2018 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos Named; P1 Million Awaits Each Awardee

This year’s Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos have been revealed during a press conference held on August 9 in Quezon City. As a career-service award for Filipino exemplars in the academe, military, and police sectors—ten (10) Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos were presented, consisting of 4 teachers, 3 soldiers, and 3 police officers to the members of the media. Each awardee will receive a cash prize of PhP 1 million each (net of tax), a gold medallion, and a trophy.

Guided by the theme of “Beyond Excellence”, a Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino is recognized for rendering service above and beyond his/her call of duty. His/her accomplishments must have inspired and influenced their peers as well as the people in their respective communities. Their works must have transformed a community with a lasting positive impact on people and to the country.

For the award for teachers: (1) Mary Jane S. Ramo, Master Teacher II, Tonggo Elementary School (Tudela, Misamis Occidental); (2) Alma S. Janagap Ed.D., Master Teacher II, Pavia National High School (Pavia, Iloilo); (3) Aimee Marie C. Gragasin, Ph.D., Special Science Teacher V, Philippine Science High School-Cagayan Valley Campus (Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya); (4) Carla B. Dimalanta, Ph.D., Professor X, University of the Philippines Diliman (Quezon City).

For the award for soldiers: (5) Major Francis Señoron PA, Assistant Division Chief, Logistics Management Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, OJ4, Armed Forces of the Philippines (Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City); (6) Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Facundo PN(M), Director, Mobile Training and Exercise Unit, Marine Corps Force Development Center (Philippine Marine Corps, Taguig City); (7) Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ryan R. Seguin PA, Squadron Commander, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Wing, Basa Air Base Philippine Air Force (Floridablanca, Pampanga).

And for the award for police officers: (8) Senior Police Officer 1 Aida Awitin, Assistant Police Community Relations Police Non-Commissioned Officer, Davao Occidental Police Provincial Office (Malita, Davao Occidental); (9) Police Senior Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, Ph.D., Chief of Police, Villanueva Municipal Police Station (Villanueva, Misamis Oriental); and (10) Police Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Ph.D., Chief, Supply Chain Management Division, Directorate for Logistics of the Philippine National Police (Camp Crame, Quezon City).

“We again present 10 Outstanding Filipinos who embody the best in our people and are recognized for their steadfast commitment to inspire change for others to emulate,” said Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña. “Their stories of triumph and resilience inspire us, as individuals and as a community, to strengthen our commitment to building a better future for our nation. It is our privilege to let their light shine so that many more may benefit from their example,” he continued.

The awardees underwent a rigorous selection process and were selected from hundreds of nominations. A Board of Assessors, composed of members from the government, academe, military, and media sectors, pre-determined the semi-finalists through document review. The accomplishments of the semi-finalists were field validated by third-party organizations, the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) and the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). The field validation determined 19 finalists whose work has inspired and influenced their peers as well as the larger community with a lasting positive impact.

The 19 finalists were interviewed by a multi-sectoral Final Board of Judges chaired by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and co-chaired by Supreme Court of the Philippines associate justice Noel Tijam. The other members include: Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Menardo Guevarra; Makati City mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos; De La Salle Philippines president Br. Armin Luistro; Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) chairman Manuel Pangilinan; Rockwell Land, Inc. president and chief executive officer Nestor Padilla; and veteran journalist Ma. Teresa Vitug.

Joining the ranks of 655 outstanding public servants recognized by MBFI since 1985, the awardees will be honored during the formal conferment ceremonies on September 7, 2018 at the Metrobank Plaza, Makati City as part of Metrobank’s 56th anniversary celebration.