House honors Metrobank Outstanding Filipino awardees

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (center), with Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña (left), Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte (right) and the 2017 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino awardees during their courtesy call at the House of Representatives. (Photo: Press and Public Affairs Bureau/congress.gov.ph)

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday led lawmakers in giving recognition to 10 awardees of the 2017 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos who were chosen on the basis of their exemplary contribution to the academe, armed forces, and police sectors.

The winners were present during the recognition rites held at the Speaker’s Social Hall wherein Alvarez handed each one of them a certificate of recognition for the services they rendered above and beyond the call of duty and their pursuit of excellence for the greater good of the Filipino society.

This year’s batch of winners consists of four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers. Five of them hail from Mindanao.

“The House of Representatives stands by and support you and we’ll work on legislation that will ensure that your effort will neither be in vain nor forgotten,” said Alvarez.

The Speaker, who is from Davao del Norte, said he was glad to witness the ceremony honoring fellow Mindanaoans for protecting peace and saving lives. “As a public servant, I am proud to stand before you all as you receive the distinction you deserve for being the heroes of this generation and for your unwavering contribution to nation-building,” he said.

The Speaker called the awardees “heroes of this generation” and cited their  unwavering contribution to nation building. “Your dedication to your profession is most timely, especially since a lot of young people do not see the difficult life of a public servant,” said Alvarez.

“Tingnan nyo naman, ang daming kahanga-hangang police officers, tapos yung nababalita lang yung mga scalawags na involved dun sa murder. So, dapat tingnan din natin na hindi lahat,” Speaker said after recognizing the awardees.

Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (5th District, Cebu), chairman of the House committee on basic education and culture, said the recognition shows that the House of Representatives continues to share in the pride and honor of deserving and exceptional members of society.

Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), a retired police general, said the occasion was meaningful to him especially since he belongs to a family of teachers and was a part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) before joining the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Meanwhile, Rep. Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), chairman of the committee on public order and safety, said they affirm and recognize the awardees’ achievements. “We hope the accomplishments of these exceptional individuals will encourage other Filipinos to emulate them as they help fulfill the long dream of national growth and development,” said Acop, also a retired police general.

Metrobank this year leveled up its recognition program by imposing a more stringent and rigorous selection process. It gave each awardee an incentive of P1 million, a gold medallion, and a trophy.

Of the 20 finalists, the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos chose 10 awardees as “Metrobank Foundation Fellows” in public service.

The 10 awardees were chosen by a Final Board of Judges composed of  Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (4th District, Quezon City), Court of Appeals Associate Justice Magdangal de Leon, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Manila Electric Company president and CEO Oscar Reyes, Asian Institute of Management president and dean Dr. Jikyeong Kang, Palo Archbishop John Du, and GMA Network senior vice president for radio Miguel “Mike” Enriquez.

The awardees are: Jennifer Rojo, Tagaytay’s Visionary Science Teacher-Master Teacher II, Neogan Elementary School; Edgar Elago, Agusan del Norte’s Cultural Coach-Teacher III, Magallanes National High School; Prof. Esperanza Cabrera, RMT, MSc, Ph.D., DPAM-Manila’s Master Microbiologist-Professor 10 and University Fellow, De La Salle University; Prof. Alonzo Gabriel, Ph D., RMicro, DPAM-Diliman’s Food Security Advocate-Full Professor and University Scientist, University of the Philippines; Staff Sgt. Narding Pascual, CARAGA’s Lumad Hero- Squad Leader, Bravo Company, 26thInfantry Battalion; Lt. Col. Elmer Suderio, Basilan’s Soldier-Trailblazer-Operations Officer, Joint Task Force Marawi; Lt. Col. Ricky Bunayog, Central Mindanao’s Warrior-Peacekeepr- Asst. Chief of Staff for Operations, 6th Infantry Division; PO3 Shiela May Pansoy, Davao del Sur’s Anti-Abuse Herald-Investigator, Women and Children Protection Desk; P/C Inspector Rosalino Ibay, Jr., Manila Police District’s Finest Officer- Chief, District Intelligence and Operation Unit; and P/S Superintendent Joel Doria, Ph. D., Cebu’s Pokemon Groundbreaker-City Director, Cebu City Police Office

Since 1985, Metrobank Foundation has honored a total of 645 Outstanding Filipinos, 356 teachers, 151 soldiers and 138 police officers. (30) EAG