Rafi Triennial Awards: "Symbols of hope"

CEBU, Philippines - After three years of tedious screening, validation and selection process which started out with 268 nominees, two winners out of the ten finalists will be proclaimed as the Ramon Aboitiz Awardeee for Exemplary Individual and Eduardo Aboitiz Awardee for Outstanding Institution at the Marco Polo Plaza.

As the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. conducts its fifth run of the RAFI Triennial Awards, the institution continues to recognize the charitable and humanitarian efforts of individuals and institutions who are able to bring about change and continuing hope to the various communities they serve.

For the individual awards category, finalists are Fr. Angelo Buenavides of General Santos City, Prof. Estrella Cantallopez of Cotabato City, Apolinario Leyson Sr. of Mandaue City, Fr. Dennis Tamayo who works at Isabela City, and Rene Vendiola of Negros Oriental.

On the other hand, Agri-Aqua Development Coalition Mindanao Inc. in Davao City, Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. in Bacolod City, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc. in Bacolod City, SOS Children's Villages Philippines and The Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation in Dumaguete City are the finalists for the institution category.

These Triennial Awards finalists were chosen by an independent muti-sectoral search committee represented by Island Souvenirs President Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, Marcellin Foundation Inc. Founder Brother Crispin Betita, Mag-uugmad Foundation Inc. Executive Director Leonardo Moneva, The FREEMAN and The Philippine Star Columnist and "Straight from the Sky" Host Valeriano "Bobit Avila" and University of the Philippines - Tacloban College Dean and Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. Founder and Executive Director Margarita dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz, chairman of the search committee, said that they extensively reviewed and validated the track records and accomplishments of the finalists and how it alleviated the lives of the communities they serve especially the less privileged.

She added that the 3-year process is tedious from the nomination to the declaration since they look at the totality of each awardee, including on-site validation of achievements, character, leadership, personality and beneficiaries.

The selection process starts once the general public endorses candidates and nominees, who will then undergo an extensive screening process. The search committee validates each nominee in the Visayas and Mindanao before the short-listed nominees are screened by the RAFI Board of Trustees to determine the final awardees.

The grand winners will receive a trophy, cash prize of P440,000 the opportunity to travel in the Visayas and Mindanao to share their expertise to different groups and various communities. The other four finalists will also receive plaques and P110,000 cash prize.

Dela Cruz noted that during its first run, their grand prize is P250,000 and as the years passed, the prizes have gone higher since they are getting more and more nominees. She was an individual category finalist herself for the 3rd Triennial Awards and a member of the 4th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee.

As RAFI celebrates its 45th year, RAFI Triennial Awards is also now in its 15th year as it was launched in December 6, 1996 during the 39th anniversary of the foundation to commemorate the efforts and ideals from traditional philanthropy into democracy-based and people-oriented endeavors of RAFI founders Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/JPM (THE FREEMAN)