RAFI Presents Triennial Awards Finalists

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) last April 7, 2015, Tuesday, presented to the public the eight finalists of the sixth run of the RAFI Triennial Awards, the premier social development award in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Given every three years, the award recognizes the philanthropic, humanitarian and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in enhancing the quality of life of various communities and groups, or those helping build a more humane, equitable and caring society in the Visayas and Mindanao area.

During the presentation, which happened at the RAFI-Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City, the public got to know all the outstanding and exemplary work of three individuals and five institutions for the communities they are serving. It was hoped that their efforts will serve as source of inspiration to many.

The finalists in the Individual Category were Anita Castillon of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, who provided basic education to T’boli children; Fr. Carmelo Diola, an Archdiocese of Cebu priest, who aside from attending to his parish and teaching the Scriptures to seminary students, is into advocacy work; and Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun of Butuan City, who provided free legal service to indigents, particularly in assisting them in late birth registration, and established a grassroots sports program.

The five finalists in the Institution Category, on the other hand, were Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (Cagayan de Oro City), Cantaan Centennial Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Camiguin Province), Kadtabanga Foundation For Peace And Development Advocates, Inc. (Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao), Sibog Katawhan Alang Sa Paglambo, Inc. (SIKAP, Agusan del Sur), and Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc. (WESADEF, Calbayog City).

Balay Mindanaw is helping achieve peace in Mindanao through negotiation, mediation, and conciliation; Cantaan Centennial MPC has championed the giant clam preservation in Camiguin; Kadtabanga is helping transform war-torn areas in Mindanao to Peace and Development Communities (PDCs); SIKAP is working on the areas of cultural integrity, disaster risk reduction and management, income and employment generation, gender equity, good governance and social protection; while WESADEF is focusing on the prevention of abuse among women and children, women empowerment, and promotion of a healthy family through the provision of livelihood.

All eight individuals and institutions were chosen as finalists because they brought about change and improved the lives of the less-privileged, and their works reflected the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic ideals and values of Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz.

For the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards, a total of 295 nominations from both the Individual and Institution categories were received from all over Visayas and Mindanao.

After months of careful screening, validation, and interviews that started in 2013, the eight finalists were selected by the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee – an independent, multi-sectoral group composed of distinguished and competent individuals from Visayas and Mindanao.

In having the finalists share their stories, RAFI hoped that they will inspire the public, as they have inspired the foundation.

Should you have any concern or query, you may contact Elisabeth Baumgart, Program Officer for The RAFI Triennial Awards of RAFI-EADSC, at (032) 418-7234 local 112 or at 0917-5854643, or email elisabeth.baumgart@rafi.org.ph, or Rene H. Martel, RAFI Communications Specialist, at (032) 418-7234 local 407, or at 0915-8993663/0923-2258242, or email rene.martel@rafi.org.ph.