To recognize the significant contributions made by Prof. Manuel M. Manuel, Ph.D., Prof. Santiago M. Alviar, Ph.D., and Prof. Eliezer A. Albacea, Ph.D., the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) renamed three lecture halls and a hallway in the Francisco O. Santos Hall (Physical Sciences Building) after these esteemed honorees. The renaming ceremony, held on April 19, 2024, was attended by UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr., College of Arts and Sciences Dean Maribel L. Dionisio-Sese, along with honorees’ family members, faculty, and students. The renaming, which was initiated during the term of Prof. Jaderick P. Pabico as ICS Director, was approved by the UP Board of Regents during its 1384th meeting in October 2023.

Contributions of Honorees

Prof. Manuel M. Manuel

• One of the first faculty members of the BS Computer Science (BSCS) degree program at UPLB, which became the model for other UP System constituent universities, except UP Diliman’s Bachelor in Computer Science program.
• Instrumental in organizing the first computer science student organization at UPLB.
• Served as the Director of the Agricultural Research Center (UPLB ARC), which housed the only IBM/370 Mainframe Computer, serving the computing needs of the Los Baños community, including UPLB, IRRI, the then PCAARD, and SEARCA. Administrative and research personnel from these institutions ran computer jobs using punch cards.

Prof. Santiago M. Alviar

• Authored several computer science publications, including a Filipino textbook, Introduksyon sa Agham Kompyuter (2002).
• Developed the discipline of statistic-based performance evaluation of computer software and hardware, later instituted as the graduate course CMSC 220: Computer System Performance Evaluation.
• Headed the Los Baños Computer Center (LBCC), which was incorporated as a service unit when the ICS was elevated to an Institute in 1995.
• Served as Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development in UPLB.

Prof. Eliezer A. Albacea

• Key mover in the establishment and offering of the BSCS program at UPLB.
• First Director of ICS, serving four terms from 1995 to 2010.
• Instituted three additional programs: Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS), Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (both residential and by research modes), and Master of Information Technology (MIT).
• Appointed to numerous administrative positions, including the UP System’s Director for the adoption of the UPLB BSCS program by the UP System Constituent Universities (UPSCU) during UP President Emil Q. Javier’s term.
• Founding editor-in-chief of the Philippine Computing Journal, a publication of the Computing Society of the Philippines, where he served as the first President.
• Chaired the Technical Panel for IT Education of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and played a crucial role in developing model curricular programs for BS Computer Science, BS Information Technology, and BS Information Systems in the country.
• Authored multiple textbooks and publications widely used by faculty members from other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country.
• Recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Scientists of the Philippines and a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology as the first academician in computing science.
• He is known for his work on the sorting algorithm Leapfrogging Sample Sort (1995).