6 Well Known DLSU Grads and Where They are Now

Whatever school you’re from, you’re probably wondering: Who are the famous people who’ve gone to my school? From De La Salle University (DLSU) of course there’s always the corporate tycoons such as Eduardo Cojuangco Jr, Henry Sy, and John Gokongwei. However, we would like to take a different approach. Here are the achievements of a select few who you likely may not have known studied in DLSU.

Sam Oh (International Studies)

Born in South Korea and living in the Philippines for 20 years, Sam first made her mark when she successfully auditioned to have her own TV show entitled “Rated Oh!” on ETC. She then pursued multiple radio host stints. At present, Sam has yet another show on GMA News TV called “Sarap to Heart”. She continues her radio hosting passion by appearing on Disturbing the Peace with Gibb on 99.5 RT and Good Times With Mo on Magic 89.9 with Mo Twister and Mikey Bustos.

Ryan Agoncillo (AB Organizational Communication)

Christopher Ryan Lou Agoncillo, or better known as Ryan Agoncillo, is an actor, TV show host, photographer, model, and loving father. Supporting the long list of what Ryan can do is his background as a member of the Green Media Group (GMG) and an Organizational Communication (OrgCom) student. For those unfamiliar with OrgCom, it’s a course that covers subjects such as research, photography, videography, and more. Furthermore, as DLSU students, we can see that Ryan’s personality does not entirely differ from any other LaSallian. On TV, one can notice his urge to have fun over the things he does just like a typical LaSallian.

Paeng Nepomuceno (De La Salle University Sports Hall of Fame)

Perhaps the least popular in this list, Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno has been praised as the greatest international bowler to ever exist by the Prestigious Bowlers Journal International. He has won countless bowling titles, and he holds 3 Guinness world records, namely winning the bowling world cup at the youngest age at 19, a record of 4 bowling world cup wins during the span of three decades, and lastly, a staggering number of 129 career bowling titles is under his belt. For a country that prides itself on its talent, a good number of people who have heard of Paeng believe that he does not receive the recognition he deserves due to his undying success in representing this nation well, but this does not hinder him as he continues to compete and inspire other athletes to push on with their dreams.

Carla Abellana (AB Psychology)

Carla Abellana is an actress of German, Spanish and Filipino decent. Her ambition to graduate with honors (Cum Laude) also translates in her work. In her movie “Shake, Rattle & Roll XII: Punerarya”, she won Best Actress in the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival, Best Performance in the Young Critics Circle for Film, and Best New Movie Actress in the 27th PMPC Star Awards for Movies. In her series “Rosalinda”, she won Best New Female TV Personality in the the 24th PMPC Star Awards for TV and in My Husband’s Lover, she won Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series in the Golden Screen Awards for Television.

Aaron Atayde (AB Communication Arts)

Some people know Aaron Atayde as the courtside reporter of the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the UAAP Seasons 70 and 71 while others know him as “Josh Strike” from the StrikeZone of Magic 89.9. However, some of these people may not know that he is also the son of Tony Atayde Sr. of the Green Mind. The Atayde family is a well-known group in DLSU especially in the field of sports. Aaron is currently a presenter for United Football Leauge (UFL) matches and a sportscaster for the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA), the English Premiere League, and Bundes Liga on AKTV. He is now in Singapore to cover the SEA Games 2015 for Sports5.

Gary Valenciano (College of Liberal Arts)

Known as “Mr. Pure Energy”, Gary Valenciano has been recognized both nationally and internationally as an extremely talented singer and dancer. He holds 11 wins from the Awit Awards which named him Best Male Performer, not to mention the respect and admiration of thousands of Filipinos. Not to be limited by his passion of music, he was the first ever ambassador of UNICEF Philippines. His charitable work included visits to the provincial areas in need such as Negros Oriental while promoting the importance of education highlighting how the youth can impact the world of the future.

The 6 mentioned above are just a fraction of the successful and influential celebrities who have accomplished the title of De La Salle University alumni. However, this isn’t at all a tool for you to brag of the famous celebrities our school has produced but rather an opportunity for students and graduates alike to go beyond what is asked for. In other words, your degree does not define you. It is how you apply it to make a life that will benefit yourself and others. *Words by Jasper Delegencia and Hazel Chua *Feature image from The LaSallian