PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III’s SPEECH
DURING THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN (TOYM) 2013
AWARDS CEREMONIES
Rizal Hall, Malacañang
December 19, 2013
12192013A
(applause) Maraming salamat po. Maupo ho tayo lahat.
Medyo mahirap ho sumunod kay Chris Tiu tapos kay Tita Judy. (laughter)
Chris Tiu is very articulate and I think he cast a more dashing figure than I
by a little degree. Tita Judy naman has such a very splendid voice. Anyway, I
will try my best.
Tita Judy, Mr. Ryan Ravanzo, Tito Titoy, Representative Leni Robredo, Mr.
Bienvenido Tantoco III, Mr. Luciano Frederick Puyod III, awardees of the 2013
The Outstanding Young Men Awards, Board of Judges and Search and
Working Committee of The Outstanding Young Men, officials and staff of The
Outstanding Young Men Foundation, Inc. and the Junior Chamber
International Philippines, fellow workers in government, honoured guests,
mga minamahal ko pong kababayan: Magandang hapon po muli.
Pagkatapos na pagkatapos po nito tatawag ako kay Secretary Abad at
sasabihin ko: “Pare, alam ko na kung bakit di ka na nominate sa TOYM.
Matagal ka na nag graduate sa 40, yun pala upper limit. (laughter) At sa atin
pong honoree na nagsa-study ng Neurogerontology—kami po ni Secretary
Abad, siya siguro magiging pasyente niyo; ako po I intend to stay at least
young at heart for the foreseeable future. (laughter)
This is the fourth time I have led the awarding of The Outstanding Young
Men. This year’s group of awardees brings the total to 33 men and women.
(I’m going to Tacloban, I think, on Sunday I guess that’s why I’m coughing.)
Anyway, the total to 33 men and women I have had the pleasure of personally
congratulating for their work. And given the presence of female awardees past
and present, perhaps it might be time to consider—as my right to suggest—a
more gender-friendly name change. (applause) Although I also sincerely
believe that—I’m sure all of you have seen the banners proclaiming End
Violence Against Women—I think in about ten year’s time, it will be End
Violence Against Men. (laughter)
But kidding aside, it is particularly fitting this year that we honor the TOYM
awardees right in the middle of the holiday season—a time in which we can
look back on the past year and give thanks for our blessings. With the
holidays also comes the opening of a new chapter, with all the optimism and
opportunities that a fresh start carries. So, these awards are a perfect symbol
of the season, and also a reminder of the things that must remain constant in
our lives, namely: service and hope.
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Service is not an area I need to speak about in great detail, especially to an
audience like this one. After all, you nine, made a very conscious decision to
work for the benefit of others. You know how challenging, how difficult, and
how rewarding it can be. And, by virtue of your different professions, you
know full well that there is no single, true path of service. There is only the
discernment of a calling and the corresponding commitment to make the
most of your God-given talents.
Because this is exactly what you have chosen to do, you are no longer just
individuals who happen to excel in your specific fields. With this distinction,
you are role models not only for the communities you have immediate contact
with, but also and more importantly, for a nation of millions. Our countrymen
see in your example the fruits of hard work, excellence, and compassion. You
are the hope that inspires them to pursue their own dreams, and hopefully,
in so doing, to touch the lives of others.
This is particularly important now, at a time when normalcy and hope are
beginning to return to areas affected by typhoon Yolanda, made possible by
the dedication of the people who have come to their aid, including our friends
from other shores and especially our countrymen. This is not another thing to
be thankful for. Filipinos never stand idly by and let others suffer alone,
because compassion and the utmost generosity are intrinsic to our people.
We saw this in our fellow citizens who flocked to repacking centers day and
night; and in students and employees who donated their allowances and
salaries to relief efforts. We saw this in the private sector and civic groups
who organized their own relief drives. We see this even today: in men and
women like you who care about fostering change that uplifts their fellowmen.
There is, of course, Emer Atanacio, who embodies our belief that education
and training should be attuned to the needs of industry, so that our
countrymen can make the most of existing opportunities in earning dignified
livelihoods.
There are those who have helped to raise the level of public discourse: in the
person of Nicole Curato who, I hope, will be a different kind of academic—one
who does not lose her audience in a forest of jargon, but instead uses her
knowledge in the social sciences to add to the political education of the
youth—thus spurring positive engagement instead of breeding cynicism and
apathy.
After all, we have seen how it is possible to make science more accessible to
the wider public through the example of Custer Deocaris, who brings his
passion for science to life in a number of ways, from entrepreneurship to a
radio program. His efforts go hand-in-hand with our government’s
determination to build science literacy, and in so doing, drive learning,
research and development which are essential to our being a truly modern
and competitive nation.
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Al Gabriel has also given generously of his talents, sharing his
and research in food science and technology with micro and
enterprises: the kind of technology and knowledge transfer that
only our promising food processing industry, but also helps
sectors, and consequently, the wider economy.
innovations
small scale
benefits not
grow other
Former Governor of Sarangani Migz Dominguez promoted the economic
growth of his province, and also worked to engage indigenous peoples in the
process of governance as well as armed combatants through peaceful
dialogue. During his terms, Governor Dominguez employed the same
principles that our government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have
adhered to in forging a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. And this peace is
indeed in sight, especially with the recent signing of the Annex on Power
Sharing.
We have Chris Tiu who went to the same school I did. I think we were
separated by about four years or so (laughter) that’s why he didn’t see me in
campus. Whether through the Sangguniang Kabataan or his position as a
barangay kagawad, his business and media engagements, or his
achievements on the court, he has consistently displayed leadership,
modesty, and discipline. In this way, he has already found success not just as
a media personality or athlete, but also as a role model and inspiration for the
Filipino youth today, and in the years to come.
We also have a number of awardees who know how important it is to
empower others by fulfilling their basic needs—in this case, health and
education. We have Doctors Karl Reyes and Pao Silva, who have gone above
and beyond their oath to help others. Dr. Reyes, for example, was
instrumental in opening the first Center for Congenital Heart Disease at St.
Luke’s Medical Center and the Operation Heart Foundation, Inc. He is also
known for coordinating with patients and hospitals for consultation and
treatment, as well as for donor funding for each patient.
On the other hand, Dr. Silva has put his expertise to good use in establishing
the first telemedicine program for diabetic eye disease in the Philippines, and
in guiding the use of cutting-edge treatments for retinal diseases, reducing
the cost of treatment by over twentyfold, and making it more readily available
to patients. In their example, we see how innovation is not only a tool that
facilitates advancements in medicine, but also one that allows us to fulfill our
basic obligation to help others.
Last but most certainly not the least, there is also the founder of Gabay Guro,
Chaye Cabal-Revilla. With Gabay Guro’s motto of “changing the lives of those
who changed ours,” Chaye has dedicated herself to providing continued
support for our educators, whether through further education and training,
or by simply paying tribute to the men and women who guided us in and out
of the classroom, thus providing positive reinforcement to what is admittedly
a very difficult job.
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Might I emphasize: these are only some of our awardees’ myriad
achievements. They may all be working in different fields, but one thing ties
them together: a commitment to knowledge and excellence as tools of
empowerment.
So, allow me to say, as I have said before, that events like this are a source of
hope and comfort to me. Many people have asked me what will happen to the
country when I step down from the presidency—as if to imply that I am the
only one putting in long days and nights for this country. Events like this
remind all of us that there will never be a shortage of Filipinos who are willing
to take on the task of nation-building—that, in fact, there are so many of us
who are working to uplift and empower our fellowmen.
This is the very principle of bayanihan—of everyone doing his part for a
common purpose—a belief which all of you exemplify every day, as you tread
your own Daang Matuwid in your professional lives.
This is the very principle of The Outstanding Young Men awards. So, at these
events when I meet people who are as committed to helping others as you are,
I know I am looking at those men and women who are working alongside us
in building the future of this country—a future characterized by solidarity
and genuine, meaningful progress—a future where no one definitely will be
left behind.
Again, my congratulations to all of you!
Thank you. Good day! (applause)
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