The University of the East condoles with the family of one of its esteemed graduates, Engr. Mariano Sta. Romana Agoncillo, who passed away last May 1, 2024, at age 65.
Engr. Agoncillo, or “Morris” to his friends, earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from UE College of Engineering in 1980. He took and passed the licensure exam, becoming a licensed civil engineer in the following year. He later on completed a postgraduate course in Construction Management at the Asian Institute of Management and took advanced studies in concrete precasting at the Elematic Precast Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
Engr. Agoncillo was the Co-Founder and President of Datem Incorporated, one of the country’s leading construction firms and which is accredited as a Quadruple A company that has built some of the most prestigious high-rise landmarks and prominent infrastructure in the Philippines. To name just a few are ABS-CBN’s Eugenio Lopez Jr. Communications Center in Quezon City, the Power Plant Mall in Makati City, The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, and the North-South Commuter Railway Project, which involved the construction of a 37.6-kilometer double-track standard-gauge railway from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila.
From a fledgling company borne during the turbulent first half of the 1980s, Datem, along with Engr. Agoncillo’s colorful career, grew by leaps and bounds. He was likewise the President of Datem Water Incorporated and the Director of Datem Homes, and the Director of both the Construction Manpower Development Foundation and of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE).
In addition, he was the External Vice President of Construction Safety Foundation Incorporated; a Member of the Association of Construction Equipment Lessors; a Director of the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations; a Director of the ASEAN Contractors Federation; and Chairman of the 171220 Holdings Corporation.
He was President of PICE’s East Metro Manila Chapter from 2017 to 2018, and of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) from 2018 to 2019.
Engr. Agoncillo was honored with the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors Builders Award in 2006 for the Greenbelt Development Project, and the 44th National Industrial Safety Convention Award for Excellence in October 2011 by the Safety Organization of the Philippines for the One Rockwell Project. In 2012, he was recognized as a Prime Mover by Habitat for Humanity. Furthermore, he was bestowed the Meritorious Service Award during his term as PCA President.
On December 10, 2023, he was recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission as the Most Outstanding Professional of the Year in the field of Civil Engineering.
On our end, Engr. Agoncillo was recognized as one of UE’s 75 Most Outstanding Alumni, on the occasion of the University’s 75th Foundation Anniversary in 2021. He was the Commencement Speaker for UE Caloocan for the 72nd UE Yearend Commencement Rites, held virtually in November 2020.
His remains lie in state at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. Interment will be this Tuesday, May 7, 2024, also at Heritage Memorial Park.
He is survived by his wife, Liz Marie G. Agoncillo, and children Annika Johanna, Angelo Dio, Angelica Arianne, Anton Miguel, and Alvin Gabriel.
Rest in peace, Warrior Alumnus-Engr. Mariano Agoncillo, and thank you for the rich example you set for countless UE CE graduates and CE Warriors.