Outstanding Pinoys recognized by Duterte, receive P500,000 each from Metrobank

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte awarded this year’s Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos in a formal ceremony held on Sept. 12, at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang. 

The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos comprise the winners of three programs — Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), and Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS).

They were conferred with gold medallions by the President, joined by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

Award presenters included AFP chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, and Commission on Higher Education chairperson Patricia Licuanan.

Metrobank Group chairman Dr. George SK Ty led the presentation ceremonies with Metrobank Foundation (MBFI) president Aniceto Sobrepeña and trustee Alfred Ty.

The Outstanding Filipinos are honored for their commitment to excellence, dedication to service, and selfless desire to serve communities even in the most trying of circumstances. Each SOT, TOPS and COPS awardee received a cash prize of P500,000 and a trophy during Metrobank’s 54th anniversary celebration last Sept. 5.

“These men and women hail from all walks of life but they share a common passion for service and an abiding love of country. They are the partners for change that we need to move our nation forward. That we honor them here tonight symbolizes the Metrobank Foundation’s commitment to giving these Outstanding Filipinos a platform to reach out to more of our countrymen and inspire them to pursue excellence in their endeavors,” said Sobrepeña in his welcome remarks during the ceremony.

The 2016 TOPS awardees are composed of four commissioned and six non-commissioned officers of the AFP. The awardees from the Philippine Army are Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor, Technical Sgt. Danilo Ramos and Technical Sgt. Bernardo Tacbas.

The awardees from the Philippine Navy are Lt. Colonel Wilfredo Manalang Jr., Staff Sgt. Albert Eleazar and Intelligence Specialist chief Fernando Parcon.

From the Philippine Air Force, the awardees are Lt. Col. Oliver Bañaria, Master Sgt. Abel Idusma and Master Sgt. Andersen Avellana. Col. Jocelyn Turla of the Technical and Administrative Services completes this year’s TOPS awardees.

Meanwhile, the 2016 COPS awardees are composed of four commissioned and six non-commissioned officers from the PNP. Commissioned officers awardees are Chief Inspector Ryan Manongdo; Supt. Jemuel Siason, Senior Supt. Mario Rariza Jr. and Senior Supt. Susan Jalla.

On the other hand, NCO awardees are: PO2 Fatima Ibias-Lanuza, SPO1 Nida Gregas, SPO1 Mhay Rubio, SPO2 Jeffrey Ojao, SPO3 Hamidhan Tebbeng and SPO4 Ezrael Lantingan.

The 2016 SOT awardees are composed of four elementary, four secondary school teachers and two professors from the higher education level. The elementary competition winners are Winona Diola of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, Rujealyn Cancino of Lingayen I Central School, Josephine Chonie Obseñares of Butuan City SPED Center and Arnol Rosales of Francisco Melgar Memorial School. The winners for the secondary competition are Roy Basa of Negros Occidental High School, Nelson Agoyaoy of University of the East Elementary and High School Department, Ma. Regaele Olarte of Muntinlupa National High School-Main and Katherine Faith Bustos of Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School. Meanwhile, Ernelea Cao of UP-Diliman and Mark Anthony Torres of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology are the awardees for the higher education competition. They joined the ranks of 346 Outstanding Teachers recognized by MBFI since 1985.

Delivering the response on behalf of the awardees was COPS awardee Superintendent Jemuel Siason. 

“We awardees have one thing in common, we are driven by our passion towards our profession. I believe most of us in this room will agree that we have pretty awesome jobs. As police officers, soldiers and teachers we have the noblest professions. We awardees were able to shine a light as noteworthy individuals and were able to cascade our insights and best practices to the greater public,” he said. 

Siason had numerous successes in the field of intelligence work, providing sensitive, accurate information on high-risk cases ranging from international terrorist activity, illegal drugs, to political insurgency. He most recently assisted the 84th Seaborne SAF in the neutralization of the international terrorist Marwan.

For his part, SPO4 Ezrael Lantingan has continuously made his B’laan tribe in Sarangani proud. He has displayed an eye for detail and respect for due process in resolving cases like arson, murder, or kidnapping. Lantingan also worked to bring the government closer to citizens, particularly the indigenous peoples or IPs. He has led several youth development and peacekeeping initiatives in his community.

TOPS awardee Intelligence Specialist chief Fernando Parcon, a multi-awarded athlete, did not let the partial loss of sight stop him from serving the community. Despite the threats to his life, he foiled several anomalous transactions that would have cost the PNP. He has also extended his love for sports to the youth by conducting free clinics on arnis and boxing.

SOT awardee Roy Basa is a master teacher assigned to the night class department of Negros Occidental High School. Through the Balik-Aral program, he teaches students who work during daytime as househelpers, welders and security guards. He empowers them to make better life choices, sheltering them from abusive employers and helping them find jobs so they can continue their schooling.