Outstanding young Filipinos

Human achievement—we’re referring to the positive kind—is always a cause for celebration.

And while success takes many forms, The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) hopes to recognize those few Filipinos under 41 years of age who have contributed “to the cause of humanity” for a substantial part of their lives.

The theme of the 2017 edition of the TOYM is “United in Purpose Toward Nation Building.” Under this banner, eight individuals—educators, an Olympian, law enforcer, journalist, musician and indigenous community advocate—were named this week. These were Byron F. Al

latog (government service/law enforcement), Hidilyn F. Diaz (sports), Cirilo Joseph M. Javier (arts in music), Eugenio

P. Mende (veterinary medicine), Ronaldo C. Reyes (education), Datu Jason Roy T. Sibug (community development), Mark Anthony J. Torres (government service education) and Chiara Anne G. Zambrano (journalism and mass communication).

During the announcement of the honorees, Bienvenido Tantoco III, TOYM Foundation president, said he hoped to portray the awardees as role models for the youth.

Tantoco, a businessman whose family is behind the Rustans retail group, hoped more of the younger generation would pursue careers in the arts and science.

Even as power and wealth remain an aspiration for many, he said there were “alternative and more noble” paths to success. We hope this is a message that is heard loud and clear.