2 mayors, engineer lead TOYM awardees

MANILA, Philippines - The recent additions to the country’s roster of Outstanding Young Men and Women are composed of two mayors, an agricultural engineer, a journalist, a lawyer and a doctor.

This year’s TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) honorees include Mayor Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat of Biñan City in Laguna for government and public service; Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco of Liloan town in Cebu for public administration; Nueva Vizcaya State University department chairman Jessie Pascual Bitog for agricultural engineering; Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Maria Doris Dumlao for journalism; law professor and Inquirer columnist Oscar Franklin Tan for law; and AFRIMS virology research unit deputy head John Mark Velasco for medical science and public health.

TOYM recognizes “six exemplary individuals who, beyond concern have brought service to others, beyond talent exuded excellence, beyond their position shone leadership, and beyond their achievement have grown greatness.”

The honorees were considered “true models of exceptional young Filipinos” who are worth emulating by the youth and the nation.

The year-long 2014 TOYM search gathered nominations nationwide, who were later screened by a panel of past TOYM honorees chaired by Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro province, 2011 TOYM honoree for Community Development.

The other panel members were Emerson Atanacio, 2013 TOYM honoree for social entrepreneurship; Francisco Jay Bernardo, 2003, for entrepreneurship; Raul Destura, 2011, for medical science and biotechnology; Alonzo Gabriel, 2013, for food science technology; Harvey Keh, 2010, for public education and good governance; and Christopher John Allandy Tiu, 2013, for youth leadership and development.

The nominees were also screened by the board of judges, chaired by Inquirer board chair Marixi Prieto, along with The Philippine STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte, former press secretary Jesus Dureza, Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB, AboitizPower Corp.’s Manuel Orig, Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo and Leachon.

The TOYM Foundation is chaired by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

This year’s search, themed “Changing the Future Through Excellence,” was supported by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co., Gerry Roxas Foundation, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Banco de Oro, UniBank, the Mindanao Development Authority, and The Philippine STAR.