OFFICERS OF THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF MAPUA ALUMNI
JUNY P. LA PUTT, BSCE, MS, PE, TOM
HAMA Founder & Interim President
Email: junylaputt@yahoo.com
Phone: (808) 330-4242
Juny graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1961 with a degree in Civil
Engineering. In 1977, he obtained his Master's Degree in Geodetic Science (Major
in Cartography) from the Ohio State University as a Fulbright Scholar from the
Philippines. In 1972 he completed a course in Applied Geodesy, Photogrammetry, and
Cartography at the University of the Philippines. During his 21.5 years of active
military service with the Armed Forces of the Philipppines (AFP), he was assigned
with the Academic Group of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for 18 years where he
taught engineering subjects. He also taught at the Mapua Institute of Technology,
University of Baguio, and the Baguio Colleges Foundation. In 1966 he joined the
1st Philippine Civic Action Group (1st PHILCAG) and was sent to South Vietnam where
he served for 2 years. Prior to his retirement from the AFP, he was the Deputy
Executive Director of The National Cartography Authority (now NAMRIA). Juny optionally
retired from the AFP in 1983 with the rank of Colonel.
In 1984 he was a Visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Maine where he did
extensive research for his books in Elementary & Higher Surveying which were later
published and distributed by National Bookstore. These books are currently used as textbooks
in a number of engineering schools and colleges in the Philippines. As an immigrant in 1987, Juny, his
wife Nena, and 5 kids settled in Honolulu, Hawaii. He joined the Building Department
of the City & County of Honolulu and was designated as a Building Official. After 17.5
years with the City he retired in 2005.
Juny is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Philippines and also in the State of Hawaii.
He was a recipient of the following major awards: The Outstanding Mapuan (NAMA/2008),
Cavalier Award (PMA/1997), One of Ten Outstanding Engineers in the Philippines (PICE/1979),
Outstanding Civil Engineer (FALEA/1998). He also received numerous military awards, medals,
ribbons, decorations and commendations during his active service with the AFP. He was one of
the three founding fathers
of the Filipino-American League of Engineers & Architects (FALEA) which was organized in Honolulu
in 1993 and was elected its 1st president. Juny became the Chairperson of the Hawaii
Council of Engineering Societies in 1999, and in 2008 he organized the Hawaii Association
of Mapua Alumni (HAMA) and was its Founder and Charter President. With the recent resignation of
Vergel Del Rosario as HAMA President due to his relocation to California, Juny was asked by
the HAMA Board to assumed
the position of President of the Chapter in an interim capacity.
FEDERICO VILORIA, BSCE
HAMA 1ST Vice President
Email: fviloria@honolulu.gov
Phone: (808) 227-6583
Rico moved to the United States 4 years after graduating from the Mapua Institute of
Technology with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1980. He joined the US Army Reserves
and went to Port Leonard, Missouri, for basic training. He was assigned with the 4th
Training Brigade at Fort De Russy as a Carpenter and Masonry Specialist. After four
years with the Army, he joined the US Air Force and went to Lackland Air Force Base
after which he was shipped out to Reese AFB in Texas for an 8-year active duty service.
While in active status, he finished his graduate studies in business administration
majoring in accounting. He is married to Milagros Usita with whom they have two kids,
Nico and Dolly. In 1993 he was reassigned with the 624th Civil Engineering Squadron at
Hickam Air Force Base as an Engineering Assistant until his retirement in December 7,
2008. Currently, Rico is with the Department of Planning and Permitting, City and County
of Honolulu, as a Plans Examining Engineer.
WILLY FESTIN, BSME
HAMA 2nd Vice Presidnet
Email: wfestin@yahoo.com
Phone: (808) 781-1984
Willy graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1976 with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering. After graduation he worked for the Department of Public Woks & Highways in
Region I of the Philippines as a mechanical engineer. In 1980, he left for Saudi Arabia
and was employed as a Pipe Fitter/Fabricator for the J.H. Al Haroon/M.K. Katlan Trading
& Contracting. He later joined Brown, Daltas, Associates Ltd. as a mechanical engineer/
inspector.
Willy and his family immigrated to Hawaii in 1997 and found employment with Daichiya-Love's
Bakery as a maintenance mechanic. He also worked for the University of Hawaii and currently
with the Leeward Community College as a maintenance mechanic. Willy is married to Glorifina
Patague with whom they have three adult children and two grandchildren.
AMADO J. SANCHEZ, BSCE, BSESE
HAMA Secretary
Email: amados@groupbuilders.net
Phone: (808) 864-8927
Amado obtained a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1990 and
Environmental & Sanitary Engineering in 1992 from the Mapua Institute
of Technology. He immigrated to the United States and established
residence in Honolulu, Hawaii, in February of 1993 and was hired by
Group Builders, Incorporated in October 1993.
Amado worked as a project engineer from 1993 to 1997. In 1998, he was
sent to the Philippines as a project manager for SM Shoe Mart in
Iloilo and The Shrine of Jesus in Manila which is the first structure
built at the Mall of Asia reclamation area.
He is currently working as Head Estimator with Group Builders, Inc.,
currently the biggest specialty subcontractor in the State of Hawaii
and at the same time serving as the Vice-President for a start-up
outsourcing company he co-founded in 2007 with other Mapua alumni,
UniCADD International, Incorporated, which offers engineering,
architectural, planning and design services in the US and its
territories.
He is married to Maria Donna Wee and has an 8-year old daughter, Ann
Loudette and a 1-year old son, Aisiah Loulani. Currently, Amado and
his family reside in Kapolei City, Hawaii.
ANDREA ALCANTARA BENITEZ, BSChE
HAMA Treasurer
Email: andreab@groupbuilders.net
Phone: (808) 478-1387
Andrea was born in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. She graduated in 1967 with a
bachelor's degree om Chemical Engineering from the Mapua Institute of Technology. She
migrated to San Diego, California, in 1975 where she worked at the Topaz Electronics
and Square D Company for 13 years as production supervisor and material analyst. In
1991, she and her husband moved to Hawaii and joined Group Builders, Incorporated, where
she is currently working as a Purchasing Manager.
CONSORCIO DON MANUEL, BSME, TOM
HAMA Press Relations Officer
Email: cdonman@aol.com
Phone: (808) 277-7995
Don Manuel graduated from Mapua with a BSME degree in 1966. He passed the Board Exams
before migrating to the United States in 1967 and worked for a mechanical engineering
consulting firm. He was drafted into the US Army in 1968 during the Vietnam War and was sent
to the US Army Defense School in Ft. Bliss, Texas until his discharge in 1970. He came
back to Hawaii and worked in the consulting field specializing in innovative design in
Energy Conservation & Sustainable Energy Application.
Don is the first Filipino immigrant with a Professional Engineer license in 1973. His
natural ventilation design on a military residential high-rise building garnered a
Department of Energy (DOE) top national award in Energy Innovation in Washington, DC, in
1987. He also designed the first commercial domestic solar water heating system in Hawaii
in 1975 and the first waste heat recovery from A/C heat pump in 1977.
Don designed the first resort hotel in the world without a cooling tower and saved Kauai 80,000
gallons of fresh water a day. He was the State of Hawaii's "Engineer of the Year" in 2000.
Don proved the viability of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Technology by designing the
first Ice Storage airconditioning for Maryknoll High School in 1997.
HORACIO I. SANTOS, BSEE
HAMA Auditor
Email: horatios@earthlink.net
Phone: (808) 781-1984
Horacio "Sonny" Santos graduated with a BSEE degree in 1973. One year after graduating
from Mapua, he joined the United States Navy at Subic Bay Naval Recruiting Station,
Philippines, on November, 1974. Sonny attended basic training at the US Naval Training
Command in San Diego, California. His first sea duty assignment was onboard the USS
Midway (CVA-41) which was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan.
After 20 years, he retired from the US Navy active service in November 1994. After
active military service he was hired for a Federal Civil Service employment at US Navy
Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He served the Navy Public Works Center as
a federal service employee.
Currently, Sonny is attached to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance
Facility at the Electrical Department and is responsible for the repair, troubleshooting,
and maintenance of electrical equipment used for ships. Sonny was married to the late
Cecilia Antonio Cruz and is blessed with two daughters, Rachelle and Kathleen.