MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the recipients of this year’s Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos award, highlighting that contributing to national progress goes beyond holding government office.
”You remind us that nation-building is not confined to high office. It is carried out in classrooms, in institutions, [and] in communities all over the country,” Marcos said during the ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, September 29.
The President personally conferred the Medallion of Excellence to the 10 honorees, expressing the nation’s gratitude for their dedicated service across various sectors.
“Our education awardees embody this work in many different ways, from developing culturally responsive learning tools and new approaches to physics education to advancing emerging technologies through innovative research,” he noted.
Highlighting the contributions of the defense and law enforcement awardees, Marcos pointed out their critical roles in safeguarding communities and modernizing systems.
“Our military awardees have likewise provided the systems behind national defense and improve them, from strengthening coordination among government agencies to improving efficiency through digital platforms to enhancing maritime awareness and operational preparedness in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Our police awardees show the value of prevention and innovation in public safety, from guiding our young people away from crime and strengthening the role of women in anti-drug efforts to using digital systems and timely data to improve road safety,” the President added.
Marcos observed that while the awardees hail from diverse regions across the Philippines, “they share the same story of service and of sacrifice.”
“Each chose a life of service and remained committed to it throughout all these years,” Marcos stated. “And the value of that service can be seen in what they leave behind: stronger institutions, safer communities, [and] lives changed for the better.”
The Chief Executive praised the credibility and prestige built by the Metrobank Foundation’s annual search, noting the thorough evaluation process used to select top public servants.
”It has gained great stature in terms of the way we look at those awardees and the process that has gone through, the rigorous process that has gone through, so as to be able to arrive at the choices that they make,” he said, adding that “behind every award are stories of men and women who have devoted years of their lives to serving others, certainly without grandeur and far from public attention.”
The Metrobank Foundation annually selects 10 exemplars—consisting of four educators, three military personnel, and three police officers—who demonstrate patriotism, integrity, courage, and civic responsibility.
The program is organized alongside key partners including the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Savings Bank, Rotary Club of Makati Metro, and Rotary Club of New Manila East.