UST grants Mocha Uson award for gov’t service

MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association on Sunday gave Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson an award recognizing her government service.

During the Grand Alumni Homecoming on Sunday, Uson received the Thomasian Award for Government Service. She was reportedly given the award "to serve as an inspiration to other government workers."

LOOK: Mocha Uson is awarded the Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service by the UST Alumni Association. pic.twitter.com/TBx6ZuqJ5q

— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) January 21, 2018

The official publication of UST, The Varsitarian, also posted a photo of Uson receiving the award.

Uson and other government officials including Sen. Joel Villanueva, Buhay Party-list Jose “Lito” Atienza, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, were among the recipients of the government service award.

Reports said Uson was grateful for her award, which she dedicated to her mother and aunts who also studied in UST.

“It is a great honor for me that my Alma Mater recognize my efforts for change in our country. If my stay in UST has though me something, it is to fight for what I believe in, regardless of the difficult obstacles ahead,” Uson was quoted by CNN Philippines.

The PCOO official earned a degree of Bachelor in Science in Medical Technology in 1998. She also took medicine at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery for two years, however, she stopped pursuing medicine school to pave way for her career in the entertainment industry.

Uson, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte during his presidential campaign, was appointed as a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board before she was assigned to the PCOO. —Rosette Adel