SPEECH OF SENATE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN M. DRILON
2014 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos
Metrobank Plaza Auditorium
September 5, 2014

 HONORING OUR MODERN-DAY HEROES

Mr. Fabian Dee, thank you for your kind introduction. Metrobank Group Chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty, Metrobank Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Metrobank Arthur Ty, Metrobank Foundation President Mr. Aniceto Sobrepena, and other officers of the Metrobank Foundation, Secretary Luistro and Licuanan, my colleagues in the Senate - Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Juan Edgardo Angara, the members of the House who are - Rep. Roman Romulo and Zenaida Angping, members of the diplomatic corps led by H.E. William Tweddell, the former Chief Justice and my very good friend Art Panganiban, awardees of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

First and foremost, I would like to offer my sincerest felicitations to the Metrobank on the celebration of its 52nd anniversary. On this momentous occasion, I would like to salute the “heart and soul” of the Metrobank Group, Dr. George S.K. Ty, whose business acumen and personal qualities I have long admired. My personal relationship with the Ty family spans four decades, starting when I was still a practicing lawyer.

Your anniversary celebration is even more meaningful and memorable with tonight’s recognition of Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos – Outstanding teachers, policemen and soldiers.

We must also commend the Metrobank Foundation for recognizing excellence in arts and design, and for recognizing journalists and supporting the DepEd Math Challenge and other scholarship programs.

I am deeply impressed by the determination of the awardees to rise above their personal and professional circumstances and meet the challenges of their job head on. More than anything, they all remind us of the Filipino’s outstanding values and best traits.

It is heartwarming to note that all the outstanding teachers we are honoring tonight represent the public school system. As some of you know, I myself am a proud product of public schools, from grade school to my fourth year in law school. Whatever I have achieved in my life, I owe it to the public school system.

I am profoundly grateful to the countless teachers who mentored me and helped in shaping my character. I draw inspiration from our public school teachers who constantly show courage despite the seemingly insurmountable difficulties they face while performing their jobs.

One of the awardees, Mrs. Sharon Rose Puyo of Cabadbaran City is a special education teacher who teaches children with impaired hearing. On the other hand, Dr. Jesus Insilada of Calinog, Iloilo, understands the power of the teacher to educate and shape the minds of indigenous people. A public school teacher and a proud Panay Bukidnon, he dedicated his life to serving his IP community while pursuing his passion for creative writing.

They are but two of our countless public school teachers who have made a huge impact not only on the lives of their students but also on their respective communities.

In fact, one of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay awardees and the only Filipino awardee this year is Randy Halasan, a public school teacher from Davao City. To get to Pegalongan Elementary School where he teaches, he travels two hours by bus, one hour by habal-habal, and then walks for another four hours. Teaching in that remote school has meant being away from his family most of the time. Beyond teaching, he has helped farmers acquire a collectively-owned rice and corn mill, a seed bank, a cattle dispersal project, and horses for transporting their farm products.

Indeed my dear teachers, every single day you are presented with opportunities to influence your students in a positive way. Do not underestimate your capability of making a difference in their life and in your community.

In 1991 or nearly twenty five years ago, I had the privilege of serving as Chair of the board of judges of Metrobank’s search for outstanding teachers. If I remember correctly, the award was something like P10,000. Today it is P500,000 and I am assured by the officers of the Metrobank Foundation that Commissioner Kim Henares of the BIR will not touch that amount, because you might be paying at 32 percent.

When I became a judge at 1991 one of the winners was Dr. Felicitas Pado. Watching Dr. Pado, one would think that teaching is not fun but also very easy – an indication that she has mastered her craft. Currently, Dr. Pado is helping improve the quality of education in the country by being a consultant for the DepEd in the implementation of the mother tongue-based multilingual education. She is also now serving as one of the judges in this event’s elementary competition.

It was both a humbling and life-defining experience for me. I was inspired by the teachers’ stories of sacrifice, heroism and everyday acts of kindness.

Talking about soldiers, just recently, the world saw the uncommon valor, integrity and matchless courage of our peacekeepers in the Golan Heights who extricated themselves from a very difficult situation with their dignity and their arms intact. Stories like this make every Filipino’s heart leap with joy and pride.

This year’s outstanding soldiers and police officers also have stories of extraordinary bravery in the field that will take our breath away. I laud them for the excellent service they have rendered to our country and people through the years. Some of them displayed amazing audacity in handling the Zamboanga siege.

Colonel Teodoro Llamas was at the forefront of the mission to neutralize the MNLF forces. Through his strategic direction and experience in hostage rescue and urban combat, the AFP was able to rescue 113 hostages and capture over a hundred MNLF fighters. They also managed to seize high powered firearms.

I am even more amazed by the innovations, which are useful in combat or civilian operations, made by our soldiers in the field, such as the “jungle antenna” made of scrap metal that Sergeant Eugene Padilla invented.

Chief Inspector Reynaldo E. Ariño,who was head of Task Force Bravo and ground commander of all deployed Special Action Battalion (SAB) teams, was responsible for ensuring the safety of some 100,000 families held hostage in barangays Sta. Catalina and Sta. Barbara in Zamboanga City.

Also on the ground was Police Officer 2 Arshear Usman Ismael, whose skills were tested as he was tasked to monitor MNLF sightings and secure the safety of evacuees.

There are countless stories of bravery, heroism, sacrifice and gallantry not only in the AFP and PNP, but also among our teachers and other government workers. They are our modern-day heroes, who have remained honest and true to their calling, who will not hesitate to walk the extra mile and transcend their limitations just to give the best service possible to our country and people.

As a tradition I started in 2002, last Monday, the Senate passed a resolution commending the achievements of the 2014 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos, which resolutions were authored and sponsored at the floor by Senators Poe, Villar and Angara. The resolutions were presented to the awardees during their courtesy call.

To our awardees, you are shining examples of good public servants who are worthy of emulation by your peers and members of your respective organizations and communities.

I hope that this latest feather in your cap will inspire you more to serve our country and people the best way you can even if you, sometimes, seem to be alone in your daily struggles. Today, you know and you can be sure that you are never alone, and that you have your people’s deepest appreciation for your noble sacrifices.

My prayers and sincerest wishes for all your professional and personal endeavors. Good luck and God bless you.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay po tayong lahat!