VP Robredo honors outstanding Filipinos as ‘modern day heroes’

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, September 5 honored the awardees of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos by thanking the 30 teachers, soldiers, and police officers for their selfless service and inspirational dedication for the greater good.

 

In line with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company’s 54th anniversary celebration, the conferment of the Outstanding Filipinos in Makati City was also attended by Senators Cynthia Villar and Joel Villanueva, and other dignitaries from both the public and private sectors.

 

With the theme, “Aspire. Inspire. Stand out.”, the occasion paid tribute to individuals from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the teaching profession who have exemplified professional worth and effective leadership in their respective fields.

 

The top 30, 10 from each category, went through a rigorous screening process and assessment. As a reward, the winners received a trophy, a gold medallion, and a cash prize.

 

Robredo dubbed the top 30 as “modern day heroes who have gone beyond the call of service to create ripples of change by offering your lives for  the good of this country.”

 

In her speech, the Vice President emphasized how “heroism has always been defined our inner core as a nation” and that it “take(s) place in the most ordinary of ways”.

 

New heroism

 

Quoting author Mitch Albom, Robredo was positive that the students of the 10 outstanding teachers (SOT) would affirm that they are educators who are true role models of their profession.

 

The cream of the crop from the education sector is composed of teachers from various parts of the country including Nueva Vizcaya and Iligan City.

 

Robredo also expressed admiration and hope on the set of awardees for the Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) and Police Officers (COPS) for they serve as “living proof that authorities need not use brute force or abuse their position in order to prove their legitimacy.”

 

Reinforcing the importance of fostering a peaceful community, she pointed out that no real hero banks on fear but rather engages people on the ground.  

 

Lastly, the Vice President urged everyone to heed to “the lost, the last, and the least of our brethren” and thanked the awardees for “igniting the flame of heroism in our hearts.”

Aside from the recognition of outstanding individuals in the said fields, the event also seeks to promote values fulfilled by the awardees to the greater public and influence more action from the citizenry. – Rappler.com

Denise Nacnac is a Rappler intern and a student at the Ateneo de Manila University.