President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday honored the country’s outstanding young leaders and urged them to continue leading with integrity and compassion in their respective fields.
In his speech delivered by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto during the awarding ceremony of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 2025 in Malacañang, Marcos said the awardees embodied an emboldened generation whose work was driven by purpose and whose impact already shapes communities and institutions across the country.
“Through your work, and more importantly, the impact you have created, I am confident that the Philippines is in good hands,” Marcos said.
The President also said that excellence must go beyond personal achievement and translate into concrete service to the nation.
“In this age of the Bagong Pilipinas, excellence must be in our every endeavor so we can have a lasting impact on the lives of our fellow citizens,” he added.
Marcos reminded the awardees that leadership demands conviction and compassion, urging them to continue using their talents for the benefit of others.
“Always keep in mind that excellence becomes possible when we choose to use our talents in the service of others,” he said.
Marcos also cited the diverse advocacies and fields represented by this year’s honorees, from defending indigenous peoples’ rights and restoring forests with partner communities, to advancing climate and mental health research and leading scientific expeditions in Philippine waters.
The President first honored lawyer Raymond Marvic Baguilat for using his legal expertise to defend indigenous peoples and ensure that their rights are integrated into the country’s legal and educational systems.
He also recognized Rafael Ignacio Dionisio for his innovative efforts in empowering the Aeta communities in Zambales by restoring forests and building sustainable livelihoods that promote people’s welfare and protect the environment.
Marcos commended John Jamir Benzon Aruta for pioneering work that connects climate change and mental health, establishing an institution that highlights how environmental loss affects well-being, particularly in the Global South.
He likewise lauded Deo Florence Onda, an oceanographer, for his achievements as the first Filipino to reach the Emden Deep, the third deepest point on Earth, for leading scientific expeditions in the West Philippine Sea, and for advancing critical research on marine plastic pollution and microbial ecology.
Each awardee, he said, demonstrated that leadership anchored on purpose can uplift the marginalized and contribute to national progress.
“In you, we see an emboldened generation that is guided by purpose and committed to service,” the President said.
Marcos thanked the Junior Chamber International Philippines and the TOYM Foundation for sustaining a tradition that challenges young Filipinos to serve and succeed.
The President encouraged young Filipinos to draw inspiration from the awardees and to hold themselves to the highest standards, stressing that excellence becomes possible when talents are used in the service of others.
“May we never lose sight of the reason why we do this work, why we serve, and why we wake up each day, and that is to build a better tomorrow for all,” he said.
TOYM is an annual national recognition given to Filipinos aged 18 to 40 and is organized by JCI Philippines with the support of the TOYM Foundation and partner organizations.
Established in 1959, the TOYM Awards have recognized hundreds of outstanding young Filipinos whose achievements continue to inspire future generations.