Honoring the heroes among us

MANILA, Philippines - In an age when everything is ephemeral and success is fleeting, only those with solid foundations will prevail to see themselves through the passing of generations. Compassion, courage, diligence, honesty and prudence are values found not only in our greatest leaders, but also in enterprises that have withstood the trials of financial crises and turbulent political interludes.

Since its incorporation in 1979, the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. has preserved these values, supporting the efforts of countless Filipinos who have embodied the spirit of modern day heroes; saints who walk in our midst, going way beyond the boundaries of duty to serve a common purpose – the enrichment of the lives of those they encounter in their personal and professional endeavors. Heroes who have fought on contrasting yet connected battlefields such as illiteracy and insurgency, heroes like Evelyn Caja; Onofre Pangsanghan; Noell EL Farol; Dan Raralio; P/Supt Alfred Corpus and Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban.

A light in the darkness

Evelyn Caja is one of six children of a pastor, and very early on she felt drawn to the field of education, but not just any education. Evelyn, or Lynn, yearned to eventually practice special education. She pursued her studies at the country’s premier institution for teachers, the Philippine Normal University, and in 1967 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

She started teaching at the Southern Mindanao College in Pagadian, Zamboanga until 1969. Lynn followed up her first degree with her lifelong dream, an even greater challenge – Special Education – receiving her Certificate in Special Education Teaching the Visually Impaired (Graduate Level) in 1974, also from PNU.

From 1977 to 1984, she was able to exercise her skill in special education, teaching at the Philippine National School for the Blind in Pasay City, through a voice and guiding touch that came from her heart, empowering handicapped children with the same knowledge and self-worth as their normally-seeing counterparts.

In late 1984, Lynn moved to teach at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Manila. While there, she continued her studies at PNU and finally acquired her Master’s degree in Education, major in Mathematics, in 1987.

To honor her outstanding achievement and her relentless pursuit to give special children an opportunity to hurdle their visual handicap, she was among the awardees of Metrobank Foundation’s Search for Outstanding Teachers in 2001.

Now 61, Lynn continues to teach at the Ramon Magsaysay High School, enriching young minds as only she can.

Light of body, full of heart

On what would later be known as Independence Day, Onofre Pagsanghan was born to a simple family, the middle child of a mechanic father. But through hard work, frugality and sacrifice, “Pagsi,” elder sister Pilar and brother Manuel were able to attend school.

In 1934, Pagsi started school at Cecilio Apostol Elementary School in Manila, finishing in 1940 with an honorable mention distinction. A parish priest in Tondo wrote a letter to his friend, the Rector of Ateneo de Manila in Padre Faura, enabling Pagsi to obtain a partial scholarship.

In his freshman year, Pagsi was asked by Fr. Raymond Gauff, SJ to help with a boy’s club in the Holy Trinity Parish of Balic-Balic in Sampaloc. He threw his mind and heart into the endeavor, founded the Knights of the Sacred Heart, and for the next 15 years, taught them the catechism and faith-filled songs, English grammar and literature, and public speaking.

In 1951, Pagsi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, second honors, and immediately applied to teach at his alma mater. Fr. William Hayes, SJ, the compassionate principal, hired him – on the condition that he taught only 16 periods (rather than the standard 20), and as long as he took a nap after lunch. Pagsi weighed only 87 pounds at that time, and Fr. Hayes thought that physically, Pagsi would not last. But though his stature was frail, Pagsi was all heart.

To enrich his teaching experiences, Pagsi received several travel study grants: the Ford Foundation Grant to observe educational TV in the US in 1963; the British Council Fellowship to observe theater in London; the UNESCO Fellowship to observe theater in the US in 1971, and the Japan Foundation scholarship to observe the Japanese system of education in 1983.

In 1984, he received his Masters of Arts degree in Literature (English) from the Ateneo.

Because of his lifelong devotion to his chosen profession, at 58, “Sir Pagsi,” as his students affectionately came to address him, was among the first of Metrobank Foundation’s awardees for the Search for Outstanding Teachers in 1985.

In 1986, Pagsi was given another travel study grant: the New York University Scholarship on American Culture. In 1991, an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters was finally bestowed upon a legend and truly honorable mentor – Dr. Onofre Pagsanghan.

Shaping the country through his art

Two years after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Philippine Women’s University, Noell EL Farol received one of the Top Three Best Entry Awards during the 1986 Metrobank National Painting Competition. Following this feat – just two years after the competition was established – he received a number of international grants and enjoyed residencies in some of the most prestigious art institutions in the world.

Noell went on to earn his Diploma in Art Education from the Graduate School of Education of Shizuoka University in Japan in 1991, holding a one-man exhibit that same year at the Sukaraza Art Hall of the Dai Ichi Broadcasting Company in Shizuoka.

Five years later, he received a Diwa ng Sining award for being one of “Ten Outstanding Visual Artists of the Philippines” chosen by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Rotary International. The following year, he became a Research Fellow of the Association of International Education in Japan, and exhibited “New Glassworks” at the Ayala Museum.

His other exhibits abroad include “Ceramics and Glass Works” at the Seta City Cultural Center in Madrid, 2001; “Site: Fragments” in Sen Sen Chi Gallery in Shizuoka, 2005; The International Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture at the Miyazaki Airport in Japan, 2009.

Because of his dedication and contribution in the field of arts both here and abroad, this multi-acclaimed and internationally-renowned sculptor and UST professor was recognized again by Metrobank Foundation as one of the Awardees for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES) in 2004 and the Metrobank Foundation Prize for Achievement in Sculpture (MPAS) in 2009. 

Farol is currently the president of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence-Network of Winners, or MADE-NOW, established in 2008, and is taking his Master’s in Archaeology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Using his hands as tools

Dan Raralio held his first exhibit along with several artists at the Philippine International Convention Center in 1985. After earning an Honorable Mention in the Metrobank National Painting Competition in 1986, Raralio received several other recognitions both local and international, such as the Thirteen Artists Award in 1988 conferred by the Cultural Center of the Philippines; Most Promising Designer, KATHA Awards, Manila F.A.M.E. in 1995; Award of Excellence in the 3rd OITA Asian Sculpture Exhibition Open Competition, Japan, 1997 and Second Prize in the Sculpture category of the 2001 Annual Art Competition conducted by the Art Association of the Philippines.  He is also the recipient of the Freeman Foundation Asian Artist Fellowship from 2003 to 2004, given by the Vermont Studio Center, USA.

Though most of his works have been displayed locally, with the CCP being a frequent venue, Dan’s exhibits have also showcased Filipino artistic talent to a worldwide audience, having held shows in Berlin, West Germany in 1988; Pisa, Italy in 1991; Oita, Japan in 1997; Guangzhou, China in 2001; and an evocative three-part progressive series entitled “Who Owns Women’s Bodies” – part one at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2000, part two held as a traveling exhibition to Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao in 2001, and part three as another traveling exhibition to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2002.

Coinciding with two of his exhibits, “Black and White,” and “Cancelled Metaphors,” Raralio was presented with yet another Metrobank accolade, the Metrobank Foundation Prize for Achievement in Sculpture or MPAS in 2004.

Duty first, last, always

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, P/Supt Alfred Corpus was born in Maguindanao but currently resides in Las Piñas City with his wife and their brood of four.

Corpus has the distinction of successfully resolving a number of high-profile cases, among them a massacre in Meycauyan, Bulacan and the gruesome rape-slay of a six-year-old girl; the neutralization of a robbery-holdup gang and at least two notorious drug syndicates as well as the arrest of a big-time drug lord; the resolution of the murder of a scion of a movie actor and, perhaps his most prominent achievement, the capture of former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos.

In all these accomplishments, Corpus relied on a community-based intelligence network coupled with excellent police work to get the desired results, which were often effected in the most expedient manner possible.

His crime prevention programs are showcases of effective partnerships with multi-sector organizations, community associations and the business community. Under his leadership, Neighborhood Watch Associations were established and Barangay Services and Development Officers (BSDAs) were trained, augmenting the limited manpower resources of the PNP by addressing the need for beat patrols and police presence.

His Sagip Kababaihan, Kamuning Shield and Kapanalig projects, on the other hand, tackled specific problems of prostitution, peace and order, drug addiction and juvenile delinquency in his area of assignment. His collaboration with the local business community likewise resulted in employment opportunities for out-of-school youth and the donation of a patrol vehicle to the police station.

Corpus was named one of Metrobank Foundation’s Country’s Outstanding Police-men in Service or COPS in 2005, three years into its existence, for being a police officer with an exemplary 18-year service record. 

Following this acclaim, he became the chief of police of Taguig City where he served for two years, after which he was transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office as the Chief of Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division. A few months later, he was promoted to Senior Superintendent. He was then transferred to the Cavite Provincial Office where he is now Provincial Director, ensuring that the province will greatly benefit under his watch. Perhaps the message inscribed on Corpus’ award says it best:

“For being a consistent exemplary model of public service in the PNP; and for establishing Kamuning Shield to implement an integrated security plan in his area, and mobilizing the business community through Project Oyster that provided employment to 250 out-of-school youths, and other liaison projects to solicit the assistance and involvement of members of the community in the promotion and conduct of peace and order initiatives in Quezon City.”

Blackboards, not bullets

When Martin and Gracia Burnham were held against their will by the Abu Sayyaf Group, Col. Juancho Sabban, then Deputy Commander of the Philippine Marines in the Southern Philippines, was specifically tasked to help neutralize the ASG and conduct rescue operations to free their hostages. As we stayed up to watch the military operations unfold successfully on our TV sets, or woke up early to read about it in our newspapers, much credit was given to the excellent performance of the Marine Intelligence Units led by Col. Sabban.

Aside from this particular successful rescue operation, Col. Sabban also led the neutralization of ASG spokesman Aldam Ticlao a.k.a. Abu Sabaya. Aside from his numerous achievements in the battlefield, he is also an expert in civil military operations/community relations, having initiated the Sulu-wide “Adopt-a-Classroom Program” and “Ukay-Ukay para sa Barangay,” which benefited more than thirty elementary and secondary schools in the province.

Having been recently promoted, Maj. Gen. Sabban received Metrobank Foundation’s award for being among The Outstanding Philippine Soldier or TOPS of 2003, four years since the award’s inception in 1999. After winning the Metrobank Foundation award, Gen. Sabban became an even more active advocate of community development and nation building as a military officer.

As Commander of 3rd Marine Brigade stationed in Sulu in 2005, he helped alter counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism strategies by drastically reducing purely military action and shifting priorities to the implementation of socio-civic development projects, halting insurgency at its roots. Among his initiatives is the construction and repair of school buildings to provide and enhance access to education, particularly in far-flung areas. In partnership with NGOs and foreign donors, especially the annual AFP-US Kapit Bisig Joint Exercises, Gen. Sabban facilitated the procurement of books, desks, school supplies and other education related materials.

He replicated this successful formula when he became Task Force Commander in Basilan in 2007. When he was reassigned to Sulu in 2008, he resumed this mission with even more vigor, turning over no less than 60 schoolhouses – more than 150 classrooms – to the Department of Education.

Aside from education, Sabban’s holistic and non-conventional approach to ending decades of strife and poverty in war-torn communities includes the provision of economic opportunities to the people of Mindanao. Together with concerned government agencies, private-sector organizations and the international community, he initiated the formation of cooperatives engaged in fishing and seaweed production as well as coffee, abaca and cassava farming, facilitated the construction of farm to market roads, and addressed shelter, water and medical care needs.

Gen. Juancho Sabban, PN is a soldier whose contributions in both times of war and peace have made him a real hero.

These are just some of Metrobank Foundation’s heroes. Will you be one of them?

The Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies established by Dr. George S.K. Ty in 1979. Over the last 30 years, it has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs, notably the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, The Outstanding Philippine Soldier, Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, the Metrobank Math Challenge, and College Scholarship Program. The Foundation also has a grants program that assists NGOs and governments in the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts. Metrobank Foundation celebrates Filipino excellence and presents wellsprings of hope.