1. Who are the organizers of the Search?

1. The TOPS is a joint undertaking of the Rotary Club of Makati Metro (RCMM) and the Metrobank Foundation. The project was originally the idea of the Rotary Club of Makati Metro who established the Search in 1994 as an expression of the civilian sector’s gratitude to the AFP.

2. The Metrobank Foundation, on the other hand, has been extending grants to the various military educational institutions since 1995. In 1999, Metrobank Foundation set up a P10 Million-endowment fund for a recognition program for outstanding soldiers. It was during that time that the Metrobank Foundation partnered with the Rotary Club of Makati Metro in the conduct of the TOPS.

3. Utilizing its experience in running similar contests such as the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Foundation provided technical and logistical assistance to further improve and professionalize the competition. While the RCMM provided the insight it has gained in working with the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

2. Who can join and win in the competition?

1. The competition is open to all Officers with a rank of Captain up to Colonel and Enlisted Personnel who have actively served in the AFP for the last seven years. The nominee must also meet the following criteria: 1) Must be of good moral character 2) Must not have been charged under a criminal information pending in court or must not have a pending administrative charge given due course by any government administrative body and 3) Must not have been adjudged guilty/liable in any administrative or criminal case.

2. For the Commissioned Officer category, if the nominee is previously an Enlisted Personnel promoted to a Commissioned Officer, he/she should have served as a Commissioned Officer for at least (2) years to be eligible. For the Non-Commissioned Officer category, the nominee must not have been promoted to a rank of a Commissioned Officer until after the Final Judging Phase, which will be sometime in January 2010, to be eligible.

3. One officer and two Enlisted Personnel coming from each of the three major branches of the AFP namely Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy may win in the competition.

4. Nominee should not be due for any schooling abroad within six months upon the submission of their nomination form and supporting documents

3. What prizes will the winners receive?

Each awardee will receive a cash prize of Php 250,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation. The non-winning finalists, aside from a certificate, shall receive the amount of Php 20,000 as financial incentive, also courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.

4. Who can nominate?

1. Any of the following can nominate to the competition:

   1. Army: Commanding General, Division Commander, Brigadier Commander, Battalion Commander, Company Commander

   2. Philippine Navy: Flag Officer-in-Command, Commander Philippine Fleet, Commandant, Philippine Marines, Commander, Naval Forces, Other Major Unit Commanders

   3. Philippine Air Force: Commanding General, Major and Separate Unit Commanders

   2. Soldiers who wish to join the competition need to secure the signature of any of the above nominator above nominator.

5. How can one join?

1. Nomination forms are available at the Office of the J-1, AFP General Headquarters, all AFP Major Service Headquarters, and its major units. The forms are also available in all Metrobank Branches nationwide. The forms can also be downloaded from the Metrobank Foundation website: http://www.mbfoundation.org.ph or at the AFP website http://www.afp.mil.ph.

2. The accomplished nomination form as well as the accompanying documents of Major Services should be submitted to their respective Major Service Selection Committee Secretariat on or before SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. For the Technical Service nominees, the nomination forms as well as the accompanying documents should be submitted to the Technical Service Selection Committee, OTSG, GHQ, AFP also on SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. The nominee shall submit seven (7) copies of the nomination forms as well as the documentary requirements with the latest 2x2 photo of the nominee in seven separate folders. All required supporting documents should be on A4 bond paper (8.27” x 11.69”). The required packaging of the documents is indicated on the Guidelines in Preparing the Required Documents.

6. What clearances are required?

1. The nominee should secure clearances from the following:
   a) all pertinent AFP bodies (i.e. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2, Inspector General, Provost Marshall, Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability), b) Commission on Human Rights and c) Office of the Ombudsman

2. The nominee needs to submit only one copy of all the clearances. The deadline for the submission of the clearances is on SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. Said clearances should be submitted together with required documents.

7. Can a retired soldier join? Can one nominate a dead soldier?

No. The competition seeks to raise models of excellence within the AFP which other soldiers could emulate. The organizers also seek to restore public confidence back to the AFP. As such the organizers are looking for soldiers who are still active in the service and who could serve as examples within the AFP.

8. Can non-winning nominees/finalists join the competition again?

Yes. Nominees are encouraged to join again in the next cycle of the Search. However, soldiers who made it to the final phase for two consecutive years but did not win should have a rest year before he/she can join again. If the nominee has been a finalist the third time, he/she shall be requested to rest for two (2) years before he/she becomes eligible to join again.

9. What if the winner, after the awarding, committed acts in violation of the law and constitution?

Winners should continue to be active and serve as a model soldier even after winning the competition. If in case after the competition, the military institution would deem that a winner would prove unworthy as a model of excellence, his/her name would be removed from the roster of awardees.