19- YEAR-OLD STUDENT BAGS TOP HUMANITARIAN AWARD
It took almost a year to choose a winner for The One Philippines (TOP) Humanitarian Award founded by Rotarian and prominent Hong Kong businessman David Harilela who has always loved the Philippines and wanted to expand the 2011 project he started in Hong Kong.
Together with his Filipino co-Rotarians Raffy Garcia, Rajan Uttamchandani,
Oyan Villanueva and an anonymous donor, their goal was to honor local unsung heroes who tirelessly, continuously and quietly work to help those in need in their respective communities.
When Chit Lijauco first informed us about the event, she explained that the awards night would be a different one. And she was correct, because as the three candidates were presented in a video presentation, we realized that these humble and low-key persons were truly outstanding in giving back despite the odds. The runners-up were Chad Stamatelaky, an artist who, with his wife Melay, adopt, feed, clothe and send to school street children; and Dr. Roel Cagape, a doctor from General Santos, Sarangani who maintains three free clinics in the remote barrios of this area, climbs the mountains to reach those in need of medical attention and disseminates valuable information via his radio program and a book on health. Stamatelaky and Cagape both received P500,000 to continue their work.
Dara Mae Tuazon, a 19-year-old college student who has been teaching children with no access to education since she was 11, was declared the winner of the first TOP. She received P1.5 million towards her project and a chance to win US$100,000 when she represents the TOP at the The One International competition in Hong Kong in 2019. Tuazon and her companion will be flown by Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong next year.
Their work and passion touched those who attended the benefit gala at Marriott Hotel. After the awards were announced, more donations in cash and in kind spontaneously poured in, since none of them had unlimited funds to dispose of, yet they gave their time, effort and love freely.
The awards night was kept simple with the limelight always on the TOP and its first winners. Cocktails kicked off the evening, with good vintages provided by Ralph’s Wines. The program featured classical singers Marc Chua and Nonon Baang and Danny Diaz, a Pinoy entertainer from Hong Kong.
There were 20 candidates with three screenings composed of different panels of judges that included Tiny Meneses, Cynthia Picazo, Kingson Sian, Bruce Winton, Marife Zamora, Sen. Grace Poe (represented by Gary Jimenez), Irene Martel-Francisco, and Ateneo’s Fr. Jett Villarin. TOP is chaired by Rotary director Raffy Garcia with other Rotary leaders as directors: Oyan Villanueva, Jess Cifra, Chit Lijauco, Sid Garcia and Connie De Venecia.