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Marcos honors Metrobank awardees as exemplars of Pinoy greatness
Marcos honors Metrobank awardees as exemplars of Pinoy greatness
President Marcos hailed the 10 outstanding Filipino teachers, soldiers, and police officers for reminding the nation of the greatness of the Filipino nation.
Marcos said the four teachers, three soldiers, and three policemen— the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos—serve as a reminder of the Filipinos' greatness that is known around the world but often forgotten by Filipinos themselves.
"We are a great people and you are the example of that greatness," Marcos said on Thursday, Sept. 28, during the awarding ceremony in Malacañan.
"And we need to remind our people because sometimes ang mga Pinoy kung minsan, ang tingin nila sa sarili pa nila, kinahahangaan tayo sa abroad pero dito sa Pilipinas, parang ano… Dahil magagaling lahat. Magaling talaga ang Pinoy (Filipinos look down on themselves while we are being praised abroad. It's because we are all great. Filipinos are really great)," he underscored.
The President further said that the awardees are a reflection of Filipinos' efforts and sacrifices to add to the value of fellow Filipinos' daily life in various ways through their respective profession.
"Sa pagtanggap ninyo nitong award na ito ay pinapaalala ninyo sa mga Pilipino na mahusay ang Pilipino, mabait ang Pilipino, magaling ang Pilipino, masipag ang Pilipino (In receiving this award, you are reminding Filipinos that Filipinos are talented, kind, great, and hardworking)," Marcos said.
"Iyan ang mga katangian na kung minsan natin nakakalimutan at sinasabi, “ah magagaling sa ibang bansa (Those are the qualities that we sometimes forget)," he added.
The Chief Executive also said that the awardees' accomplishments "bring us also closer to Bagong Pilipinas that we are determined to build — a nation that has a globally competitive education system, a safe and empowered citizenry, and a society that offers equal opportunities for all."
"You are all here for a reason and that is because of your commendable service to your people and your country. What you have unleashed is a transformative force that creates ripples of positive transformation in the communities that you serve and beyond," he told them.
Marcos also emphasized that "these people are not up on a pedestal," saying these are the people who do not live in big offices or big houses but ordinary people who are worthy of recognition for their contribution to society.
"They are people, our neighbors. They are people that we work with. They are people that are our relatives and we must again recognize that and Metrobank has played a very important part in keeping that spirit alive," Marcos said.
He thanked the Metrobank Foundation and its partner-stakeholders for initiating the long-standing career-service awards, saying recognitions like this motivates civil servants to be more motivated to go above and beyond in performing their duties.
He also urged Filipinos to continue doing their respective share in realizing the goal of a more productive, peaceful, and progressive Philippines.
The Outstanding Filipino is the flagship program and most prestigious career-service award given by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. in the academe, military and police sectors.
This year’s 10 awardees join the ranks of 695 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos since 1985. Apart from the golden medallion awarded by the President, each Outstanding Filipino shall receive P1 million in cash prize and a trophy.