RAFI to award winners, finalists of Triennial Awards

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
March 15, 2012

CEBU CITY  –  After three years of nomination, extensive screening, and validation, two winners out of 10 finalists will be honored during the 5th Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards on March 22 at Marco Polo Plaza.

The winners will receive a trophy, cash prize of not less than P400,000, and the opportunity to travel in the Visayas and Mindanao to share expertise to various groups.

The RAFI Triennial Awards is the premier service and humanitarian award in the Visayas and Mindanao, which recognize the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in enhancing the quality of life of various groups and communities.

Five finalists vied for each of the awards category – the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution. They are Fr. Angelo Buenavides, Prof. Estrella Cantallopez, Apolinario Leyson Sr., Fr. Dennis Tamayo, and Rene Vendiola for the individual cateogory, and Agri-Aqua Development Coalition Mindanao Inc., Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc., SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, and The Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation for the institution category.

These finalists were selected by an independent search committee composed of distinguished representatives from the academe, private sector, and civil society. They are Island Souvenirs President Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, The Freeman and The Philippine Star Columnist and “Straight from the Sky” Host Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, Marcellin Foundation Inc. Founder Brother Crispin P. Betita, University of the Philippines-Tacloban College Dean and Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. Founder and Executive Director Margarita dela Cruz, and Mag-uugmad Foundation Inc. Executive Director Leonardo Moneva.

The Search Committee is chaired by dela Cruz who was an individual category finalist for the 3rd RAFI Triennial Awards and a member of the 4th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee.

The selection process starts when individuals and institutions are nominated for the RAFI Triennial Awards. The search committee validates each nominee in the Visayas and Mindanao before the short-listed nominees are screened by the RAFI Board of Trustees to determine the final awardees.

The RAFI Triennial Awards was launched in December 6, 1996 during the 39th anniversary of the foundation to commemorate the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic ideals of RAFI founders Don Ramon Aboitiz and his son Don Eduardo Aboitiz. It is now on its 15th year this year, which is also the 45th year of RAFI.

It is one of the awards capabilities of RAFI, recognizing individuals and institutions that go the extra mile in bringing about change and in uplifting the quality of life of communities.