Rufino S. Ignacio, MEM, MEE

Rufino (Ruffy) S. Ignacio, an educator, mentor, author, community leader, activist, and a founder, holds two Masters degrees – Master of Engineering Management from Saint Martin University in Olympia, Washington, and Master of Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and was 3rd place in the Electrical Engineering Board Exam. His batch at the Eta chapter in UP Diliman is 1960, called the Blackjacks, several of whom were topnotchers in their respective board exams. He also has a diploma in Laser Technology in Pasadena, California where he received several scholarship grants from the Ford Foundation, the East-West Center, the JICA, IDRC, British Council, OECD, Indian Council etc. He is co-author of a technical book entitled “Integrated Planning and Quality Management System.” His co-author is from Harvard/MIT. 

 

He worked in various capacities in the US as a Contracts Manager of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, where he retired. Prior to that, he held positions, such as, President of SCI International Enterprises in Seattle; Vice President for Research and Development of a manufacturing company in Tacoma; Lecturer in Physics at the Pasadena City College and at the Santa Monica College in California.

 

In the Philippines, he worked as the Director for Development and External Affairs of the Southeast Asian Fisheries and Development Center (SEAFDEC) and was Founder and First Director of its Binangonan Research Center. In the field of sports, he was Managing Partner of Sanyu Basketball that owns Countryfair, Sunkist and Winston teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and managed the 1984 Philippine team to the Jones Cup held in Taiwan.

 

As an educator, he was Dean of Engineering and later the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi. He also held positions in that University as Country Project Manager, RP-World Bank Project in Vocational and Technical Education, Philippines, and Co-Founder of the renowned Sining Kambayoka Theater Ensemble. Because of his great contribution to MSU, he was their favorite graduation speaker. In 2011, a newly-built facility at MSU was named the Ignacio Lecture Hall in the College of Engineering. A plaque as you enter the hall says: “In honor of Prof. Rufino S. Ignacio, Prime mover, beloved mentor, esteemed colleague, inspiration to many.”

 

 He is now, since 2002, Dean Emeritus of Engineering, teaches courses and acts as consultant.  Currently, he is a Consultant of Engineering and Systems Management, as well as Secretary General of the PBA Legends USA Foundation. In the field of community leadership and service, he was President for 10 years of the Filipino-American Community of South Puget Sound (FACSPS) in Olympia, where he is presently the Grant Director for its Pilipina projects advocating for women’s issues, the Loving Presence Foundation.  He is the Resident Director of Teatro Lakbay Sining, the Founding President of APO ETAANA Foundation, and the Alumni Grand Chancellor of ETA USA. He is also a 32nd degree Freemason in Olympia involved with establishing the Childhood Learning Center, and Worshipful Master of the Olympia Freemason Lodge, the first and so far, the only non-Caucasian to hold that position for the past 160 years since its founding.

 

He is married to Marlene Deluao, Professor (Ret) of Physics and Mathematics, Pierce College, Washington and they have four children: Benjamin (computer scientist), Ruth (bio-psychologist), Alejandro (industrial engineer) and Majar-likha (IT expert).