The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) will confer a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ on Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo "Ping" Lacson in recognition of his over 50 years of outstanding contributions in government and public service.
Lacson has been unanimously voted by members of the Board of Directors of the PMAAAI to receive the award for his “exemplary and unblemished service to the country” characterized by his “faithful adherence to the virtues of courage, loyalty, and integrity".
In a letter dated Dec. 15, 2021, Cavalier Amado Espina, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of the PMAAAI, said Lacson established a “reputation beyond reproach and worthy of emulation” that brought honor not only to himself and his family, but also the entire PMA and its alumni organization.
The awarding ceremony has been scheduled tomorrow, Feb. 19, during the annual Alumni Homecoming and Parade of the PMA at the Borromeo Field, Fort General Gregorio del Pilar, Baguio City in Benguet.
Lacson is expected to be in Baguio city today, Friday.
In a radio interview Thursday morning, Lacson said he is going to accept the award along with his other fellow cavaliers, who would also be recognized for their achievements and contributions during their alumni homecoming.
Lacson first mentioned about receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in a presidential interview aired last month over the ABS-CBN News Channel, where he avoided a question that would cast his political rivals in a bad light and decided to just speak about his track record
“Tumatakbo ako kasi ‘yung pinaghatian namin (I am seeking the presidency because) between us more than 80 years in public service—executive legislative—kaming dalawa ni (me and the) Senate President,” Lacson said, referring to his running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
“Ako, 50 years, tatanggap nga ako ng Lifetime Achievement Award sa PMA sa February (I have been in government for 50 years. In fact, I’m about to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the PMA this February). Ang tingin ko, parang tama na ‘yung na-i-contribute ko sa ating society (I thought I have contributed enough to our society. Pero look, sayang naman siguro ‘yung experience ko ‘yung track record ko (But, look, maybe I can still do more with my experience and track record), he added.
The longtime public servants are banking on their combined 83 years of experience in public service, 42 of which were spent in the Senate, and the rest on various roles under the executive branch. The Lacson-Sotto tandem has agreed to campaign based on their own merits and not on the deficiencies of their rivals.
“I’m always proud of my track record, my integrity, and my competence. I don’t mean to brag but I know myself; I know my limits and I know what I can still do for our country),” Lacson said further in a mix of English and Tagalog.
In 2020, Lacson accepted a Cavalier Award for Public Administration from the PMAAAI. He was honored for spearheading the fight against corruption in the Senate by enacting laws that focused on promoting transparency and public accountability in government.
The Partido Reporma chairman also said he is going to maximize his two-day visit to Baguio City by holding dialogues with multisectoral groups to introduce himself and his platforms of anti-corruption and good governance to its residents.
He also plans to take a side trip to nearby provinces of Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija before going back to Manila to begin the Southern Luzon leg of his ongoing national campaign with Sotto and their senatorial candidates next week.
The principle of ‘leadership by example’ has become a rallying cry for the Lacson-Sotto tandem and members of their campaign teams on top of adopting the taglines "Aayusin ang Gobyerno" and "Uubusin ang Magnanakaw (‘Fix the Government’ and ‘Get Rid of the Thieves’)".