Benjamin inspires the youth

MANILA, Philippines - Benjamin Alves is the new ambassador of the GMA Network Excellence Award. He feels blessed that he finally gets the opportunity to inspire the youth and promote excellence through formal education and love for knowledge.

The Kapuso actor, who graduated summa cum laude at the University of Guam with a degree in English Literature in 2012, did not think twice in agreeing to represent GMA Network’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. Now on its 14th year, the GMA Network Excellence Award has been honoring the achievements of graduating students by recognizing excellence through the demonstration of their leadership, academic performance and social responsibility.

 “Thank you (GMA) so much for making me your ambassador for the GMA Network Excellence Award. I can’t wait to talk to our candidates and discover who they really are and what motivates them to strive for excellence,” says Benjamin.

Benjamin, who completed his course in only two and a half years, recalls how studying was never a labor for him even if he had to read 10 to 12 books in a semester “because I wanted to make it possible for me to come back to showbiz. And this is where I am now. I want to share about my journey with the students. And I feel that I have a lot to offer, a lot to share to them.”

According to Benjamin, “During college, I tried to make it a point to really do well and excel because I really focus and I obsess for it. It’s always nice when your hard work is recognized and rewarded and that’s what we’re doing now with GMA Network Excellence Award.”

Corporate Affairs AVP Ma. Teresa Pacis says, “This year, we’re very lucky because Benjamin has agreed to be part of this program.”

Benjamin’s achievements in both his career and academics have qualified him to be GMA Network’s Excellence Award ambassador. “We look at more on the achievements of our Kapuso stars. And it so happened that Benjamin’s interest and passion for education caught our attention,” Pacis adds.

Benjamin is going to be part of the panel of judges that will screen the candidates of the GMA Network Excellence Award. From the Top 7 finalists that Benjamin will personally interview, only one will be chosen to bring home the award. Benjamin says he would be very hands-on with this endeavor since he has just finished his last soap Beautiful Strangers.

“I’m really excited about this. Gusto ko pong magamit talaga yung educational background ko in some way, and this is the perfect time,” concludes Benjamin.

(The GMA Network Excellence Award is open to all Filipino graduating students of Mass Communication, Multi-media Arts, Advertising or any equivalent course on communication, as well as Electronics and Communications Engineering.)