The annual search seeks to give recognition to Filipino workers who have rendered exemplary service to the country and honor Filipino workers in two categories. A concrete recognition by the government of the important role played by Filipino workers who are honest, hardworking, persevering, highly-skilled and successful in their respective fields .
Mario Rebucas of Timex Philippines is this year's regional awardee. He is a self-made man, coming from a poor family of twelve who worked his way to college and finished his three-year Technology Education and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education at the Cebu State College of Science and Technology.
He was employed by TMX Philippines in March 1993 as Cadet Toolmaker and because of his potential and hard work, he was promoted to higher positions until he reached his present position as a packaging engineer III. He was a four-time Model Employee awardee and has been a consistent awardee for best attendance in the company.
Rebucas, who will be representing the region in the national level this August is teaching part-time at the Cebu State College of Science and Technology. His hard work enabled him to help his parents and send his other siblings to school. For Mario, being poor was never an obstacle to achieve his ambition.
The winner in the national level will receive P100,000. while the regional winner gets P10,000 and a plaque of appreciation each.
There are two categories for the award, namely the wage-employed category and self-employed category.
The wage-employed category is open to blue collar workers, whether male or female, currently engaged in the practice of a vocational trade, economically active and working for at least the last three years.
The self-employed category is likewise open to both Filipino male or female, who have been engaged in self-owned profit earning enterprise in any of the TESDA identified priority industry sector for the last three years whose productivity index has been rated high. - Jasmin R. Uy