Perlas Awards honor Cebu’s sons and daughters

The Philippine Foundation founded by three selfless Cebuanos — former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, Korea and Canada and currently Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Frank Benedicto, tireless educator Mila Espina, and civic leader Hernan Streegan — has continued through the years to recognize and honor individuals and institutions who have become role models and valuable Filipinos through the much coveted annual Perlas Awards.

The Foundation recently launched the Perlas book at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, the businessmen’s choice whenever visiting Cebu. The 93-page softbound book, written by accomplished and seasoned writer Jenara Regis Newman, showcases celebrities and personalities, industry movers, and low-key individuals from all walks of life who have excelled in their chosen field of endeavors and various establishments and entities who have contributed to the development and upliftment of the community.

The book is divided into seven chapters with each section dedicated to specific fields. The late Jesus Garcia and Ever Garcia, involved for many years in socio clubs and organizations, are cited for being valuable parents and for nurturing their eight children with discipline and love.

The family of Juanito King was awarded for their selflessness in the Spirit of Christ, being deeply committed to religious associations.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (RAFI), started by philanthropist Don Ramón Aboitiz, received the award for being a valuable institution, which has "enriched its vision and service while maintaining a well-balanced management and networking of programs with valuable linkages and prospects for further development."

The Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation was cited for "initiating a scholarship program for the young local classical music artists to form the core of the Cebu Youth Symphony Development Program and enhancing audience awareness in music and the arts."

The search for outstanding entrepreneurs awarded Alfonso Uy for "consolidating small and individual banks into one efficient vehicle to attain the goal of rural banking as a catalyst for rural development" and Hugo Streegan for his "pioneering success in spanning long years of creative and productive management in furniture manufacturing and leadership in the global market."

The individual winners included Loreto Victorino for assisting the disabled at San Martin de Porres organization, and for her work with the daughters of Mary Immaculate, Ladies of Charity and the Philippine Red Cross and Maria Luisa Briones Chiongbian who is socially committed to special children and to Cebu’s electorate through her involvement with Cimpel, a church-based organization concerned with political education.

The list simply goes on and on, each individual well respected and highly admired for their worthwhile values and traits, inspiring members of the community to become involved in the name of unity, service, and development.

The Foundation is headed by its honorary chairman Francisco Benedicto, and president Fr. Ernesto Javier ably assisted by trustees Michael Go, Sabino Dapat, Marissa Fernan, Elvira Luym, Tessie Chan, Mila Espina, Nelia Neri, Efren Valiente, and Petite Garcia.