I USED to have a radio show called “Remoto Control,” which ran for nine long years at Radyo 5, before I flew to the United States on a writing fellowship. I did not just make sly comments about the news, read poems and stories, or discussed essays and history. I also invited outstanding teachers, cops and soldiers to my show, some of whom have won recognition in the search for exemplary Filipinos of the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI).
The MBFI handed out their most recent awards at a ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Manila on Sept. 4, 2026, as the highlight of Metrobank’s 64th anniversary celebration.
Chosen from hundreds of nominations nationwide, four teachers, three soldiers and three police officers were recognized for demonstrating how dedication, integrity, courage and compassion can create meaningful change beyond the usual demands of their professions.
Each awardee received P1 million, net of tax; a golden medallion; and “The Flame” trophy. In his opening remarks, Metrobank President Fabian Dee highlighted the values behind the recognition. He said: “Their achievements remind us that success is built on accountability, discipline and a commitment to serving others well.” For the teacher-awardees, teaching became a way to open opportunities for learners, particularly those in underserved and geographically isolated communities.
In Oriental Mindoro, Dr. Emmanuel Guarde spent 16 years working with the Alangan Mangyan community to develop culture-based education that preserves indigenous language, stories and traditions. Beyond the classroom, he helped establish a primary school and mobilize resources for teachers and learning facilities, while advancing initiatives in sanitation, solar lighting, health care and livelihood.
In Zamboanga Sibugay, engineer Sheila Marie Amigo made physics more accessible through her “Dynamic Utilization of Learning by Amusement” initiative, which uses low-cost and recycled materials to turn difficult concepts into interactive learning experiences. What began with 15 learners eventually reached over 3,000 students. She also mentored more than 200 teachers and guided student researchers toward national and international recognition.
In Bukidnon, Dr. Cecilia Bucayong spent nearly three decades making physics tangible for Filipino learners. Her patented instructional apparatus has been adopted by 21 institutions across Mindanao, reaching more than 6,000 students and 500 educators. Through a rural-based international science engagement platform, Physics Meetup, she connects Filipino learners and educators, scientists and physicists around the world.
Meanwhile, in Iligan City, Dr. Jefferson Hora helped advance Mindanao’s role in semiconductor research and education. He led the expansion of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s microelectronics laboratory into the Center for Integrated Circuits Design in 2023, creating opportunities for students and researchers to engage in integrated circuit design. His research initiatives have mobilized more than P100 million in national and international funding, resulting in 72 Scopus-indexed publications and four Philippine patent filings.
When duty demands more
The three soldier awardees showed that service can also mean finding new ways to contribute when circumstances change.
SSgt. Joebelle Cerdinio SC (PA) was seriously wounded during the 2017 Marawi Siege and later declared unfit for combat. He redirected his expertise toward military communications, co-developing the GESCON command-and-control platform, which reduced information-processing time by more than 50 percent. In Zamboanga Sibugay, he also helped establish a unified radio network that trained over 250 operators, strengthened emergency response across 16 municipalities and served approximately 670,000 residents.
For Staff Sgt. John Daren Noche PAF, service meant solving problems beyond his formal training. Without a background in programming, he taught himself to code and developed three digital systems that cut the time required to account for firearms by 50 percent. This also reduced personnel processing time by 90 percent and shortened mission risk assessments from hours to seconds, benefiting 483 military personnel. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he became his unit’s sole certified swabber and response point person, helping protect military personnel, their families and civilian passengers.
In Palawan, Lt. Col. Rommel Geli PN(M) drew on 22 years of military service to strengthen maritime surveillance and intelligence amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Since 2013, he has advanced intelligence-gathering through indigenous boats and developed a Maritime Domain Awareness framework and satellite-enabled system for real-time surveillance and coordination.
Beyond defense, he has led literacy, educational, medical and youth initiatives, bringing Marines into communities where security and development go hand in hand.
When policing becomes a partnership
For the three police awardees, public safety goes beyond crime response. Their careers showed how trust, prevention, communication and community participation can be just as important to public safety.
Police Master Sgt. Dwight Alexis Supsupin developed the Sulat Kamay Program to help young people build resilience against extremist influence through values formation, school partnerships and community engagement. Other initiatives he led strengthened police-community dialogue, public information, peace education and youth resilience in the Cordillera.
In Cagayan, Police Maj. Baby Rose Cajulao placed women at the forefront of community-based drug prevention through Project Manang BIDAY, mobilizing more than 1,300 trained advocates across communities. Her work also covers scholarships for aspiring law enforcers, child protection, youth empowerment and community resilience.
And in Antique, Police Lt. Col. Robert Mansueto used technology and collaboration to improve police services. His work on the Traffic Information and Monitoring System and Barangay e-Blotter System strengthened data-driven policing, while his road safety initiatives brought together law enforcement agencies, local governments, schools and communities around a shared responsibility for public safety.
The stories of the 2026 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos are different, but they converge on one idea: Excellence becomes meaningful when it creates opportunities and improves the lives of others.
Guided by the philanthropic vision of Metrobank founder Dr. George Ty, the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos program has recognized exemplary professionals since 1985. With this year’s awardees, the program has now honored 735 Outstanding Filipinos over 41 years.
The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos program honors these contributions as a reminder that nation-building is rarely a single grand act. More often, it is built through years of commitment and sacrifice. And that may be the clearest measure of what it means to be outstanding.
In the context of today’s depressing news about thieving politicians, this project shows there are still people with sterling qualities who live among us. They are all heroes.
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As a development organization, the MBFI aims to uplift individuals and the sectors they represent and strategically link with institutions for a shared purpose. By creating and propagating a culture of excellence and providing solutions to stakeholder’s needs, the foundation continuously expands its scope of reach to be at the forefront of serving communities.