‘Service beyond excellence key to nation-building’

MANILA, Philippines — They may have different stories, but these outstanding civil servants have the same vision for a better nation.

The Metrobank Foundation yesterday conferred the 2022 Outstanding Filipinos award on four teachers, three soldiers and three police officers for serving “above and beyond” their call of duty as educators, peacekeepers and defenders.

“Today, we pay tribute to our educators for their accomplishments and resolve to guide learners in these unusual times, their hard work and determination combined to bringing out the best in each of their students,” Metrobank Foundation chairman Arthur Ty said during the conferment ceremony.

“We also acknowledge the sacrifice of our soldiers who guard our nation, whether they are deployed in the frontlines, urban cities or rural areas. Ironically, it is our armed forces which implement projects to foster peace and enable communities to prosper,” he said.

“Last but not the least, we recognize the service of police forces who are loyal to their mission of protecting our citizenry. Our police officers innovate to prevent and reduce crimes, and establish linkages to enhance response capabilities during crisis,” added Ty.

Named awardees from academe were Junmerth Jorta, officer-in-charge of the Keupiyanan Te Balugo, a last-mile school in San Fernando, Bukidnon; Christine Joy Aguila, teacher-advocate of Filipino language and special science teacher at the Philippine Science High School-Main Campus; physics professor Mark Nolan Confesor of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology and pediatric rheumatologist Leonila Dans, professor at the University of the Philippines-Manila.

For the military, the awardees were Technical Sgt. Joel Tuganan, First Sergeant of the Delta Company, 33rd Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Col. Maria Victoria Juan, army chief nurse of the Philippine Army and Col. Stephen Cabanlet, assistant chief of unified command staff for operations, Western Command.

This year’s police awardees were Executive Master Sgt. Rogelio Rodriguez Jr., investigator at the Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; Capt. Rosalino Panlaqui, chief of the Jalajala Municipal Police Station in Rizal and Col. Lambert Suerte, commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office.

According to Ty, also the Metrobank chairman, the work of this year’s awardees “advances capacity-building within their sectors, inspires their peers to perform with excellence and is marked by both sacrifice and caring for their constituents.”

“Their accomplishments highlight the importance of making meaningful contributions no matter the scale or scope,” he added.

Paying it forward

Speaking on behalf of the awardees from the military, Cabanlet – founder of “Football for Peace” program – shared how the support he received during a low point in his life inspired him to pay it forward.

“Amid our dark clouds, I saw God’s infinite power through the kindness of many people who went out of their way to help us get back on our feet. That seemingly hopeless season showed me that service resides in everyone’s heart,” he said.

“I feel that we won because we are each called to take part in bringing our nation forward. Our country has struggled long enough for unity and peace, literally in places where there is actual insurgency and figuratively in our current political and economic state,” he added.

Suerte noted how this year’s theme – “Beyond Excellence” – reminded him of his experience leading police forces during the Marawi siege in 2017.

“From this experience, I realized that the battle to achieve peace doesn’t always have to be in flesh and blood. From a tactical operator mindset, I shifted to focus on services that cultivate a relationship with the community,” he said.

“We may have different stories, but we clearly share common grounds in nation-building, peace-keeping and service to people,” added the police officer.

Aguila, meanwhile, said the award is a recognition of the sacrifices of millions of teachers in the country.

“Nothing will ever replace our role and value as teachers. Our calling will always remain in our hearts as teachers for the nation,” she said in Filipino.

“We are just representatives of the millions of teachers who continue to work not just because it is our job, but in the name of every life in our classrooms and in every community that we serve,” she added.

Sen. Grace Poe, who co-chaired this year’s panel of judges, said the awardees were “a cut above the rest” of the nominees who all have exhibited passion and dedication for the country.

“You are now members of an elite club of public servants who have proven your mettle not just by your excellence, but by living a life beyond excellence,” she said. “You inspire all of us to be the best versions of ourselves. Having met you and having heard your stories have truly inspired us.”

Ty and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña led the awarding of the P1-million cash prize, golden medallion and “The Flame” trophy.

The panel was co-chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, with members including Robinsons Land Corp. president and chief executive officer Frederick Go, Nine Media Corp. and CNN Philippines president Benjamin Ramos, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines president Ma. Cecilia Alcantara and International Association of Business Communicators Philippines chairman Agapito Zaldarriaga.