THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines with the "The Outstanding Young Men" (TOYM) foundation and the Gerry Roxas Foundation invite nominations for this year’s search of TOYM honorees in Mindanao.
In a press conference on October 10, Friday, JCI invited everyone in Mindanao to nominate a fellow Kagay-anon or Mindanaoan in the hope to award more outstanding people here in the region.
“As we have noticed, there are only few Mindanaoans included in the honorees in the past years. The reason why we are here is to reach out to the people, to the locals about this search dahil alam naming maraming mga outstanding men and women dito,” said lawyer Mark Lester G. Manalo, the national chairman of the 2014 TOYM Search committee.
The TOYM award was initiated by the Manila Jaycees, which started in 1959, to give National recognition to men and women between the ages of 18 to 40 years old with selfless dedication to their profession or vocation.
With the theme “Changing the future through excellence,” the TOYM award is considered the most “prestigious awards search” as the honorees must have contributed and become an inspiration to their countrymen.
“Entries nationwide will undergo screening, as a private panel of judges will choose from the initial nominations. After that, they will be interviewed and syempre talagang i e-evaluate nang panel of judges natin kung karapat-dapat ba sila,” Manalo added.
“We are hoping to have more honorees here in the Mindanao as we know that there are many individuals here na tahimik lang pero malaki ang na co-contribute sa lipunan. Our farmers, fisherfolk, agri-preneurs and many more. Hindi kailangan na from one profession lang, basta’t sa tingin niyo outstanding siya, nominate him/her. Those who nominated nominees who will be among the top 10 people awarded we will have seats reserved during the awarding,” he added.
As of now, there are 465 TOYM awardees, namely: Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and Sharon Cuneta–Pangilinan in 2004; Beethoven “Michael V” Bunagan and Francis “Chiz” Escudero in 2005; Eugenio Isabelo Tomas “Bo” Sanchez in 2006; Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito in 2007; Joseph Feliz Mari “Ace” Durano in 2008; and Maria Victoria “Vicky” Morales–Reyno in 2009, among others.
Manalo also announced that the award will be handed over at Malacañang Palace, by President Aquino himself.
The nomination form can be downloaded at www.toym.ph. Deadline of submission is on October 16, 2014.