Service has a vital role in humanity as it brings comfort to everyone, especially those who need assistance in urgent situations. But did you know that even the simplest thing you do or share can be deemed as an act of “service?”
Serving others is giving oneself with enthusiasm without expecting anything in return, this is pure “service.”
Generally, sharing food, notifying the public about an upcoming storm, sweeping or picking litter along your way, assisting grandma in crossing the pedestrian lane, and many more, are little seemingly humble gestures of kindness or selfless service to others.
Factory workers, agents, teachers, doctors, lawyers, firefighters, policemen, are some of those who offer services through their specialized knowledge and trainings. Some groups and organizations, be they private or government, have members who voluntarily spend their time providing so-called “services.”
Efforts made by the above-mentioned people are recognized by their respective institutions and their allied forces, and in general, the community at large.
The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) is one of those civic groups in the Philippines that recognizes the endeavors and accomplishments of men and women in government.
It also implements various programs, including the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, Metrobank Scholarship Program, Metrobank MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge, Grants and Social Development Partnerships, Disaster Response, National Teacher’s Month Celebration, and the Metrobank Foundation Professional Chair Lectures. Also, MBFI is the principal owner of the Manila Doctor’s Hospital.
In recognition of excellence among key professions, the Metrobank Foundation exemplary conducts an annual selection of Outstanding Filipinos who incessantly render exemplary services to the Filipino people. This year, the Metrobank Foundation named ten Filipino exemplars, comprising four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers: all public servants and active agents of positive change and influence in their respective communities or areas of jurisdiction.
Each awardee will receive Php1 million cash prize, a golden medallion, and “The Flame” trophy on the conferment ceremony in September, coinciding with Metrobank’s anniversary foundation and unwittingly to many, is a prelude to the Crime Prevention Month which falls in October. Teachers, soldiers and police officers are in the frontline relative to the government’s peace and order, and safety programs.
A Metrobank Foundation, Outstanding Filipino Award is conferred to an exemplary public servant and an active agent of positive change and influence in respective communities.
The nomination of the awardees preceded the intensive selection process. Hundreds of nominations through were subjected to a thorough review of documents and interviews.
Moreover, the candidates’ resilience in facing adversities in their missions, innovations, and programs to lift underprivileged fellow Filipinos and serve the country with their utmost capabilities were taken into consideration.
Exemplifying the true meaning of “Beyond Excellence” is the awardees’ immeasurable contribution to service and community engagement which impart on the lives of beneficiaries.
The Metrobank Foundation proudly presents three Police Officer recipients of this year’s Award, they are PCol Lambert A. Suerte, Battalion Commander, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, National Capital Region Police Office, Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City; PCPT Rosalino E. Panlaqui, Chief of Police, Jalajala Municipal Police Station, Jalajala, Rizal; and PEMS Rogelio A. Rodriguez Jr., Investigator, Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
PCol Lambert A. Suerte, also known as the “PNP Special Action Force’s Stalwart of Law and Public Safety” received the award for his firm resolve and expertise which have been tested in several armed encounters with enemy forces. In 2017, he bravely led 108 of his men to victory and safety during the Marawi City siege that lasted for months. His legacy in the police force is marked by his extraordinary efforts in the liberation of stakeholder groups from security threats.
During his stint as the Batallion Commander in the National Capital Regional Office, one of his best practices dubbed “Gulong ng Suerte Reloaded” indeed positively impacted the community as it reached thousands of residents in the entire region. They extend help by providing brand new wheelchair for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and in bringing hope despite the difficult situation.
Police Captain Rosalino E. Panlaqui firmly believes that fulfilling his duty as an agent of the law means embracing all aspects and challenges in the maintenance of peace and order. As Chief of Police, he is known for building a strong relationship between the police and the community.
The “Pandesal at Kape, Handog ni Hepe” is one of his initiatives which became the best practice of Jalajala MPS under his supervision. It significantly helped the residents who woke up early for work without taking breakfast just to support their family needs. Usually, they are the “padre de pamilya,” composed of farmers, fisherfolks, street vendors, garbage collectors, tricycle and jeepney drivers, construction workers, and the like. At present, the program has reached more than 9, 000 beneficiaries.
PCapt Panlaqui likewise helped the children and the youth being the hope of our motherland, when he launched the project “Foster a child Jalajala MPS Scholarship Program” with the theme “Para sa Magandang kinabukasan Gabay mo ang kapulisan.” At present they have four scholars whom the program will support until they graduate from any four-year course of their choice.
He also launched a livelihood program for the Persons under PNP Custody (PUPC) dubbed “Marangal na hanap buhay tungo sa pagbabagong buhay;” “Patrolya sa Eskwela” through a regular visitation to learning institutions; “Iwas Abuso Lady Patrollers” through house-to-house distribution of flyers to increase awareness of the community against all forms of violence; “Oplan Kilatis,” a program to prevent any entries of wanted person within the Area of Responsibility which is also the same to his “Mata sa Banketa” and “Key Information” program; and the “Covid Response Patrol.”
PEMS Rogelio A. Rodriguez Jr.’s contributions to the force’s campaign against criminality underscored his expertise as an intelligence operative. In numerous missions, his unit apprehended high-profile outlaws. He was also instrumental in the arrest of an international terrorist and in being able to prevent a lethal attack way back in the year 2001. From 2014 to 2015, he apprehended top wanted criminals. In 2003, he raided 19 laboratories of shabu and confiscated a total of Php12 billion pesos, whom the arrested druglords were all convicted in court. He was also the first police officer who filed the case in the money laundering council wherein all the properties of the druglord were seized, including his deposited properties in the bank.
The above-mentioned awardees have joined the Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Filipinos Honor Roll which totalled to 685 from 1985 to date.
