Thursday, February 21, 2008 Laus named most distinguished Bedan
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Levy Laus has been unanimously chosen as one of this year's "Most Distinguished Bedans" by the San Beda College Alumni Association (SBCCA).
Laus will join 14 other awardees in various fields, among them Revenue Commissioner Lilian Hefti and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) general manager Winston Garcia during the annual Red and White Ball last Wednesday at the NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio, Global City.
Former ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, chairman of San Miguel Corp.; businessman Arturo Macapagal, elder half-brother of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo; Miguel Varela, chairman and president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pamcham); and George Yang of McDonalds Philippines will be elevated to the Hall of Fame during the awards rites.
The award, according to Jose Mari Lacson, chairman of the Bedan Awards Committee, recognizes the valuable contributions of Bedan alumni for their exemplary service in their respective professions.
The CDC president, he said, was chosen to receive this year's award for leading a purposeful life in pursuit of a noble mission to be of service to the Filipino people and for being an exemplar for generation of Bedans to emulate.
Laus was also cited for his inspired leadership and significant accomplishments in his field of endeavor and for embodying the Benedictine ideals of faith, knowledge and virtue.
"As a faithful Christian and devout Catholic, you have exemplified the Benedictine ideals of Pax, Ora et Labora and the Bedan values of Fides, Scientia and Virtus," Lacson said in his letter to Laus.
Among the other outstanding alumni of San Beda are Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT), and the late senators Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Raul Roco.
Laus graduated from San Beda in 1970 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in management.
He is the founder and chairman of the Laus Group of Companies, a business organization composed of 23 firms engaged in different ventures that include car dealerships, non-life insurance, real estate and media.
He was appointed CDC head by President Arroyo in September 2006. Prior to his stint at CDC, Laus was also appointed by the President as member of the board of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
He also served in the board of Semirara Mining Corporation during the time of then President Corazon Aquino who also appointed him as member of a socio-political advisory group under the Mt. Pinatubo Commission following the eruption of the volcano in 1991.
At the height of the lahar crisis in 1995, Laus led a multi-sector group known as the Save San Fernando Movement that paved the way for a government-private sector partnership in protecting the capital city and other towns in Pampanga against lahar devastation.
The unified effort led to the construction of what is now known as the FVR Megadike, named after former President Fidel Ramos.
He was a recipient of various awards, among them Most Outstanding Kapampangan for business with social conscience, Most Outstanding Fernandino for business, Most Outstanding Jaycee Senator in business, and Most Outstanding Don Bosco Alumnus.
Laus is currently the chairman of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
