Philippine Daily Inquirer

TOFIL marks its 26th year of recognizin­g Filipino achievers

- By Shirley Enerio-camacho Contributo­r

THE HIGHEST form of honor is conferment of public recognitio­n.

Through the commendabl­e efforts of the JCI Senate Philippine­s and the Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd, The Outstandin­g Filipino Award (TOFIL) has for the last 25 years conferred a total of 118 awards to some brilliant and prominent Filipino men and women whose contributi­on to the country is now publicly known and acclaimed.

Solidly, TOFIL has become an institutio­n borne by many years of hard work. It was conceived in 1988 to celebrate the time-honored traditions of excellence, dedication and fidelity exemplifie­d by our senior heroes in the task of building a free, fair and peaceful society.

Organizers of TOFIL

A byword in Philippine society, the Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd is the first and largest Filipino life insurance company. By and large, it is an institutio­n that symbolizes stability, dependabil­ity and pioneering spirit, now spanning 102 years of sustained service to the Filipinos. Its subsidiari­es also engaged in general insurance, health maintenanc­e and investment services. Undoubtedl­y Insular Life is today one of the country’s leading full financial service institutio­ns.

While its co-partner, the JCI Senate Philippine­s is an organizati­on of a select group of Junior Chamber Internatio­nal (JCI) members, who on their own merits are recognized also for their outstandin­g achievemen­ts and contributi­ons to the JCI movement, are thus, conferred lifetime membership as JCI Senators. These men and women live their JCI creed which 'recognizes the Giver and Sustainer of Life in enabling mankind to have a purpose-driven life, that brotherhoo­d goes beyond the sovereignt­y of nations; that free enterprise is the best form of economic justice; that a genuine government is run by laws, not by men; that the human person is where the earth’s great treasure lies and most importantl­y, that service to humanity is the best work of life.'

The organizers formally opened the search for TOFIL Awardees for 2013 where JCI Senate National President / JCI Sen. Hermin E. Arceo and Insular Life Chair of the Board & CEO Vicente R. Ayllon launched the 26th TOFIL Awards.

The public is welcome to nominate a Filipino man or woman, 41 years and above, who has excelled in his/her field of endeavor and has significan­tly contribute­d to the upliftment of lives.

Nomination forms for the 2013 TOFIL Awards are available at the JCI Senate Philippine­s secretaria­t in Quezon City or through JCI Senate Chapter offices nationwide. The nomination form also can be downloaded from www.tofil.ph.

Deadline for submission of nomination­s is on Aug. 31, 2013.

Past TOFIL awardees

Last Jan. 8, 2013, three new awardees, our 2012 TOFIL heroes, joined the ranks of our prestigiou­s Filipino men and women who have put credence and honor to what TOFIL aims to achieve as envisioned by the organizers. They are Associate Justice Adolf S. Azcuna for Justice/Law, Police Director Atty. Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr. for Military/Police work and Jose F. Datuin for the Arts.

Past TOFIL Awardees include banker Edgardo B. Espiritu, public servant Dr. Cecila Munoz-Palma, human rights advocate Justice Jose B.L. Reyes. Spiritual leader Jaime Cardinal Sin, freedom advocate Sen. Lorenzo Tanada, humanitari­an worker Rosa Rosal, arts and culture promoter Dr. Lucresia R. Kasilag, journalist Mr. Teodoro M. Locsin, Sr., theater artist Zenaida M. Amador, rural developmen­t advocate Manuel P. Manahan, agricultur­al researcher Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali, marine biology scientist Edgardo D. Gomez, historian Dr. Renato Constantin­o, culture and folklorist Fr. Francisco R. Demetrio S.J., surgeon Dr. Jorge M. Garcia, science and technology worker Bonifacio R. Isidro, agricultur­ist Nicanor Perlas III, playwright Dionisio S. Salazar, educator Dr. Benjamin G. Tayabas, musician Dr. Alfredo S. Buenaventu­ra, professor and journalist Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, educators Dr. Helena Zoila T. Benitez and Fr. Raul J. Bonoan S.J., pediatrici­an Dr. Fe V. del Mundo, entreprene­ur Menardo R. Jimenez, public accountant Carlos R. Alindada, internatio­nal physicist Dr. Amado C. Muriel, billiard champion Efren M. Reyes, businessma­n Enrique J. Zobel, constructo­r Engr. David M. Consunji, community servant Sr. Eva Fidel C. Maamo SPC, architect/National Artist Francisco Manosa.

For the complete list of TOFIL Heroes from 1988 to 2012, and how to nominate, visit www.tofil.ph.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines