On February 14, 2025, the Radisson Blu Hotel, at Deira Creek, Dubai, UAE hosted the prestigious The Filipino Times Watchlist: Top Engineers and Architects in the Middle East 2025. The event was a momentous occasion for Filipino professionals in the region, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Filipino engineers and architects who have significantly contributed to the development of the Middle East, with a focus on sustainability, technological innovation, and cultural preservation in the field of engineering and architecture. The event was organized by New Perspective Media Group (NPMG), the publisher of The Filipino Times in the UAE.

The event was divided into two key components:

1. Top Engineers and Architects  Summit
2. Top Engineers and Architects Gala Night and Awards Ceremony

The Top Engineers and Architects  Summit took place in the morning and revolved around the theme of Sustainable Development, Technological Innovation, and Cultural Preservation in Engineering and Architecture. Industry experts and leaders discussed the evolving role of technology and sustainability in these fields, with presentations addressing cutting-edge topics such as “AI Agents: Transforming Engineering and Architecture in Everyday Life.”

Among the distinguished speakers was Engr. Marlon Hipolito,  the 2025 Chapter President of the IIEE UAE Chapter joining a panel discussing the Role of Filipino Engineers and Architects in Driving Sustainable Development across the Middle East. His participation provided valuable insights into how Filipino professionals are at the forefront of fostering innovative and sustainable solutions in engineering and architecture throughout the region.

The evening’s Gala Night was a grand affair, where the Top Engineers and Architects in the Middle East 2025 were honored for their exceptional contributions to the fields of engineering and architecture. A total of 126 Filipino Engineers and Architects were recognized, selected from a pool of 1,031 nominations across the GCC countries, including Bahrain, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

These awardees were chosen for their innovation, leadership, and commitment to excellence, spanning multiple engineering disciplines such as Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as Architecture.

The IIEE UAE Chapter is proud  of its members who were recognized as Top Electrical Engineers in the Middle East 2025. The awardees are as follows:

• Castulo, Rodrigo Jr.
• Cupido, Leo
• Diaz, Aruel
• Genove, Elmer
• Laguerta, Venerando
• Lingcaso, Norberto Jr.
• Oyao, Jalan Nicolas
• Paloma, Victor
• Perez, Ken Anthony
• Pineda, Lesley Ariel
• Rances, Melanie
• Recto, Roanne Joy
• Tangcogo, Jose
• Vergosa, Enrie Andy
• Villa, Eryl

The awardees were selected by a distinguished panel of judges, all of whom are highly regarded professionals in their respective fields. The panel included:

• Sheryl G. De La Peña: Immediate Past Chapter President of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-UAE and Sr. Quantity Surveyor and Contracts Administrator at Distance Studio Consultants.
• Marlon B. Hipolito: 2025 Chapter President of the Integrated Institute of Electrical Engineers of the Philippines-UAE Chapter and Project Manager at Watermaster LLC.
• Rafael Lontoc: Chairman of the Philippine Professional Organization-UAE, Adviser to the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines-UAE Chapter, and Regional Support Manager at Cyviz AS.
• Florencio C. Lopez Jr.: 2024 Chapter President of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers-UAE and Senior Process Engineering Specialist/Chief Engineer at ADNOC Borouge.
• Woderick M. Pareja: Past Chapter President and Adviser to the United Architects of the Philippines-Abu Dhabi, and Project Management Consultant/Technical Advisor at Obermeyer Middle East GmBH.
• Leif Marvin Valeros: Chapter President of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines-UAE and Technical Support Engineer at Keri Systems Middle East FZCO.

The judges’ expertise and credibility ensured a thorough and fair selection process, recognizing only the most deserving engineers and architects in the Middle East.

The recognition achieved by IIEE UAE Chapter members celebrates their  accomplishments and also sets the stage for future contributions that will continue to impact the region positively. The IIEE UAE Chapter remains committed to fostering innovation, sustainability, and leadership within the engineering and architecture industries in the Middle East.