PGMA Honors Outstanding Soldiers of 2010

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recognized this year’s awardees of Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), an annual recognition program of the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati Metro, in ceremonies held at the Malacañang Palace on March 4.

In her message, President Arroyo, who has been honoring the Foundation’s outstanding soldiers, policemen and teachers since 2001, lauded this year’s TOPS awardees for fulfilling their sworn duty to the country and the Filipino nation. “As your Commander-in-Chief, I take pride in your commendable achievements; you are a hero indeed for keeping the flame of gallantry and heroism, and the passion for peace and democracy burning,” she said.

Consisting of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, the 2010 TOPS awardees come from the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Army, Navy, Air Force – and the Technical Services. They are Colonel Melquiades L. Feliciano, Master Sergeant Ruben N. Lucero, Master Sergeant Hercules L. Regis of the Philippine Army; Colonel Nathaniel Y. Casem, Technical Sergeant Marcelo G. Batingan, Sergeant Vicente S. Sustiverio, Jr. of the Philippine Navy; Colonel Arnold A. Mancita, Master Sergeant Leonilo L. Pedrosa, Technical Sergeant Rogelio T. Alarcon, Jr. of the Philippine Air Force; and Major Vicente G. Magaro of the Dental Service.

In his response on behalf of the awardees, Col. Feliciano expressed the importance of the TOPS award to him, his fellow awardees and to the entire AFP. “This recognition will definitely go a long way in instilling pride to us, the awardees of the Search, and in boosting our morale. It will serve as an inspiration for the patriotic men and women of our Armed Forces to bring out the best from each of them in serving our country,” he stated. “Above all,” he continued, “the honor and recognition will also work in inevitably and immensely improving the image of this country’s great institution that we are proudly a part of, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the sworn protector of the Filipino people.”

Accompanied by proud family members, each awardee received a trophy and a cash prize of P250,000 courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.

“The Metrobank Foundation continues to recognize excellence among the members of the AFP, but beyond this recognition, we want to engage all our awardees in various activities of the Foundation that contribute to the betterment of our society,” Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña said. He continued, “Through this, we hope that we will be able to empower them to become better citizens of the community.”

The awardees went through a rigorous selection process and were selected by a multi-sectoral Board of Judges chaired by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of the Supreme Court. Members included Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, Philippine Bar Association President Atty. Simeon Marcelo, Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu, and GMA Network Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Relations Society of the Philippines President Butch Raquel, APR.

The Search for TOPS is a nationwide search that aims to honor the career achievements of the exemplary members of the military and emphasize their efforts toward nation building and development.

Now on its 15th year, TOPS has already named 116 awardees, among them are seven generals, namely BGen. Francisco Cruz, Jr. (2002), BGen. Pedro Ramon Sinajon (1999), BGen. William Campos (2003), BGen. Renato Lorenzo Sanchez (1995), BGen. Cesario Atienza (2002), MGen. Lino Horacio Lapinid (1997), and MGen. Juancho Sabban (2003).

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         The 2010 TOPS awardees with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales (8th from right), then AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Victor S. Ibrado (8th from left), Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña (9th from left), members of the TOPS 2010 Final Board of Judges Butch Raquel, APR (2nd from left) and Atty. Simeon Marcelo (2nd from right), Metrobank Foundation vice chairman Dr. Placido Mapa, Jr. (extreme left) and Rotary Club of Makati Metro president Albert Guevara, III (extreme right).

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         President Arroyo and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña hand the trophy to Colonel Arnold Mancita of the Philippine Air Force during the TOPS awarding ceremonies held at the Malacañang Palace.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         President Arroyo hands the TOPS trophy to Technical Sergeant Marcelo Batingan of the Philippine Navy, while Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña looks on.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         Colonel Melquiades Feliciano of the Philippine Army delivers his response on behalf of the TOPS 2010 awardees.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         President Arroyo (center), together with (from left) then AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Victor S. Ibrado, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña and Rotary Club of Makati Metro president Albert Guevara, III, listens to the response of Colonel Feliciano on behalf of the awardees.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         The AFP senior officers also came to the awarding ceremonies to congratulate and show their support to this year’s awardees.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         Members of the diplomatic community also attended the awarding ceremonies to show their appreciation for Filipino soldiers.

Place Mouse Pointer Over Image for Larger Display         TOPS 2010 awardees take their oath as new members of The Organization of Philippine Soldiers with Outstanding Leadership, Dedication, Initiative, Excellence and Responsibility to Society (TOPSOLDIERS), the alumni organization of the TOPS awardees, while the members of the TOPSOLDIERS look on.

The Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibly arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies established by Dr. George S.K. Ty in 1979. With the theme “Excel. Engage. Empower.” the Foundation has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs, such as the Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE), The Outstanding Philippine Soldier (TOPS), Country's Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS), the Metrobank Math Challenge (MMC), and College Scholarship Program (CSP). The Foundation also engages its partners and awardees in different activities geared towards giving back to the society. Through these initiatives, the Metrobank Foundation empowers its awardees and partners to become better citizens of the community. As part of its contributions to help improve health care services in the country, Dr. Ty donated a two-hectare lot along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, costing about P1.2 billion, that would be the site of a modern tertiary medical center complex. This new hospital, once completed, will have a 1,000-bed capacity, making it one of the biggest hospitals in the country owned by a not-for-profit organization.

go to Profiles of TOPS 2010 Awardees

go to 2010 News and Announcements Archive