Carla Kathryn D. Co, BSChE summa cum laude and UP-COE Class 2008 Valedictorian, receives the Dominador I. Ilio Award for the Most Outstanding All-Around Graduating Student.

Betans assisting in the giving of the award are Conrad Fajardo '81 of the BEAI board, Leopoldo Abis '52 of the UP-ERDF which administers the award's trust fund and Leonardo Liongson '67, the fraternity faculty adviser.

In the photo are UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao and Dean Rowena Guevara.

◄ Jesus Francisco, Meralco President and CEO, was the Class 2008 commencement speaker.

The Dom Ilio Awardee delivers the valedictory address. She started her speech with a recall of the Tshirt graffiti, bragging: "Eh, ano kung uno ka? Engineering ka ba?" She ended her speech with her own reply, now humbled: "Eh, ano kung Engineering ka? May gagawin ka ba?", presumably about using their engineering know-how in a country that is mainly agricultural.

The answer to her question would have been a very easy "Napakaraming gagawin" if the country is amidst a determined and sustained program of modernizing agriculture and achieving full-scale national industrialization.

There were hundreds of graduates, 58 of them with honors. Combined with all the people who toil and sweat, they can become an important part of a great force for national development -- if properly mobilized and provided the opportunities.

▲ Brod Leony Liongson multitasks to congratulate the CE graduates and take their photos

◄ Brod Joel Mariano is focused on congratulating the EEE graduates

BTW, the faculty of each department line up on stage as their graduates are given their diplomas and are congratulated.

Conrad and Leony before and after assisting in the giving of the Dominador Ilio Award to the UP Centennial Class valedictorian.