Gen. Gilbert Gapay, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), bestowed awards to various personnel and units who rendered an invaluable service and assistance to the military in a ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Monday.
(PHILIPPINE ARMY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gapay said the awardees "went the extra mile in the fulfillment of their respective mandates" which contributed to the accomplishment of the AFP’s endeavors. Recognized were Staff Sgt. Jose Salvador Silva as Enlisted Personnel of the Year; Engelbert Avena as Model Civilian Supervisor of the Year; Ervin Yano as Model Civilian Human Resource of the Year; Lt. Commander Xytorr Neil Lising as Male ROTC Cadet of the Year; and Cadet Major Judy Ann Canate as Female ROTC Cadet of the Year. Gapay handed the "Kapayapaan Award" to the Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc. for their Corporate Social Responsibility program "Project Embrace"; Danny Rayos del Sol, president of Mirasol Outreach Foundation Inc.; Alex Estrella Pantua, chairman of Alliance of Pastors for Mission; and Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines Inc.
The Kapayapaan Award is given by the AFP to individuals or organizations who gave valuable contribution in promoting societal understanding and reconciliation or must have made exceptional achievement in pursuit of national accord and development. Gapay gave the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) led by Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. the Institutionalized Stage Award for their efforts to institutionalize AFP's transformation efforts.
“The awards that we have just accorded to you are but physical representation of our appreciation but what you must treasure more is the pride that we feel to be serving alongside with you," Gapay told the awardees.