Search on for outstanding women

The Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (Towns) Foundation is looking for a new batch of “sisters” to join its roster of exemplary women, the Towns Foundation announced in a launch in Makati on Wednesday.

“This very prestigious award is a recognition given every three years to women who excel in their fields, like law, medicine, education, science, architecture, media, tourism and others,” said Towns Foundation president Elsa Payumo.

“Our vision is women power for national development. Our mission is to recognize exemplary achievements, harness expertise to influence national issues and nurture young women leaders,” she said.

Nominees must be 21 to 45 years old by October 2016, a Filipino citizen, “distinguished in her field of specialization,” “with a well-balanced personality  worthy of emulation.”

They must also be “committed to the promotion of the well-being and upliftment of Filipinos and the Philippines” and “possess a pioneering spirit as evidenced by projects [they have] initiated in the service of the country.”

The Towns search was launched in time for the commemoration of National Towns Week, which began in 2004 by virtue of a presidential proclamation by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Among Towns’ 158 awardees since 1974 are Philippine Daily Inquirer editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc (1981) and president and CEO Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez (2007) for journalism and print media.

Other past winners include Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani (1974) for foreign service, Nora Aunor (1983) and Lisa Macuja (1989) for the performing arts, Cecile Licad (1986) for music, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (1986) and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (1998) for law, and doctors June Lopez (1989) and Raquel Fortun (2004) for medicine.

Nominations may be mailed or hand-carried to the Towns Secretariat before July 30, 2016. For details, contact Towns via e-mail at [email protected].