"With honest students and children like these, I am very optimistic that there is a bright tomorrow for our country," Lapus said during a simple awarding ceremony held at the Department of Education (DepEd) main office in Pasig City.
"If more students and school children continue to be guided by good moral values, I can see a very promising future for our society, our country and for the next generations to come," he said.
The students are Kevin Allan, Mark Jemson Dagal and Luigi Villania, all are Grade 6 pupils from Lucena East IV Elementary School; Ken Marcial, a third year high school student from Quezon National High School; and Fernan Jacinto, an out-of-school youth.
The students were given certificates of commendation, bags containing school supplies and P5,000 each.
The youths said they found the black wallet in Barangay 8, Lucena City. A tricycle driver suggested that they divide the money among themselves but instead of heeding his advice, they sought the assistance of the barangay captain, who accompanied them to the house of the owner who was identified through an identification card found inside the wallet.