RAFI to give awards for Visayas, Mindanao

CEBU, Philippines - Outstanding individuals and institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao will be known during the 6th Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards after a thorough evaluation and screening.

Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua the RAFI Triennial Awards said these are conferred every three years and each awardee and finalist will receive a trophy or a plaque, and a cash prize.

Only one outstanding winner will be selected in every category, which includes the RAFI Award for Exemplary Individual and the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution this coming March 22 at the Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City.

 The finalists were chosen for their work, advocacies and contribution to the community.

They were selected after a seven-month evaluation by the search committee, an independent and multi-sectoral group headed by University of the Philippines Visayas-Tacloban Dean Prof. Margarita dela Cruz.

The five finalists for the individual category are Fr. Angelo Buenavides, Prof. Estrella Cantaloppez, Apolinario Leyson, Sr., Fr. Dennis Tamayo and Rene Vendiola.

The five finalists for the institution category are SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc., Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation Inc., Afri-Aqua Development Coalition-Mindanao, and Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI).

The RAFI Triennial Awards in the Visayas and Mindanao was launched in 1996 to give recognition to individuals and institutions who committed themselves to building a more humane, equitable, and caring society.

 The awards honor the men and women who, through their efforts to bring about change and improve the lives of the less-privileged, reflect the philanthropic, humanitarian and holistic ideals and values of Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz.    - (THE FREEMAN)