PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines (May 2026) — Eleven remarkable graduates recently proved that a firm foundation in practical education can completely change the trajectory of a person’s life and community.
The former students were honored at the annual STI Distinguished Alumni Awards on May 22, 2026, at the Solaire Resort in Parañaque City. Organized by the STI Alumni Association, the event celebrated milestones across various fields, including technology, business, creative industries, and public service.
From the campus computer lab to national impact
Among the prominent awardees was Wilfred Mogado, a graduate of STI College Novaliches. Before serving as the Chief of the Network Operations and Management Division for the Department of Agriculture, Mogado was a working student in the early 2000s who spent most of his free time inside the campus computer laboratory.
Drawing from his family’s farming background, Mogado became a key figure behind the development of the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture. The nationwide database tracks farmers, fisherfolks, and farm laborers to ensure government subsidies and intervention systems reach the right beneficiaries. Mogado said his education served as his passport to contribute to the nation.
Local businesses and global kitchens
Another awardee, Mayette Bagaforo of STI College Koronadal, channeled her business education into the food industry. Bagaforo is the founder of Samgyupsaab Korean BBQ, a restaurant venture she managed to sustain through the pandemic. She has since expanded the brand to seven branches across Mindanao, providing employment to more than 150 individuals while supporting local charities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
On the global stage, Erica Beatrece De Leon became the first national-level alumna awardee from STI College Las Piñas. De Leon took her culinary skills from top Philippine hotels to the United States, and currently works as a Chef de Partie at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney in Australia.
Capturing stories on Netflix
The creative field was represented by Leiser Bautista, an alumnus of STI College Novaliches and the founder of Filmstrip Pictures. Bautista, who recently served as the Director of Photography for a Netflix documentary series filmed in Malaysia, credited his campus mentors for giving him the confidence to pursue his craft after a professor unexpectedly cast him in a major theater production.
STI College Vice President for Academics Karen Tabije said the institution measures its progress through the careers its graduates build and the lives they shape. STI Alumni Association President Hernan Alar added that the stories of the awardees serve as an inspiration for current students navigating an uncertain world.
