In Conversation with Outstanding U.P. Alumni, Part 7

Join us for part 7 of a series of free virtual conversations with the recipients of the 2025-2026 UPAAA Outstanding UP Alumni awards.  Hear their remarkable stories and be inspired.

SATURDAY, October 4, 2025

9:00 PM Eastern

Zoom Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86083132814?pwd=GDxsMGNcv74aBCjeyTMVf80oNHpgVg.1

Meeting ID: 860 8313 2814      Passcode: 344878

Moderator

Marilou C. Areno, DComm

UPAAA Assistant Public Relations Officer

GUESTS

Raymund Llanes Liongson, PhD

Outstanding U.P. Alumnus in Education and Social Impact

A retired full professor at the University of Hawai‘i–Leeward Community College, Dr. Liongson has dedicated over three decades to higher education and public service. He has mentored countless students and empowered youth, cultivating civic awareness and social responsibility among young Filipino Americans in Hawai‘i.

Dr. Liongson holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of the Philippines Diliman and is known for his academic excellence. He previously served as an institutional analyst, educator, and administrator in the Hawai‘i Department of Education and Department of Health, and as adjunct faculty at UH West O‘ahu. He had various academic positions in educational institutions in the Philippines.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Liongson has been a relentless community organizer and advocate for civil rights, labor justice, democracy, and environmental preservation. His leadership roles include membership in the Hawai‘i State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the Filipino Community Center Board of Directors, and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. As a creative force, he has written and directed socially relevant works, including the historical musical “Astig: The Enduring Sakada Legacy”, and co-edited the 2024 book “Struggle in the Sphere of Ideas: Critical Reflections on Rizal.” His body of work reflects a deep commitment to cultural preservation and Filipino heritage.

Dr. Raymund Llanes Liongson received the 2025 UP Legacy Award by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawai‘i for his lifetime of service, scholarship, and activism that exemplifies the values of honor, excellence, and commitment to the greater good.

                             *******************************

University of The Philippines Alumni Association of Nevada (UPAAN)

Outstanding U.P. Alumni Group Award

Initially formed on June 16, 1995, as the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in the Americas – Nevada Chapter, UPAAN was formally organized in 1999 with the support of UPAAA to co-host the 10th UPAAA Grand Reunion and Convention (GRC) in Las Vegas. In 2003, UPAAN became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Some Key Milestones & Contributions:

• Successfully co-hosted the UPAAA GRC in Las Vegas in 1999 and 2013, then the first ever Virtual UPAAA GRC in 2021

• Brought the first original Filipino opera in the U.S., Karim at Jasmin, to Las Vegas in 2008.

• Sponsored UP’s Centennial celebration in Las Vegas with the UP President 

• Organized and supported concerts by the UP Concert Chorus and pianist Raul Sunico, and many other cultural events

• Donated over $30,000 to establish the UPAAN Centennial Professorial Chair at UP College of Music, and contributed to numerous student scholarships and campus projects across the UP System.

• Contributed to financial assistance for students in U.P. - including a feeding program -disaster relief for various parts of the Philippines, and charity causes such as Gawad Kalinga.

Most Significant Community Contribution:
UPAAN has hosted the Philippine Consulate’s outreach missions in Las Vegas 11 times, helping thousands of Filipinos renew passports, apply for dual citizenship, register vital records, and vote overseas. These events required extensive planning, volunteer mobilization, and funding—making a lasting impact on the Southern Nevada Fil-Am community.

From its founding to the present, UPAAN has proven its enduring commitment to the University of the Philippines and the broader community—not just as a social group, but as a dependable and active service organization.