EDITORIAL – The true unsung heroes and heroines of our time

While Risa Hontiveros Baraquel and her ilk scream in the streets to pay lip service to causes of women and the poor, others like Tessie Fernandez of Lihok Pilipina, Marge dela Cruz of UP Tacloban, and Hadja Bainon Karon of Mindanao actually do something about the same causes.

And while Satur Ocampo and his ilk threaten to go to the hills to join rebels avowed to bring down government, others like Fr. Roberto Layson of Pikit, North Cotabato, Mayor Ramon Piang of Upi, Maguindanao and Domingo Tadena of Davao City actually help strengthen institutions.

Tessie Fernandez of the Cebu City-based Lihok Pilipina Foundation has not only been advocating awareness against domestic violence but has actually helped close to 3,000 victims and continues to reach out to women and children displaced by such violence.

Marge dela Cruz, professor of marine biology at UP Tacloban, founded the Guiuan Development Foundation as a means to help contribute to the upliftment of the socio-economic conditions of the fisherfolk in Eastern Samar.

Hadja Bainon Karon uses revolutionary fervor in a different way, by helping to advocate for the empowerment of the Bangsamoro women through the United Mindanawan Bangsamoro Women Multipurpose Cooperative.

Fr. Layson works to protect Muslim, Lumad and Christian victims of war. Mayor Piang improved governance in his town and instilled accountability among his people. Doming Tadena dedicated his life to the protection of the Philippine Eagle and other endangered wildlife.

In addition, volunteer doctors and nurses of the Maharlika Charity Foundation conduct free medical missions all over Mindanao. The Save Mindanao Volunteers provide social services to remote communities in the Agusan marshes.

The Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries institutionalised community-owned and managed health and development programs in Southern Mindanao while the Mahintana Foundation is in the forefront of environmental protection in South Cotabato.

These individuals and institutions, doing tough and often dangerous volunteer work away from the limelight, are the real unsung popular heroes and heroines that Baraquel and Ocampo and their ilk can never hope to be under any circumstances.

It is only fitting that they get the recognition they deserve. And so the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation handpicked them to be this year's finalists in the triennial Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution.