The 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos together with Dr. George S.K. Ty (1^st row, 9^th from left), founder and chairman, Metrobank Group and Metrobank Foundation; Vice President Leni Robredo (1^st row, 10^th from left), Guest of Honor;  Senator Cynthia Villar (1^st row, 7^th from left), chairperson COPS Final Board of Judges; Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala (1^st row, 8^th from left), co-chairperson, TOPS Final Board of Judges; Senator Joel Villanueva (1^st row, 8^th from right), chairperson, SOT Final Board of Judges; Arthur Ty (1^st row, 6^th from left), chairman, Metrobank; Alfred Ty (1^st row, 6^th from left), Trustee, Metrobank Foundation; and Aniceto Sobrepeña (1^st row, 6^th from right), president, Metrobank Foundation. 

On the occasion of its 54^th anniversary, Metrobank, through the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), conferred this year’s winners of its Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), and Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) — collectively known as the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos — in an awarding ceremony held on September 5, 2016 at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium. Vice President Leni Robredo served as the guest of honor, while distinguished officials from the government, business, academe, and diplomatic community graced the event.

The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos are honored for their commitment to excellence, dedication to service, and selfless desire to serve communities even in the most trying of circumstances. Each SOT, TOPS and COPS awardee was presented with a gold medallion, a trophy, and a Php 500,000 cash prize.

The 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Philippine Soldiers from left top row: From the Philippine Army: Lieutenant Colonel Eliglen Villaflor, Technical Sergeant Danilo Ramos, Technical Sergeant Bernardo Tacbas; from the Philippine Navy: Lieutenant Colonel Wilfredo Manalang, Jr., Staff Sergeant Albert Eleazar, Intelligence Specialist Chief Fernando Parcon, from the Philippine Air Force: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Bañaria, Master Sergeant Abel Idusma, Master Sergeant Sergeant Andersen Avellana; from the Technical Administrative Services: Colonel Jocelyn Turla.

The 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Philippine Soldiers are composed of four (4) Commissioned and six (6) Non-commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The awardees from the Philippine Army are: Lieutenant Colonel Eliglen Villaflor of Special Forces Regiment, Special Operations Command (Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija); Technical Sergeant Danilo Ramos of 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (Infanta, Quezon); and Technical Sergeant Bernardo Tacbas of Headquarters Service Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City).

Meanwhile, the awardees from the Philippine Navy are: Lieutenant Colonel Wilfredo Manalang, Jr. of the AFP Command and General Staff College (Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City); Staff Sergeant Albert Eleazar of 6 Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 6, 1st Marine Brigade (Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat); and Intelligence Specialist Chief Fernando Parcon of Counter Intelligence Group, Naval Intelligence & Security Force (Naval Station Jose Francisco, Taguig City).

From the Philippine Air Force, the awardees are: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Bañaria of Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Communication, Electronics and Information Systems, O-A6, (Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City); Master Sergeant Abel Idusma of Tactical Operations Group 10, 3rd Air Division (Cagayan de Oro City); and Master Sergeant Andersen Avellana of Armament Branch, 463rd Avionics Armament Maintenance Squadron, 15th Strike Wing, (Major Danilo Atienza Air Base, Sangley Point, Cavite City) are the winners from the Philippine Air Force. Meanwhile, Colonel Jocelyn Turla of Philippine Navy (Naval Station Jose Francisco, Taguig City) from the Technical Administrative Services completes this year’s TOPS awardees.

The 2016 MBFI-RCNME Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) from left top row: PCInsp. Ryan Manongdo, PSupt. Jemuel Siason, PSSupt. Susan Jalla, PSSupt. Mario Rariza, Jr., PO2 Fatima Lanuza, SPO1 Nida Gregas, SPO1 Mhay Rubio, SPO2 Jeffrey Ojao, SPO3 Hamidhan Tebbeng, and SPO4 Ezrael Lantingan.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Police Officers are composed of four (4) Commissioned and six (6) Non-commissioned Police Officers from the Philippine National Police. Police Commissioned Officers awardees are: Police Chief Inspector Ryan Manongdo of Asingan Municipal Police Station (Asingan, Pangasinan); Police Superintendent Jemuel Siason, Deputy Senior Police Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (Camp Crame, Quezon City); Police Senior Superintendent Mario Rariza, Jr. of Police Community Relations Group (Camp Crame, Quezon City); and Police Senior Superintendent Susan Jalla of PNP Crime Laboratory (Camp Crame, Quezon City).

On the other hand, Police Non-Commissioned Officers awardees are: Police Officer 2 Fatima Ibias-Lanuza of Minalabac Municipal Police Station (Minalabac, Camarines Sur); Senior Police Officer 1 Nida Gregas of Aklan Police Provincial Office (Numancia, Aklan); Senior Police Officer 1 Mhay Rubio of Bataan Police Provincial Office (Balanga City, Bataan); Senior Police Officer 2 Jeffrey Ojao of Cabadbaran Police Station (Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte); Senior Police Officer 3 Hamidhan Tebbeng of PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group Mindanao Field Unit (Camp Gen Eduardo Batalla, Zamboanga City); and Senior Police Officer 4 Ezrael Lantingan of Alabel Municipal Police Station (Alabel, Sarangani Province).

The 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers from left top row: Winona Diola; Rujealyn Cancino; Josephine Chonie Obseñares; Arnol Rosales; Dr. Roy Basa; (from left bottom row) Nelson Agoyaoy; Ma. Regaele Olarte; Dr. Katherine Faith Bustos; Dr. Ernelea Cao; and Dr. Mark Anthony Torres.

The 2015 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers are composed of four (4) elementary, four (4) secondary school teachers, and two (2) professors from the higher education level. The Elementary Competition winners are: Winona Diola of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (Muntinlupa City); Rujealyn Cancino of Lingayen I Central School (Lingayen, Pangasinan); Josephine Chonie Obseñares of Butuan City SPED Center (Butuan City, Agusan del Norte); and Arnol Rosales of Francisco Melgar Memorial School (Naujan, Oriental Mindoro). The winners for the Secondary Competition are: Dr. Roy Basa of Negros Occidental High School (Bacolod City, Negros Occidental); Nelson Agoyaoy of University of the East Elementary and High School Department (Caloocan City); Ma. Regaele Olarte of Muntinlupa National High School-Main (Muntinlupa City); and Dr. Katherine Faith Bustos of Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School (Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya). Meanwhile, Dr. Ernelea Cao of University of the Philippines-Diliman (Quezon City); and Dr. Mark Anthony Torres of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (Iligan City, Lanao del Norte) are the awardees for the Higher Education Competition. They joined the rank of 346 Outstanding Teachers recognized by MBFI since 1985.

“What we have learned through the years of recognizing the best teachers, soldiers, and policemen is this – excellence breeds further excellence. These exceptional individuals honored today will be our partners in inspiring the nation towards action, towards a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous Philippines,” said MBFI president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña. He added, “On behalf of Metrobank Group Chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty, the Metrobank Foundation is proud of its continued commitment to nurturing and bringing out the best in the Filipino.”

Delivering the response on behalf of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos, Outstanding Teacher Dr. Mark Anthony Torres said, “Soldiers, policemen, and teachers share one thing in common. That is, we have inherent multiplier effects because we move in dynamic social spaces where we connect and engage with various kinds of people.” Thanking MBFI for believing in him and his co-awardees, Torres noted that they are inspired to continue helping the country “grow more optimism, deepen our roots of resiliency, and bear fruits of positive change.”

A biologist by training and profession, Dr. Mark Anthony Torres is concurrently the head of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM). Dr. Torres helps capacitate underserved sectors and builds linkages that engage more stakeholders in the peace process. In 2015, he was bestowed the Guardian of Peace and Partner in Development Award by the 2nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for his outstanding contribution to peace-building and peace-keeping in Lanao del Norte.

Among this year’s TOPS awardees is Intelligence Specialist Chief Fernando Parcon PN, a multi-awarded athlete who did not let the partial loss of sight stop him from serving the community. Despite the threats to his life, he foiled several anomalous transactions that would have cost the Philippine Navy millions of pesos. He has also extended his love for sports to the youth by conducting free clinics on arnis and boxing.

For his part, Senior Police Officer 4 Ezrael Lantingan has continuously made his Blaan tribe in Saranggani proud. He has displayed an eye for detail and respect for due process in resolving cases like arson, murder, or kidnapping. Lantingan also worked to bring the government closer to its citizens, particularly the indigenous peoples or IPs. He has led several youth development and peacekeeping initiatives in his community.

Now on its 32nd year, SOT has honored the teaching profession, acknowledging those who exhibit competence, remarkable dedication to their work, and effective educational leadership, as well as their various community involvements. It is implemented by MBFI in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). TOPS, which is now in its 17th year, has become the highest and most sought after civilian award given to military personnel. It honors the valor, gallantry, and self-sacrifice demonstrated by the men and women of the AFP in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati Metro (RCMM). On its 14^th year, COPS affirms the shared responsibility between our gallant police officers and the community on crime prevention and solution. It is undertaken with the Rotary Club of New Manila East, Philippine Savings Bank, and in close coordination with the Philippine National Police.

The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) was established on January 8, 1979 by Dr. George S. K. Ty, sixteen (16) years after he founded the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank). As the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group, the Foundation implements various programs in education, visual arts and healthcare and maintains an active and dynamic partnership with other organizations that likewise provide services for the underprivileged sectors of society and remains equally responsive to emergency and relief operations for affected Filipinos in times of natural calamities in the Philippines and in Asia. Among the Foundation’s flagship programs are the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE), Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS), Search for Journalists of the Year (JOY), MetroGold Scholarship Program (MSP), and Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC).  MBFI also spearheads the celebration of the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) held from September 5 to October 5 of every year since 2008. The Foundation also implements the Fellowships for International Understanding Program (FIUP) in partnership with selected international organizations and diplomatic missions. It also supports programs aimed at educating the citizenry on public-interest issues through research and lectures given by the distinguished chair holders of the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair Lectures, established by the Foundation in partnership with reputable educational institutions. MBFI is also the principal owner of the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), one of the leading centers of wellness in the country. In 2014, the Foundation celebrated its 35^th year with the theme, “Launching Dreams” serving as its beacon in the next five (5) years. It shall continue to Excel, Engage, and Empower, but this time even more conscious in supporting the various sectors of the Philippine community in pursuing their individual and collective dreams -- for an educated workforce, for accessible medical care, for outstanding professional careers, and for a responsible and enlightened citizenry. Through the Foundation’s recognition and social development programs, it shall continuously strengthen and assist Filipinos in their endeavors, raising their abilities and improving  their way of life, inspiring and uplifting their spirits, so that one day, they may be empowered enough to know reality of their dreams.