TOYM AWARDEES REUNITE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE ROLE OF YOUNG LEADERS AMID THE PANDEMIC

By: JCI Sen. Aira Pimentel 2020 National Chairman for TOYM

Pioneered by the Junior Chamber International - Philippines, this year’s launch forum for The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) aims to offer a platform among past TOYM awardees to share their experiences and insights on how the award impacted their lives and how our young leaders can be an agent of change during this health crisis. The theme for this forum is

“TOYM IN THE NEW NORMAL: A Web Forum on Inspiring Excellence and Leadership Resilience during the Pandemic.” It was hosted by 2020 Area 2 Chairperson TOYM Calel Gosingtian.

The panelists and guests for the said program were composed of distinguished individuals who are actively engaged in their respective fields, namely:

1. Bienvenido Tantoco III

2004 TOYM Awardee for Business; Chairman - TOYM Foundation, Inc.; and President - Rustans Corporation.

2. Chaye Cabal-Revilla

2013 TOYM Awardee for Community Service; President - TOYM Foundation, Inc.; and CFO - Smart Communications, Inc.

3. Mark Joseph David

2020 JCI Philippines National President

4. Federico Hizon

2006 TOYM Awardee for Journalism; and Senior Anchor - CNN Philippines

5. Bernard Faustino Dy

2018 TOYM Awardee for Public Service; 2011 JCI Philippines National President; and Mayor of Cauayan City

6. Alfonso Tomas Araullo

2019 TOYM Awardee for Broadcast Journalism; and Anchor - GMA Network

7. Alfred Vargas

2019 TOYM Awardee for Public Service; and Congressman - District 5 of Quezon City

As the flagship project of JCI Philippines, the TOYM is an annual undertaking of the organization which seeks to give national recognition to young men and women whose selfless dedication to their profession or vocation has led to significant contributions to the welfare of the Filipino nation. As the TOYM marks its 61st year, it endeavours to scour the country to highlight the emerging young minds of today’s generation.

Consonant with the mission of the project, Alfred Vargas mentioned how the TOYM helped him reach his fullest potential as a public servant as he states, “The TOYM, as an institution and a tradition, humbled me and inspired me to go beyond myself and to sacrifice personal wants for the common good”. Atom Araullo also pointed out how this event serves as an opportunity to recognize people in their line of

service. He added that “in journalism, you don’t have to just present your documentary or news article, but you have to be part of the solution by recruiting all members of the society.”

With the burgeoning socio-economic impact of the pandemic, the panelists shared their views on how this crisis affected the everyday lives of Filipinos, and how our young leaders can help contribute to the recovery of the country.

Chaye Cabal-Revilla underscored the transcendence of all sectors and areas in terms of responding to the crisis by allowing us to see those individuals and groups who really care for the betterment of the country. As for the socio-economic recovery efforts, she encouraged everyone to venture into microbusiness and entrepreneurship to sustain their lives as well as to support the local economy.

Bienvenido Tantoco III also emphasized the need to reflect on our values and actions during the pandemic stating that, “This has pushed us to live side by side with all the unknowns and unpredictability. We might go astray but remember to always reflect on our values by seeking guidance from the Lord”.

The panelists further challenged all the young leaders to step up and fill the gap in our society. By harnessing their ability to influence, listen, and collaborate, our young leaders will create a positive and tangible change for the Filipino nation, especially in these uncertain times.

The panel discussion was followed by the formal launching of the Search for TOYM 2020 where the nomination process, calendar of activities, and committee members were discussed. The call for nominations officially opened on August 15, 2020 and will close on October 24, 2020. For more details, you may follow the TOYM Philippines Facebook page or get in touch with the members of the 2020 TOYM Search Committee.

Join us in our search for The Outstanding Young Men Awards Philippines 2020!

#TOYM2020 #JCIRise