Metrobank Foundation announces 2012 outstanding Philippine soldiers

Manila, Philippines - The Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro recently named 10 exemplary soldiers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and Corps of Professors in the search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS).

Col. Milfredo Melegrito is the director of Land Warfare Center, Training and Doctrine Command. He has been in the service for 25 years.

M/Sgt. Juana Hernal is the branch non-commissioned officer in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training and has been in the service for 22 years.

T/Sgt. Rolando Diomangay, chief clerk adjutant of the 53rd Engineer Brigade from the Philippine Army has been in the service for 20 years.

Capt. Erick Kagaoan is the director of Naval Management and Fiscal Office in the headquarters of the Naval Station and has been in the service for 25 years.

Engineman Second Class Arce Balasabas is the petty officer-in-charge in the maintenance and repair branch, headquarters fleet maintenance and support group in Eastern Mindanao and has been in the service for 28 years.

Engineman Third Class Ricky Burgos is the petty officer-in-charge, Naval Intelligence and Security Group Unit 2 in Estern Mindanao and has been in the Philippine Navy for 17 years.

Lt. Col. Antonio Francisco, Jr. is the Deputy Group Commander of the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force and has been in the service for 20 years.

Senior M/Sgt. Augusto Reyes is an overall non commissioned officer-in-charge assigned in the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for CMO A-7 HPAF, and has been in the service for 30 years.

M/Sgt. Emerito Angcao is the communication/navigation technician from the 463rd Avionics Armament Maintenance Squadron, 15th strike wing and has been in the Philippine Air Force for 24 years.

Col. Raul Tangco is dean of the Academic Group of the Philippine Military Academy and has been in the service for 28 years.

“We are proud to present to the entire nation 10 of the most dedicated and accomplished members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” says Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

“More than being the private sector’s expression of gratitude to the sacrifices of our soldiers, TOPS also highlights the contributions of the men and women of the military, as vanguards of peace and democracy, to nation building and development,” he added. 

The awardees will be feted together with the winners of the Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) and Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) – known as the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos – on Sept. 5 during Metrobank’s 50th anniversary.

TOPS winners will receive a cash prize of P300,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.

The awardees were selected by a multi-sectoral final board of judges chaired by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz, Jr. Members include Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB, rector-president of San Beda College Mendiola; Gilberto Duavit, Jr., president and COO of GMA Network, Inc.; former ambassador to the Vatican and now chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Henrietta de Villa;. Peter Wallace, chairman of The Wallace Business Forum; and chairman and senior partner of Isla Lipana & Co. Judith Lopez. 

The Metrobank Foundation, along with the Rotary Club of Makati Metro, annually holds the Search for TOPS to honor the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces to highlight their achievements and efforts towards achieving peace and nation building.