Aquino honors 7 outstanding young men in 2012

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III honored Wednesday seven individuals who were chosen as The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of 2012 in a ceremony in Malacañang.

The 2012 TOYM awardees include Filipino-American rapper and Black Eyed Peas member Allan “Apl.de.Ap” Pineda for Contemporary Music; Philippine Azkals vice-captain Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong for Sports; Democratic Independent Workers’ Association (Diwa) Partylist Representative Emmeline Aglipay for Public Service; and UP associate professor Warren Baticados for Veterinary Medicine.

Also cited were occupational therapist Abelardo David for Community Occupational Rehabilitation; UP Asian Institute of Tourism senior lecturer Ivan Anthony Henares for Heritage Conservation; and GMA News reporter Rodrigo “Jiggy” Manicad Jr. for Broadcast Journalism.

In his speech, the President lauded this year’s awardees for “advancing and excelling in their professions and advocacies.”

“Beginning today, you are no longer merely private individuals, but symbols -- symbols that clearly show our countrymen and the rest of the world that the Filipino is world class, and that, no matter how successful he or she becomes, the Filipino never loses the spirit of bayanihan, and always comes back to help his fellowmen. This is what we see in the people we honor today,” he said.

The Chief Executive challenged the awardees to “do more” in their respective fields, saying “the best of your work is still to come.”

“What I have learned as President is that no single person, no single entity, or corporation, or government can manage the full-scale turnaround of this country on their own. We need each Filipino to do their part. So I say to you APL, Em, Warren, Chieffy, Jiggy, Archie, and Ivan: this country needs you to continue being creative, excellent, and relevant,” he said.

He urged the awardees to go back to their professional lives energized and revitalized than ever before to “show our countrymen and the world just how outstanding the Filipino is.”

The TOYM is the Philippines’ most prestigious awards search for young men and women between the ages of 18 to 40 whose selfless dedication to their profession or vocation has resulted in significant contributions to the welfare of their countrymen, as well as to the advancement of their fields of endeavor.

During the event, the President was assisted by TOYM vice chairman Lorenzo Tan, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines president Randolf Ivan Ruste and Gerry Roxas Foundation chairperson Judy Roxas. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)