Children’s rights advocate Teresita Luis Silva was the distinguished recipient of the 2023 Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award (STCA) during rites held on Oct. 3, 2023, and hosted by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila and AY Foundation at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, in Makati City.
The award is a testament to Silva's incredible lifetime dedication to social work as well as her profound and lasting impact on society.
The STCA, jointly presented by JCI Manila and AY Foundation, is a highly regarded accolade bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional humanitarianism and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the underprivileged.
Silva's work exemplifies the spirit of Mother Teresa and her lifelong dedication to serving those in need.
Her incredible journey in the field of social work spans an impressive 60 years. During this time, she has made remarkable contributions, including aiding over 210 college graduates from the most impoverished backgrounds in their pursuit of higher education, offering them hope and a brighter future.
Silva also played a pivotal role in providing health and medical services to more than 3,000 street children, ensuring they receive the care necessary to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Her remarkable contributions to society have been recognized on numerous occasions. In 2019, she was honored as one of the three pioneers in advocating for children's rights in the Philippines, a testament to her tireless commitment to securing a brighter future for the nation's youth.
Her outstanding leadership also earned recognition from the City Government of Manila, where she was celebrated as an exceptional woman leader. Soroptimist International of Sampaloc, Manila also lauded her for her outstanding service in achieving universal primary education, highlighting her enduring impact on the community and the nation as a whole.
The STCA is a recognition dedicated to the late St. Teresa of Calcutta, Nobel Peace Prize Winner in 1979, and known worldwide before her death in 1997 as the ‘Living Saint” because of her selfless humanitarian work and the ideals, which she embodied in her entire life.
The award’s search and selection are an annual project of the AY Foundation, Inc. and the Manila Jaycees since 1983. At present, the search committee is dedicated to seek for lay individuals who, like St. Teresa of Calcutta, have fully and selflessly dedicated at least 25 years of their lives to humanitarian work among “the poorest of the poor” and have served, and shall continue to serve, as an inspirational, living example to the world.