Engineer Dante "Dan" Abando '82 was selected by the University of the Philippines Alumni Engineers Association (UPAE) as its Most Distinguished Alumnus for 2023.

The UPAE was founded in 1947 and serves as the U.P. College of Engineering's main umbrella organization which unites all of the College's alumni groups; it has launched several infrastructure programs in the College through major fundraisers. It's member organizations include the Association of Civil Engineering Students (UPACES), the Chemical Engineering Alumni Foundations (UPCHEAF), the Electrical & Electronics Engineering Alumni Association (UPEEEAAI), the Industrial Engineering Alumni Association (UPIEAA) and the Mining, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Alumni Association (UPMMMEA).

Dan '82 finished his civil engineering degree in U.P in 1986 and has a distinguished career in the construction industry. He is currently Vice President and a member of the Management Committee of Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI); he is also the President and CEO of the Makati Development Corporation (MDC). Dan was lauded for spearheading the MDC's transformation by helping build its capability to handle over 400 projects in design, procurement and construction and spinning off subsidiaries to enable efficiencies in specialized construction services. In his past career, Mr. Abando held the position of Chairman and President of Philippine Constructors Association, Inc., Manager at Philkoei International, Inc. and President and Director at Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club, Inc..

Dan holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of the Philippines and was a recipient of the UPAE Professional Degree Award in Civil Engineering in 2014. He also serves in the Board of the U.P. Alumni Association.