“Yes, The Filipino Can!”
Posted on October 25th, 2008
“Yes, The Filipino Can! Awards†recognizes eleven outstanding Filipinos –men, women and institutions – at NBC Tent in Taguig. RFM Corporation will give the said award.
In the celebration of their 50 golden years in industry, the award will recognize Filipinos who have greatly contributed to improving lives and empowering their countrymen. It will lead by RFM chairman Jose Ma. Concepcion Jr. and RFM president and CEO Jose Ma. Concepcion III.
Juan Flavier, Elena Lim founder of Solid Group Inc., Antonio Llanes Jr., ATRIEV president and Rico Hizon, BBC news anchor were the former awardees.
Flavier, known as a “barrio doctor†and born to a poor family, was serving the barrios of Nueva Ecija and Cavite in lieu of a lucrative medical practice. When President Fidel Ramos chose him as the secretary of the Department of Health in the year 1992, he founded the Oplan Alis Disease – a massive immunization campaign that resulted in the World Health Organization declaration of the Philippines as a polio-free nation, Sangkap Pinoy and the anti-AIDS.
“Let’s DOH it!†was the tagline that Flavier was known for and because of this, DOH became the leading agency during Ramos reign.
He is an excellent advocate of health, environment and development issues.
Elena Sen Lim started the Solid Group Inc. with his husband 50 years ago and is a well-respected name in the Philippines and international business.
Solid Group is one of the biggest holding companies in the country and is responsible for bringing in big industrial and technological brands such as Sony, Aiwa, Sanyo, Samsung, TCL, and Kia Pride.
“Trust in the Filipino and he won’t let you down,†that was her motto.
She also the first Filipino who received recognition as one of the 50 women in business by World Business – The Global Perspective magazine –bible of the Western and Asian business.
Elena Lim simply describes herself as “a teacher by inclination, a lawyer by circumstance, and an entrepreneur through serendipity.†Antonio “Tony†Llanes Jr., a pastor, pioneer, social marketing chief and president. He is the founder of Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV).
He thinks that with the advances in technology, anything is possible. ATRIEV has been helping blind people since 1994 to gain access to post-secondary education and mainstream employment. It is the only non-profit and non-government organization that has skillfully woven together private business enterprise and government agencies to support demand-driven programs for the blind.
Llanes is also proud of ATRIEV as it teaches the blind to operate computers with the use of a screen reader, it also unlock the hidden power of the blind through the use of the technology.
Young blind adults trained by ATRIEV have become medical transcribers, computer instructors, Web designers, human resource personnel, practicing social workers, and entrepreneurs, among others. ATRIEV is looking forward to 600 more blind Filipinos to train through the use of computers.
Rico Hizon, the first and still lone male international broadcast journalist from the Philippines, has reaped recognition not only for himself but for his profession and country as well.
He spearheaded many endeavors that promote the Philippines, www.GoodNewsPilipinas.com, is one of his many projects pioneered in celebrating and highlighting the good in the Filipino and the Philippines.
An executive board member of NAMFREL Singapore Chapter (2004) and president of the Philippine Cultural Society (2002-2005), Hizon serves as chairman of the Philippine Cultural Society (2006-present) and board member of the Philippine Bayanihan Society.
He recognized and ahieved numerous awards among them are; Most Outstanding Filipino Community Leader, La Sallian Achiever Award in Media & Advertising, Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award, and Bpinoy Awardees for Outstanding Overseas Filipino Excellence which he got recently. The Philippine Embassy named him as the Most Outstanding Filipino Leader in Singapore.
Hizon’s achievements are tied to the country’s achievements. His triumphs serve as a testimony to the Filipino spirit and his life an inspiration to the youth.
