Fate & faith made Alice the 'Woman of Steel'

The University of Santo Tomas has conferred the Doctor of Commerce degree, honoris causa, upon builder Alice G. Eduardo in solemn investiture ceremonies at the UST campus in Manila.

- JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ

Alice with her mother Elisa; children Jacqueline, Jameson and Jessica; siblings Marissa and Philip, Joel, Melba and Bayan, and their families with UST rector Very Rev. Ang.

She is only the third person to receive the commerce honorary doctorate from the university, after Don Andres Soriano Sr. and another UST alumnus, William T. Belo.

Alice, the founder and chief executive officer of Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp. and an alumna of UST's College of Business Administration, said that she is where she is now because of life's twists and turns, and the signposts of faith. She said it was "never in her wildest dreams" when she was a student at UST that she would someday be one of the nation's leading builders of world-class structures.

"My parents (Andres and Elisa Eduardo) always hoped that one day I would become a medical doctor. They envisioned me with a stethoscope around my neck, diagnosing illnesses and bringing healing to patients," Alice confessed with a smile.

"Life, however, had other plans for me," she added. "I never became a doctor of Medicine. Instead, fate has led me here today to receive an honorary doctorate degree in Commerce. While I may not be able to cure physical ailments, I'd like to believe that through the world of business, leadership, and service, I have been able to contribute in another way, by creating opportunities, building livelihoods, and helping communities thrive."