Environmentalist, women's advocacy group: 5th RAFI Triennial Awards winners

CEBU, Philippines - A self-made environmentalist and a women’s advocacy group were declared winners in the 5th RAFI Triennial Awards as exemplary individual and outstanding institution, respectively.

”Sa akong ka kabus nahibaw-an gihapon ang akong nahimo (although I am poor my efforts are still recognized),” said the teary-eyed Rene Vendiola in his speech after receiving the award for being an exemplary individual.

Vendiola converted his one-hectare inherited property into a Liptong Woodland which is now a living laboratory for learning about local and endemic flora and fauna which include the plant named Magnificient Maiden, an endangered specie.

Vendiola went home a trophy and a P440,000.00 cash prize. Four other individual finalists received P110,000.00 each.

The four finalists are Fr. Angelo Buenavides, Prof. Estrella Cantallopez, Apolinario Leyson Sr. and Fr. Dennis Tamayo.

The Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc. was proclaimed as an outstanding institution for being instrumental in helping over 120,000 women entrepreneurs whose ventures and financial backgrounds do not merit a chance in the present financing system.

The said institution also received P440,000.00 while the other four finalists received P110,000.00 each.

The four finalists are Agri-Aqua Development Coalition Mindanao Inc., Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, and The Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation.

The RAFI Triennial Awards is the premier service and humanitarian award in the Visayas and Mindanao, which recognizes the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in enhancing the quality of life of various groups and communities.

These finalists were selected by an independent Search Committee composed of distinguished representatives from the academe, private sector, and civil society.

They are Island Souvenirs President Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, The FREEMAN and The Philippine Star Columnist and “Straight from the Sky” Host Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, Marcellin Foundation Inc. Founder Brother Crispin P. Betita, University of the Philippines-Tacloban College Dean and Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. Founder and Executive Director Margarita dela Cruz, and Mag-uugmad Foundation Inc. Executive Director Leonardo Moneva.

The Search Committee was chaired by dela Cruz who was an individual category finalist for the 3rd RAFI Triennial Awards and a member of the 4th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee.

The selection process starts when individuals and institutions are nominated for the RAFI Triennial Awards. The search committee validates each nominee in the Visayas and Mindanao before the short-listed nominees are screened by the RAFI Board of Trustees to determine the final awardees.

The RAFI Triennial Awards was launched in Dec. 6, 1996 during the 39th anniversary of the foundation to commemorate the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic ideals of RAFI founders Don Ramon Aboitiz and his son Don Eduardo Aboitiz. It is now on its 15th year this year, which is also the 45th year of RAFI. — (FREEMAN)