The Precious Perlas Awards

By Mila C. Espina

The Philippines Foundation Inc. celebrated its 27th Conferment of the Perlas Awards on Valuable Filipinos and Institutions last Thursday, March 5, at the SM Cinema 1.

This annual project looks for the Filipino, most especially a Cebuano by birth or by choice, who, in some time in his life, excelled in his profession or demonstrated certain worthy values or deeds, and touched the lives of people. It also awards institutions who have extended exemplary services to their immediate communities.

The foundation does not look for perfect people. It takes note of how an individual transcended any barrier to be the best of himself in one great moment of his life. The Perlas Hall of Fame has valuable Filipinos and institutions representing all walks of life—the unknown and the famous, the rich and the poor.

This year, the awards committee led by president Fr. Ernesto Javier, SJ, and this writer as consultant, and co-chaired by Marisa Fernan, Tess Chan and Elvira Luym, with members Marvi Pineda, Nelia Neri and Dr. Lourdes Jereza, reviewed the data submitted by nominators, and, in some cases, sought consultations to get additional information.

The criteria for selection were: impact of the virtue or trait demonstrated as a role model in his community; enduring tangible and intangible contributions or services which uplifted the quality of life; and relevance to the selected theme of the year’s award.

For 2009, in response to the current global recession, the foundation chose the theme—“Transforming Crises into Opportunities.” All nominees this year were all noteworthy; but we selected those who were close to addressing the thrusts of education, services and good deeds.

Rodolfo Niere, the 20-year-old native of El Pardo, Boljoon, and who works as a bellboy, waiter and cook at the Mediong Resort, received the Perlas Citation for Honesty. His parents, Manuel and Guillerma Niere, breadwinners of four children, are engaged in corn raising. Rodolfo returned an expensive diamond ring worth US$45,000 to a balikbayan who joined the Suroy, Suroy in January 2009, and left her valuables in the resort.

This was not the first time Rodolfo demonstrated the trait of honesty. In all his undertakings, he was guided by a sense of integrity because he said, “this is the best way people will trust you and keep you in your work. Magtinarong ko sa trabaho!”

Four institutions received the Perlas trophy: The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) was the Valuable Religious Institution, for the development of technical courses to prepare the needy and the skilled youth in gainful livelihood. Sister Aurora Roble and Sister Mabel Pilar, directresses of the college and high school, respectively, work hard to instill in the students the values of hard work and the dignity of labor.

The Valuable Socio-Civic Institution went to the long-deserving Zonta Club of Cebu I, founded in 1968, and still going strong. Its comprehensive projects in day care and health delivery system, micro-financing scheme to help the Budlaan community in its entrepreneurial ventures, scholarship and youth development; advocacy for women and children in distress; establishment of the Pink Center and founding Zonta 2; arts and culture and professional leadership are proofs of the tireless efforts of the Zontians from its charter president Dr. Suga Sotto-Yuvienco to current president Rufina Tanchan.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1913, and spanning 96 years as the Engine and Advocacy of Business Growth, was conferred Valuable Institution in Business and Advocacy.

CCCI’s active leadership in trade, technology and tourism as well as creative entrepreneurship, education, arts and culture, environment and ecology; and advocacy in current issues to preserve business ethics and economic balance to propel the growth of Cebu all prove equal to its valuable roots.

The Valuable Charitable Institution unanimously went to the ladies behind the YLAC Schools who, in 1977, grouped themselves as the Cebu City Young Ladies Association of Charity Free School Foundation. All these years, the dynamic team has been supporting the YLAC schools to transform the concerns of the parents of some 600 students to opportunities to get educational subsidy.

Chairman emeritus is Lourdes Vilma Lee and president is Norma Pastrana.

The valuable Filipinos who, with the others, were given the precious Perlas trophy crafted by Perlas awardee Kenneth Gokongwei, certainly made a mark, not only in Cebu, but in the national scene. The Valuable Leader in Education was lawyer Augusto Go, the man who makes education accessible to those who have less in life. His school made history in garnering academic accolades and international recognition.

The Cebu Central College was Go’s initial leap toward making the academe “the channel to develop moral values and productive livelihood!” His handiwork, the University of Cebu, speaks for itself.

The respectable Ramon Chiu was named the Valuable Philanthropist who served quietly. With a heart for the poor, he involved his family to share its blessings. He constructed 43 classrooms and a covered court in Mactan, Bantayan, Naga and Liloan, and the list continues. He had encouraged the public schools to source out resources to be able to give the students quality education. He teaches his children to continue his legacy of generosity.

The Valuable Role Model in the Media Profession went to the unsinkable Juanito Jabat, cited for his fortitude, dedication and humility in his chosen career. He started as a copy boy in the Manila Times in 1952; became a correspondent/stringer for various newspapers and journals in the US, Australia and England; revived The Freeman in 1965; and co-founded Banat News. He is presently the publisher of The Freeman and editor of Banat News.

Jabat was awarded by Cenewof as the Most Outstanding Newspaper Editor and Top Asian Trade Journalist Award from the now-defunct American Trade Journalists Association. He served as consultant and trustee of the Doña Modesta Gaisano Foundation Inc.

Jabat is admired for his optimism and strength in times of crises and friends extol his virtue of humility.

Mayette Tabada called Perlas Valuable Journalist, lawyer Pachico Seares, the elliptical man whose passion for reading and search for truth and justice put him in the pedestal he truly deserves to occupy. For the media circle, Seares is the ultimate editor who set the pace for community newspaper and propelled The Sun Star Daily to greater heights with close to 200 glorious awards. He is the perfectionist who will never sacrifice integrity for popularity.

For many award-giving groups, Seares is the deserving honoree. The province of Cebu awarded him as the Garbo of Cebu for his outstanding achievements in journalism. From the Gawad Plaridel Hall of Achievers, Seares stands out as “the most distinguished,” a singular honor for Cebu.

For the masscom students and young journalists, Seares is the pillar that will fortify the media’s potent role in the community. For his peers, Cheking is the concerned trustee of Cenewof who goes out of his way to expand their health benefits and cooperative resources.

Nature interpreted

It was an amazing photo exhibit of the works of Don Jaime Zobel at the Cebu City Marriot Hotel which awed the art enthusiasts of Cebu. Special guests were, of course, Don Jaime and Bea Zobel, Gov. Gwen Garcia, Amparito Lhuillier, Elvira Luym, the officers of the Arts Council of Cebu, Francis Monera and Jun Muntuerto of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. GM Roy Abraham and staff did a great job in showcasing the precious collections dubbed as Nature Interpreted. Congratulations to Don Jaime Zobel!