ShareThisLea Salonga, Cristeta Comerford and Sheila Lirio Marcelo Among Awardees
His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III will honor 33 distinguished and outstanding overseas Filipinos and foreign-based organizations from 13 countries during the Awarding Ceremonies for the 2014 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas on December 5, 2014 at the Malacañan Palace. In conferring the Awards, the President will be assisted by Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas, the Chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
The president commended the 33 individuals and organization not only for their personal and professional achievements, but also for what they’ve contributed to the development of the Philippines and the welfare of their fellow Filipinos everywhere: “I congratulate the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino, Kaanib ng Bayan, Banaag and Pamana ng Pilipino Awardees for their efforts to better the conditions of our kababayans here in the Philippines and abroad, and representing the Filipino talent and industry in their adoptive homelands.”
Institutionalized in 1991 through Executive Order No. 498, the Presidential Awards is a biennial search for overseas-based individuals and organizations which have dedicated their work in the service and improvement of lives of Filipinos worldwide, selflessly supported relief, rehabilitation and development programs in the home country, or who have excelled in their field or profession.
The awardees were thoroughly screened from a total of 157 nominations from 29 countries by three different committees with representatives from the government, civil society, media, academe, religious and business sectors, and finally the President of the Philippines. The Presidential Awards has four categories – Kaanib ng Bayan Award, Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Award, Banaag Award, and Pamana ng Pilipino Award.
Kaanib ng Bayan Awardees
The Kaanib ng Bayan Award is conferred on foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development, or have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
The Kaanib ng Bayan Awardees are the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (Israel), Wako Asato (Japan), Humana Child Aid Society (Malaysia), and Dominiek Segaert (Belgium)
Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) Awardee
The LINKAPIL Award is conferred on Filipino associations or individuals for their exceptional or significant contribution to reconstruction, progress and development in the Philippines. The Lingkapil Awardee for 2014 is Serenata (Saudi Arabia) – a children’s choir and string chamber orchestra, which is dedicated to impart excellence in music and fellowship, and support the education of less fortunate students in the Philippines.
Banaag Awardees
The Banaag Award is conferred on Filipino individuals or associations for their contributions which have significantly benefited a sector or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
The Banaag Awardees are the Daegu Filipino Community Council (South Korea), Danilo M. Favor (United Kingdom), Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers-Central Region Chapter Saudi Arabia, IIEE-CRCSA (Saudi Arabia), Rosa Angelica C. Libron (South Korea), Augusto I. Mercado (USA), Migrant Heritage Commission (USA), Victoria B. Navarro (USA), and Anita A. Sasaki (Japan)
Pamana ng Pilipino Awardees
The Pamana ng Pilipino Award is conferred on Filipinos overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.
The Pamana ng Pilipino Awardees are Marianito O. Asperilla (USA), Michael Cinco (UAE), Kristoffer L. Collo (USA), Cristeta Comerford (USA), Sheila S. Coronel (USA), William D. Dar (India), Roderick M. Dela Cruz (USA), Filomenita M. Hoegsholm (Denmark), Jonathan D. Irabagon (USA) , Jasmine B. Lee (South Korea), Cecile B. Licad (USA), Sheila Lirio-Marcelo (USA), Robert Lopez (USA) ,Katherine R. Luzuriaga (USA), Baldomero M. Olivera (USA), Alfredo R. Roces (Australia), Lea Salonga (USA), Lolita Valderrama-Savage (USA), Paolo Antonio S. Silva (USA), and Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi (France).