By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Sept. 1 (PNA) — The Senate on Tuesday adopted three resolutions honoring the country’s top educators, military personnel, and police officers recognized by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., (MBFI) for their selfless dedication to service and commitment to excellence.
“The Senate continues to give outstanding teachers and officers from the police force and the military the recognition they deserve for performing their duties to the Filipino public with inspiring distinction and whole-hearted devotion,” Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 1466, Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid said it was only fitting to commend the educators who had served as “infrastructures for continuing excellence, and for providing greater impact on their respective spheres of influence.”
The Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) is an annual search undertaken by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. in consonance with its commitment to promote a culture of excellence in education by recognizing the country’s best mentors who can be upheld as models not only for educators but for other community members as well.
The SOT awardees were selected from 467 nominees coming from various public and private educational institutions in the country, of which 110 qualified as provincial finalists, which was narrowed down to 40 regional finalists, the resolution also said.
The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution No. 1445 as an expression of gratitude to the heroism, dedication and sacrifices of the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Authored by Senator Loren Legarda, the resolution also recognizes the contribution of a soldier’s best seven years of his/her service in the military.
The resolution also commended MBFI, whose search for Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) became a career achievement award in 2003, for raising the model of excellence within the military “which the other soldiers should emulate, representing the ideals being upheld by the larger sector of the national community and likewise highlight the contribution of the AFP in peace, security, nation building and development.”
Similarly, Senate Resolution No. 1496, also filed by Lapid, joined MBFI in paying tribute to the exemplary valor, gallantry, and selfless efforts of the country’s policemen who, according to the resolution, “have actively solicited, mobilized, involved and organized the community to become fellow vanguards of the community through the 2015 Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS).”
Metrobank Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group, was established by Dr. George S.K. Ty in 1979. The foundation has since promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through programs such as the Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), The Outstanding Philippine Soldier (TOPS), the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) and the College Scholarship Program (CSP), among others. (PNA)