18 March 2016
To the Xavier Community:
The Board of Trustees is pleased to confer the 2016 Xavier-Kuangchi Award for Exemplary Alumni on a Xaverian who has been a lifelong advocate of wildlife protection and environmental preservation – JOSE MA. LORENZO P. TAN 陳天佑 (HS’70).
Lorenzo “Lory” Tan has more than 15 years of CEO-level experience in the management of non-profit organizations, most notably as CEO of WWF Philippines from 2001 to 2014. He spearheaded the establishment of an Ecotourism Community of Practice in the Philippines and played a lead role in finalizing the four-year study on Assessment of Business Risks and Opportunities Arising from Climate Change. He was actively involved in crafting policy, building enforcement and management capacity, and creating sustainable financial frameworks for key ecotourism initiatives in Palawan, Mindoro, Batangas, and Sorsogon. More recently, his work in support of conservation and sustainable development in the Philippines has focused much more sharply on adaptation and building social resilience in a climate-defined future.
This recognition of Lorenzo Tan is of particular significance in light of the latest papal encyclical, Laudato Si, which calls on the Church and “every person living on this planet” to take action in response to environmental degradation and global warming. May his service in this field inspire all Xaverians to examine their lifestyles and learn to view nature as an integral part of God’s creation.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their active participation in the nomination process and the efforts of the search committee, chaired by Fr. Peter O. Pojol, SJ.
The awarding ceremony will be held in July as part of the school’s celebration of Ignatian Month, when we highlight the ideals taught to us by the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Luceat lux!
(signed) (signed)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D. Johnip G. Cua
President Chairman