Inquirer’s Dumlao, Tan lead TOYM awardees

DUMLAO

TAN

MANILA, Philippines–A business reporter, a lawyer, two mayors, an agricultural engineer and a doctor make up this year’s awardees of The Outstanding Young Men (and Women) of the Philippines.

All six TOYM awardees “are true models of exceptional young Filipinos worth emulation by the young generation and the nation in general,” the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines said in a statement.

On Monday night, JCI Philippines, together with the TOYM Foundation and the Gerry Roxas Foundation, concluded the much-awaited search for the country’s best and brightest people, ages 40 and below.

This year’s TOYM honorees were led by Inquirer’s veteran business reporter Ma. Doris Dumlao who was recognized for her work in the field of journalism.

Dumlao is the Inquirer business section’s most senior reporter, and has won recognition for her journalism both here and abroad.

She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for the class of 2014, Asia Society’s Asia 21 summit in 2011, and was named by Google one of the 20 most influential Filipino women in 2011, based on online queries.

Dumlao is a 1994 political science graduate of the University of the Philippines, and has been with the Inquirer since 1997.

Inquirer columnist

Also recognized Monday night were Biñan City Mayor Marlyn B. Alonte-Naguiat for government and public service; Jessie Pascual P. Bitog for agricultural engineering; Liloan, Cebu, Mayor Vincent Franco D. Frasco for public administration; Dr. John Mark S. Velasco for medical science and public health; and Oscar Franklin B. Tan for the field of law.

Tan contributed essays on law, politics, love and travel to the Inquirer’s Opinion pages for the past two years, and now writes a weekly column, “Sisyphus’ Lament.”

Tan spoke for his Harvard law class at their graduation in 2007.

He chaired the board of editors of the Philippine Law Journal in 2005 and set a record of eight legal writing prizes. He double-majored in management engineering and economics (with honors) at Ateneo.

He now teaches constitutional and securities law at University of the East and San Beda Graduate School of Law, and chairs the Philippine Bar Association’s committee on constitutional law.

“This year’s theme, ‘Changing the Future through Excellence,’ has brought our great honorees in this year’s search,” JCI said in a statement. “TOYM recognizes these six exemplary individuals who, beyond concern, have brought service to others, beyond their talent exuded excellence, beyond their position shone leadership, and beyond their achievement have grown greatness.”

This year’s TOYM search committee gathered nominations from all over the Philippines submitted by individuals and organizations.

Search committee

The yearlong search was supported by JCI Philippines national president Christine Garcia and was chaired by lawyer Mark Lester Manalo.

JCI Philippines’ search committee members included Ernest Hernandez, Jeffrey Coronel, Voltaire Zalamea, Angelo Daniel Parcon and Ana Cecilia Palma.

This year’s search brought out six honorees from different categories. Nominations were screened by a panel composed of past TOYM honorees chaired by Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon who was the 2011 TOYM awardee for community development.

The screening committee also had as members Emerson Atanacio (2013 TOYM honoree for social entrepreneurship); Francisco Enrique Jay Bernardo III (2003 honoree for entrepreneurship); Raul Destura (2011 honoree for medical science and biotechnology); Alonzo Gabriel (2013 honoree for food science technology); Harvey Keh (2010 honoree for public education and good governance); and Christopher John Alandy Tiu (2013 honoree for youth leadership and development).

After that, the prescreened candidates were evaluated by the board of judges chaired by Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto, with Miguel Belmonte, Jesus Dureza, Fr. Aloysius Maranan, Manuel Orig, Rep. Romero Quimbo and Rep. Paulino Salvador sitting as members.

The TOYM awards was initiated by the Manila Jaycees in 1959. In 1973, the Gerry Roxas Foundation came onboard as a cosponsor, and in 1996, the awards’ name was changed to The Outstanding Young Filipino, and finally reverting back to TOYM in 1999.

Over the years, the TOYM has become an institution, having developed a reputation for its high standards in selecting outstanding members of the Filipino youth between the ages of 18 to 40 for their selfless dedication to their profession or vocation which resulted in significant contributions to the welfare of the country.

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