) course at the University of the Philippines Diliman's School of Business.
"The financial technology course was designed to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a highly competetive global job market", said Pio.
He developed the course during his Master of Commerce studies at the University of New South Wales under an Australia Awards scholarships.
Dr Dexter dela Cruz
Alumnus of the Year
Dr Dexter dela Cruz (PhD in Marine Biology, Southern Cross University, 2019) was awarded as Alumnus of the Year for leading the development of groundbreaking coral reef restoration techniques used in the Philippines and Australia that have helped improve climate change resilience. His reef experiments and studies in the Philippines assisted in the restoration of degraded reef areas, and have since been used in the Great Barrier Reef. Dr dela Cruz is a recipient of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research's prestigious John Allwright Fellowship.
Dr Ma. Asuncion Beltran
Excellence in Innovation
Dr Ma. Asuncion Beltran (Masters in Tropical Veterinary Science, James Cook University, 2003) was recognised with an Excellence in Innovation Award for developing innovative agricultural technologies and practices that help boost food security in the Philippines. She introduced technologies to improve the viability of backyard poultry as a source of livelihood among farmers across the Phillipines.
Abigail Tan
Young Achiever Award
Abigail Tan (Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion, Deakin University, 2020) received the Young Achiever Award for her work at increasing health-seeking behaviours and strengthening health governance at the local level across the Philippines. She led the Optimising Health Literacy and Access to Health Services process in the Philippines in partnership with the Department of Health's Health Promotion Bureau.
Dr Maria Soledad Antonio
Alumnus of the Year
Dr Maria Soledad Antonio is the 2022 Alumnus of the Year. As Director of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation in the Philippines at the Department of Health (DOH), Dr. Antonio worked tirelessly to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 pandemic response by mobilising resources from international health partners to ensure access to lifesaving vaccines and medical supplies. Dr Antonio completed her PhD in International Trade at Griffith University as an Australia Awards scholar. Thereafter, her doctoral thesis was translated into DOH’s “National Policy Framework on Trade and Health.”
Dr Doralyn Dalisay
Excellence in Innovation
Dr Doralyn Dalisay was honoured with an Excellence in Innovation award for leading research on antibiotics and anticancer drugs. She has been a major contributor in the brain gain efforts of the Department of Science and Technology, and a leader in the drug discovery program of the Philippine Government. Dr Dalisay is currently Director of the Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology of the University of San Agustin. She earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of New South Wales.
Engr Neilsen Campit
Young Achiever Award
Engineer Neilsen Campit is the recipient of the 2022 Young Achiever Award for spearheading innovations in support of sustainable development at the Department of Public Works and Highways where he led the construction of the first asphalt road in the Philippines made from plastic bag wastes. Engineer Campit completed his Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University as an Australia Awards scholar.
Dr Armand Salvador Mijares
Special Citation
Dr Armand Salvador Mijares received a Special Citation for leading an international team of researchers that discovered a species of ancient human, the Homo luzonensis, said to be one of the most important archaeological finds in recent years. He earned his PhD in Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology from the Australian National University.
Dr Isidoro Malaque III
Special Citation
Dr Isidoro Malaque III received a Special Citation for contributing new knowledge regarding built environments through his peer-reviewed publications and leading the reopening of the postgraduate program in Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. He completed his PhD in Architecture at the University of Adelaide as an Australia Awards scholar.
Dr Rex Bernardo
Special Citation
Dr Rex Bernardo received a Special Citation for his contributions to mainstreaming disability inclusion in education through policy changes and provision of equal opportunities for people with disability especially in Camarines Norte. He completed his Master in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Sydney.
Joji Ilagan-Bian
Alumnus of the Year
Ms. Joji Ilagan-Bian is the 2019 Alumnus of the Year awardee, for her significant contribution to the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector of Mindanao. She established foundations and schools in Davao City, including the first international school in Mindanao, that allows students to earn globally-recognised certifications. Her initiatives helped create a favourable business and investment climate in Davao City since 1988, resulting to high employment rate. She pursues strong collaboration between the TVET sectors of Australia and Mindanao, which includes sending of Mindanao-based TVET leaders to Australia for enterprise-based training and benchmarking. Joji completed a short course on Enterprise-based management and Tech-Voc Education Business Planning at the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) New South Wales.
Dr. Rene Abesamis
Excellence in Innovation Award
Dr. Rene Abesamis has been awarded the Excellence in Innovation Award for his contributions to Philippine and global marine science. His work focused on how marine protected areas can help restore coral reef biodiversity and productivity. Recently, he led a multidisciplinary research on fish larval dispersal, involving top Filipino and international scientists. This cutting-edge research, which combines genetic (DNA) analysis and computer modelling, aims to help reverse decades of decline in fisheries and biodiversity in the Philippines, and even mitigate the impact of climate change. Dr Abesamis received his Masters in Tropical Marine Ecology and Fish Biology and PhD in Marine Biology from James Cook University.
Dr Jason Alacapa
Young Achiever Award
Dr. Jason Alacapa is the winner of the Young Achiever Award. He currently leads the implementation of innovative health systems WHO STOP TB Partnership (TB REACH) Project which adopts a sustainable social enterprise hub-and-spoke model in public health in the Philippines. Dr. Alacapa completed his Master of Public Health in Economic Evaluation and Master of Health Management at the University of New South Wales.
Prof Abelardo Apollo David, Jr
Special Citation Award
Prof. Abelardo Apollo David, Jr. receives a Special Citation award for his contribution in empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) and children with special needs. He established Living Learning Centers in key Philippine cities – the largest private school for children with special needs. He also formed the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Adults and Children with Handicap (REACH) Foundation, Inc., which provides underprivileged families access to a network of health and education services. Dr. David received his Master of Occupational Therapy (Contemporary Practice) from the University of Queensland.
Gen Benjamin Madrigal Jr
Alumnus of the Year
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jnr is the 2018 Alumnus of the Year awardee, for his significant contribution to peace and security in Mindanao. He initiated the Tribal Re-empowerment and Initiative Building Operations (TRIBO). His multi-sectoral approach to peace and development unifies military and civilian efforts in conflict-affected communities. This enabled him to the gain support of local communities in his area of operation in Mindanao and prevent an escalation of conflict. Lt Gen Madrigal Jnr completed a Master in Management Studies at the University of New South Wales.
Benedict Bernabe
Excellence in Innovation Award
Mr Benedict Bernabe has been awarded the Excellence in Innovation Award for his HIV awareness program through the Red Whistle Organisation. Through partnerships between private and public institutions, Mr Bernabe launched the campaign #SAVESEXY, and developed #SAFELYPH, a geolocation app that makes HIV services more accessible to communities. He completed a Master of Development Studies at University of Melbourne.
Atty Francis Ron de Guzman
Young Achiever Award
Atty Francis Ron de Guzman is the Young Achiever’s Award, completing a Master’s degree in Climate Change at the Australian National University. He is a recognised as a youth leader in environment and sustainability, having been involved in disaster mitigation projects for the local government, and co-authored a textbook on disaster risk reduction, community engagement, solidarity and citizenship.
Clarissa Chikiamko
Special Citation Award
Ms Clarissa Chikiamco receives a Special Citation award for her contribution in art curatorship, art management, and art writing in the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea. She completed a Master in Art Curatorship at University of Melbourne.
Dr Marla Corazon de Ungria
Alumnus of the Year
Dr Maria Corazon de Ungria, head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory at the University of the Philippines Diliman, was awarded the 2017 Alumnus of the Year for her pioneering work in DNA forensic science in the Philippines. She received her Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Biology from Macquarie University and completed her PhD in Microbiology at the University of New South Wales.
Dr Roy Ponce
Excellence in Innovation Award
Dr Roy Ponce, State College President at the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, received the 2017 Excellence in Innovation Award for his afterschool care project for children in underprivileged communities. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Melbourne.
Milton Medina
Young Achievers Award
Mr Milton Medina, Director of Qualitative Studies and Biodiversity Research at Mindanao University, received the 2017 Young Achiever’s Award for his work on science education materials using flora and fauna endemic to the Philippines. He received his Master in Science from Curtin University.
