RAFI Triennial awards finalists bared

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) presented the top five finalists of the 5th RAFI Triennial Awards for the Visayas and Mindanao in a public forum last June 15 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center.

The top five finalists for the individual category include Fr. Angelo Buenavides, Prof. Estrella Cantallopez, Apolinario Leyson Sr., Fr. Dennis Tamayo and Rene Vendiola.

The top five finalists for the institution category are SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc., The Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation Inc., Agri-Aqua Development Coalition-Mindanao and Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc.

The search committee headed by University of the Philippines Visayas-Tacloban dean Prof. Margarita dela Cruz selected the finalists out of the 262 nominees after a seven-month screening and assessment process.

The public forum attended by representatives of local government units, government agencies, nongovernment organizations and the academe featured a question and answer portion with the finalists of the awards program.

Conferment of awards to the winners will be on March 2012.

The RAFI Triennial Awards aims to recognize individuals and institutions who lead change in their respective communities.

Established in 1996, the awards honor the men and women who, through their efforts to bring about change and improve the lives of the less privileged, reflect the humanitarian and holistic ideals of the RAFI founders, Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz.

For more information on the RAFI Triennial Awards, contact Junette Baculfo at 418-7234 local 520.