Press Release
January 24, 2017

Senate commends 2016 TOYM awardees

The Senate today unanimously adopted a resolution commending the 11 awardees of last year's "The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines." Senate Resolution No. 252, authored by Senator Nancy Binay, taking into consideration Senate Resolution No. 263 introduced by Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, commended the achievements "of remarkable men and women of competence and deeds who symbolize the character of a true Filipino."

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III led the other senators in presenting copies of the Senate resolution to TOYM awardees lawyer Carmela Andal-Castro for law, Clarisse Delgado for education, Ryan Guinaran for his advocacy on indigenous people, Randy Halasan for education, Richard Heydarian for social science, Richard Muallil for marine science, Ronivin Pagtakhan for youth leadership, Geraldine Racaza for medicine, Saturnino Tiamson for arts in music, Jhett Tolentino for arts in theatre, and Earl Martin Valencia for entrepreneurship. "This Senate commends and lauds the 11 TOYM awardees for their excellence and steadfast constancy in their crafts, and in transforming communities and creating positive change," Binay said in her resolution.

Ejercito, himself a former TOYM awardee, said the recipients of the 2016 TOYM award are all outstanding individuals who "ran the extra mile, and responded beyond the call of duty."

"The 2016 awardees who came from the fields of medicine, education, law, social sciences, leadership and arts, among others have showed great dedication and commitment not just in enriching their profession but more so the well-being of their constituents and the country as a whole," he said in his resolution.

"I believe that much of being a TOYM awardee is the fact that you were able to bring significant changes to your respective fields and you were able to uplift the living conditions of the people," he added.

Ejercito noted that apart from him, a number of incumbent members of the Senate - including Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon and Senators Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, and Loren Legarda - have also been recipients of the prestigious award in the past.

The TOYM awards is an annual project organized and presented by the Junior Chamber International-Philippines otherwise known as the Philippine Jaycees, the Gerry Roxas Foundation, Inc. and the TOYM Foundation since 1959. (Yvonne A. Almirañez)

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