Metrobank to name 2014 top Philippine soldiers

This year’s winners of the Metrobank Foundation Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) will officially be announced to the public in a press conference to be held at the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo on June 16, 2014 highlighting the 116^th celebration of the Philippine Independence. The winners will be presented to AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T. Bautista AFP and other members of the AFP during the flag raising ceremony.

 

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati Metro (RCMM), the search process culminated with the final interview of the twenty (20) finalists last May 22-23, 2014 with Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara heading the multi-sectoral panel of judges. The other members of the final board are: Hon. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman, regional governor of ARMM; Atty. Alexander A. Padilla, president and CEO of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); Atty. Theodore Te, Assistant Court Administrator and Chief of Public Information Office of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; Therese “Gang” Badoy Capati, Founder and Executive Director of Rock Ed Philippines; and Ed Lingao, Director for Multimedia of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

 

“All the stories I heard during the final interview reaffirmed my faith in the heroism of our armed forces. In my early years, our province was always hit by calamities and the first respondents were always members of the AFP. Having seen it up close and personal, the experience showed me how underpaid and underappreciated our Philippine soldiers are in terms of both public opinion and actual physical compensation from the state and from the people,” expressed Sen. Sonny Angara.

 

The 2014 TOPS judging process was comprised of documents review of the preliminary board of judges and panel interview which gave the judges a deeper appreciation of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The finalists’ accomplishments, innovations, principles, and views on current issues that the AFP is facing allowed the board of judges to distinguish their gallantry in action and achievements in their respective areas of assignments.

 

The members of the preliminary board of judges for the commissioned officers are Dr. Enrique A. Tayag, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health; Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto, president of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS); Cherie Mercado-Santos, senior anchor of TV5; and Zak Yuson, director of Move.PH of Rappler. Meanwhile, comprising the preliminary board of judges for the enlisted personnel are Hon. Jose Manuel S. Mamauag, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights; Conchita Ragragio, executive director of the Corporate Network for Disaster Response, Jose “Jay” R. Taruc III, TV host and reporter of GMA News and Public and Affairs.

 

“Filipino soldiers reside among us. Our passion for duty to God and country and our institution is universal. The Filipino soldier is our true hero,” says Dr. Tayag. “Through TOPS, the finalists and winners define what AFP is today and what it will be tomorrow. The search does not only recognize individuals as well as it confirms AFP’s noble contribution to society,” he continued.

 

This year’s finalists consist of eight (8) commissioned officers: 2 Commissioned Officers from each Branch of Service: Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the Technical & Administrative Services of AFP (Medical Administrative Services); twelve (12) enlisted personnel: four (4) EP also from each Branch of Service. Ten (10) soldiers will be named as this year’s TOPS awardees who will be awarded as Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Filipinos together with the winners of the Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) and Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) on September 5 as part of Metrobank’s anniversary celebration. (READ: Outstanding Filipinos recognized)

 

Each TOPS winner will receive an increased cash prize of P400,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.

 

Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña explained the purpose of recognizing outstanding soldiers “Every year, we go through the meticulous process of searching across the ranks for extraordinary acts of gallantry in an organization where courage is standard for the course. It is not an easy task but one that we bear gladly because of the opportunity to uplift those who carry the burden of securing our sovereignty and protecting our nation’s dignity.”

 

Now on its 15^th year, TOPS Search has become the highest and most sought after civilian award given to military personnel. The Search honors the selfless acts of valor, sacrifices, bravery, heroism and community engagements of the Filipino Soldiers in keeping peace and securing our country.

 

All previous TOPS awardees are now members of the TOPS alumni organization named “The Organization of Philippine Soldiers with Outstanding Leadership, Dedication, Integrity, Excellence, and Responsibility to Society” or TOPSOLDIERS. – Rappler.com

 

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The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) was established on January 8, 1979 by Dr. George S. K. Ty, sixteen (16) years after he founded the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank). As the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group, the Foundation implements various programs in education, visual arts and healthcare and maintains an active and dynamic partnership with other organizations that likewise provide services for the underprivileged sectors of society and remains equally responsive to emergency and relief operations for affected Filipinos in times of natural calamities in the Philippines and in Asia