TEN ACCOMPLISHED YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS NAMED

The newest batch of Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) was announced during awarding ceremonies held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace on Thursday morning.

They bested close to 300 entries from around the Philippines, demonstrating the impact of their project entry on stakeholders, harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship, and embodying creativity, innovation, sustainability, and effective use of resources.

They are the following:

1. Association of Locally Empowered Youth-NM (Mindanao - Dipolog and Dapitan)
2. Gualandi Volunteer Service (Visayas - Cebu City)
3. Hayag Youth Organization (Visayas - Ormoc City, Leyte)
4. Kawil Tours (Luzon - Culion, Palawan)
5. Tanay Mountaineers (Luzon - Tanay, Rizal)
6. TC Youth Laboratory Cooperative (Mindanao - Tagum, Davao del Norte)
7. Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid (NCR - Payatas, Quezon City)
8. United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary Foundation University Chapter (Visayas - Dumaguete City)
9. University of San Carlos-Pathways (Visayas - Mandaue City, Cebu)
10. Volunteer Service Provider (Mindanao - Davao City)

Apart from the prestigious recognition, the winning organizations receive specially-commissioned trophies sculpted by multi-awarded artist Toym De Leon Imao and a grant of Php50,000 intended to fund new projects or to support their long-term programs. Ten other finalists took home plaques and a grant of Php20,000.

Aside from the 10 winners, a number of organizations also won special awards given by the panel of judges.

They are the following:

• Coke Barkada Award: Team BUNDOL Mountaineers (Mindanao - Alabel, Saranggani)
• Smart Education Innovation Award: University of San Carlos-Pathways (Visayas - Mandaue City, Cebu)
• Jollibee Bida Award: MAESTRO Club (Luzon - Tuguegarao)
• Jesse Robredo Good Governance Award: Gualandi Volunteer Service (Visayas - Cebu City)RockEd Alexis Tioseco Award: Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) (Visayas - Ceby City)
• RockEd Hecky Villanueva Award: Watershed Management Youth Council (Visayas - Davao City)

Six other organizations bested fellow youth organizations in their areas to emerge as finalists from the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. They include:

• Association of Filipino Forestry Students - UP Los Baños (Luzon - Pagbilao, Quezon)
• Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles Club - Ateneo de Naga (Luzon - Naga City)
• Medical Missions Incorporated Student Group of the University of Sto. Tomas (NCR)
• JPhi Kappa Mu Fraternity, University of the Philippines - Manila (NCR)
• The Love Yourself Inc. (NCR)
• Upsilon Sigma Phi - UP Diliman (NCR)

 Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and co-founder of the TAYO Awards, led the event, while Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras represented and read President Benigno Aquino III's keynote address. Also present were TAYO co-founder, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan, TAYO Presenter, Coca-Cola Philippines President and General Manager Guillermo Aponte, and TAYO Awards Foundation President Aika Robredo.

About the TAYO Awards

The annual search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) is the country's premier recognition program for youth organizations.

Since its inception in 2002, the TAYO Awards Foundation has successfully gained credibility as an institution that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country.

It has attracted more than two thousand youth organizations from all over the Philippines to join the search. These exceptional groups have contributed to the development of their local communities, schools and workplaces, through their innovative and valuable projects.

The annual TAYO Awards is organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the National Youth Commission, and the Office of Senator Bam Aquino. This year's search is presented by The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and supported by SMART Communications, Jollibee, Philippine Airlines, and Lenovo. It was co-founded by Senator Kiko Pangilinan.