UST Alumni Association: Mocha Uson is an alumna, so she gets award

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson (File photo by RICHARD A, REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Following criticisms for giving the Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service to Margaux “Mocha” Uson, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Alumni Association Inc. (AAI) said on Sunday its recipient was challenged to inspire and uphold the three main core values embodied to the lives of the Thomasians – competence, compassion, and commitment.

According to association president Henry Tenedero and vice president John Simon, the “sole criteria” for the award is that the recipients are alumni of UST and employees of government.

“The sole criteria are for the recipient/s to be a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas and in government service,” the UST AAI said in a statement.

UST AAI said the government service awardees were taken from the three branches of government: the legislative, judicial, and executive.

Uson, being a Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary, belongs to the executive branch.

The UST Central Student Council (CSC) slammed the decision of the alumni association to give the award to Uson, whom they say “does not, in any way, embody the ideals of a real Thomasian.”

“With all due respect, Ms. Esther Margaux Mocha Justiniano Uson, does not deserve an award that was supposed to be meant solely for outstanding Thomasian alumni,” UST CSC said in a statement.

UST AAI said the recognition was different from The Thomasian Outstanding Leadership Award, which is the highest award bestowed by the university. /atm