CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – As public servants contributing to nation-building, two soldiers and an airman from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were announced as the awardees of the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos (MFOF) in a Press Conference conducted on August 3 in Taguig City.
The AFP awardees, together with those from the Philippine National Police and the education sector, are SSg Danilo S Banquiao PA from the 103rd Brigade, 1ID, Philippine Army who was named as Lanao Del Sur’s Peace and Youth Empowerment Sentinel; LTC Joseph J Bitancur PAF, Assistant Commandant, Basic Military School, Air Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Air Force dubbed as Model Mentor on Military Training; and Col. Joseph Jeremias Cirilo C Dator PA, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G3), Presidential Security Group, who served as an Innovator of Military Intelligence.
“Outstanding Filipinos are defined by character, competence, and compassion. They embody the meaning of our tagline “Beyond Excellence” for rendering service above and beyond their call of duty as educators, peacekeepers, and defenders. Their contributions speak not only of caliber but also of heart and community service,” said Metrobank Foundation President, Mr. Aniceto Sobrepeña.
“I would want to be remembered for what I have contributed in my own little way in achieving our mission and in attaining peace and development for our country. At the end of the day, I hope I would be remembered knowing that my men and I contributed enough for us to attain that long and lasting peace that we have dreamed of,” said one of the Outstanding Filipinos, Col. Dator PA.
Metrobank Foundation, a non-profit organization, annually awards the said career-service recognition to Filipinos in the academe, military, and police sectors, who served the country “Beyond Excellence” and created a positive impact and influence on the community and the people.
Other recipients from the academe sector are educators, Mr. Rex M. Sario, MAT; Mr. June Elias V. Patalinghug, EdD, Mr. Edgar R. Durana, MAEd; Ms. Jovelyn G. Delosa, PhD, and from the Philippine National Police, Police Chief Master Sergeant Dennis D. Bendo; Police Major Mae Ann R Cunanan; and Police Col. Reneil R. Sabaldica.
“Just like our awardees, we need to have the dream of not just to survive but to live to the fullest extent of our capabilities. Our capability to serve, our capability to inspire,” added Mr. Sobrepeña.
The 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos will each receive PhP 1 million cash prize, a golden medallion, and a Flame trophy. They will be conferred with the award on August 29./// (Photos by PO3 Viluan Ret/PAOAFP)
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