President Aquino Leads Presentation of 2015 Apolinario Mabini Awards

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday presented the 2015 Apolinario Mabini Awards to outstanding individuals with disabilities, professionals and various groups during a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace.

In his speech, the President paid tribute to Mabini, whose disability did not hinder him from playing a major role in the Philippine Revolution.

“Tulad ni Mabini, kayo, sampu ng iba pang mga indibidwal, mga kasamahan sa media, mga lokal na pamahalaan, at mga katuwang sa pribadong sektor na pinarangalan natin sa araw na ito, ay nagsisilbing tanglaw at inspirasyon sa marami nating kababayan. Kaya naman, sa ngalan ng bawat Pilipinong nabibigyang-lakas ninyo: Isang taos-pusong pasasalamat sa inyo pong lahat,” the President said, addressing the awardees.

Assisting the President during the ceremony were Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. (PFRD) President Manuel Agcaoili, its Chairperson Milagros Drilon, and committee member Marides Almendras.

The Media Advocate of the Year (Individual Category) award was presented to Myrna Medina for encouraging deaf Filipinos to assert their rights. She has produced two films that advocated the use of the Filipino sign language.

The Media Advocate of the Year (Program Category) Award was given to the United Architects of the Philippines — Manila Archdiocese for Government Service for their project, “Rolyo ng Malaya”, an inter-school documentary film that addresses the needs and concerns of persons with disability (PWDs) under the law.

The PWD Filipino of the Year Award went to Liwanag Caldito for her unwavering advocacy as a dedicated Special Education teacher, despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease; while the PWD Filipino of the Year Special Award went to Victor Francesco Cham, who despite his autism, became a graphic designer and model employee of Unilab Foundation.

The Mabini Presidential Award (Hall of Fame Award) was presented to SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs for their unwavering commitment to the disabled by fully complying with the law, as prescribed by Batas Pambansa (BP) 344.

Randy Weisser received the Mabini Presidential Award (Special Award) for devoting 26 years in the service of blind Filipinos through education, finding ways and means to provide them learning materials and assistive devices to facilitate their learning process.

Engineer Darlito Palermo from Mindanao received the Mabini Presidential Award (Presidential Award) for his advocacy to provide equal work opportunities, transportation and barrier-free establishments for PWDs.

Other awards were presented to the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (Rehabilitation Volunteer of the Year – Group); the University of the Philippines Special Education Council and Annette Lee-Esparaz (Rehabilitation Volunteer of the Year – Special Award).

The PWD Group of the Year Award (Provincial Category) went to the Association of Differently Abled Person; and PWD Group of the Year (Special Award) to the Las Piñas PWD Federation and the AD/HD Society of the Philippines.

The Award for the Local Government Unit of the Year went to Asingan, Pangasinan and Guimbal, Iloilo (Municipal Category); Dasmariñas, Cavite (City Category); Barangay Sto. Cristo, Quezon City (Barangay Category); and Carmona, Cavite (Special Award).

The Employer of the Year Award was given to ANZ Global Services & Operations (Manila), Inc., while the Employer of the Year Special Award went to Unilab Foundation.

The Disabled-Friendly Establishment of the Year in Compliance to BP 344 Award was presented to Holiday Inn & Suites, SM Supermalls (eight awards), Ayala Land (three awards), Robinsons Place (three awards), and Jones Land Lasalle Philippines. The special award for this category went to JP Morgan Chase Building and Bonifacio Global City Estate.

Citing the awardees’ contributions, President Aquino expressed his great admiration for the PWD sector.

“Lubos ang paghanga ko sa mga kasapi ng sektor ng PWD. Ang sabi ko nga po, imbes na tawaging ‘differently abled’ ay mas angkop pang tawaging ‘more abled’ ang mga kababayan nating may kapansanan,” he said.

“Batid ko po kasi: Bago pa man harapin ang ibang hamon sa buhay, una na nilang nilampasan ang kanilang mga sarili. Sa halip na kaawaan na lamang ang kanilang kondisyon, araw-araw nilang pinipiling lumaban. Imbes na magpadaig na lang sa kawalan ng kumpiyansa at pag-asa, inaangat nila ang kanilang sarili at nakikipagkapit-bisig sa kapwa, para maabot ang kanilang potensiyal, at makaambag, hindi lamang sa pamilya, kundi sa buong bansa,” he added.

The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. is a non-profit organization that promotes measures to prevent disability, protect and rehabilitate the disabled, and equalize opportunities for disabled persons.

Also present during the ceremony were Senate President Franklin Drilon and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras. PND (ag)