2012 Happiest Pinoy Award : And the Winner is...

Trouble, crisis, setback, obstacle, problem, trial, these are just the problem some of the things that we goes through everyday in our life. And yet despite of this thing, we still find happiness along the way. That’s a trait we Pinoys are known for all over the world.

Last Sept 18, 2012, the Rizal Room of Shangri-La Makati was filled with the Happiest Pinoy that you could find in our country.

 

ROMMEL E. ARELLANO has emerged as this year’s Happiest Pinoy, besting 9 other finalists and over 13,000 nominees nationwide to take home a trophy and more than PhP250,000 in cash prizes.

 The search for the Happiest Pinoy is a flagship campaign of the Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS). It seeks to find the most optimistic and resilient Filipino despite life’s challenges in the hopes of inspiring other people to do the same.

Present during the awarding ceremony at the Makati Shang-ri La Hotel were P.J. Lhuillier Inc. (PJLI) chairman and ambassador to Portugal Philippe Jones Lhuillier, PJLI president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, PJLI corporate communications group head Marissa Ancog and first Happiest Pinoy awardee Winston Maximo.

The Search for the Happiest Pinoy finalists included student leader Arnel Alipao, family counselor Gilda Fortunata Altez, inspirational speaker Rommel Arellano, peace coordinator Connie Emborong, teachers Marcelo Otinguey and Concepcion Tababa, college instructor John Gabriel Pelias, entrepreneurs Gerald Raymundo and Rebecca Tiu Conco and utility worker Leonardo Villanueva.

HAPPIEST PINOY 2012

HONOREES’ PROFILE

ARNEL B. ALIPAO

19, Student Leader/Environmentalist, Surigao del Norte

Graduated Valedictorian in both elementary and secondary level despite family’s financial difficulties

Keeps his passion to serve despite having lost and being ridiculed when he ran for SK Chair position

Youth Leader,  Surigao People’s Initiative Development Association (SNPDIDA), an assisted project of the World Vision Philippines

Philippine Representative, United Nations General Assembly on the Thematic Debate on Disaster Risk Reduction in New York, USA.

Listed as one of the Ten  (10) Inspiring People in 2011 by  Manila Bulletin

 

GILDA FORTUNATA G. ALTEZ

52, Marriage and Family Counselor, Manila

Had to make both ends meet for her five (5) children as a single parent

Strived hard to start her own on-line free counseling

Advocates for the restoration of broken marriages, families and homes  and for improving relationships

Initiated and supported various outreach projects for indigents and victims of calamities

President/CEO, World Letters Assurance Society Inc., Founder and Manager Director, A Voice in the Storm Counseling Advocacy

ROMMEL E. ARELLANO

35, Employee, Bataan

Afflicted with polio affecting his lower extremities  at  childhood and walked with “tsinelas” on his hands

Experienced various discrimination during his school days and in getting employment

His condition is his personal crusade to inspire and counsel people who are losing hope in life.

Speaker/resource person/lecturer on leadership, values education, team building, stress management, etc.

President of Persons with Disability (PWD)  Organization in his community

CONNIE A. EMBORONG

33, Peace Coordinator, Lanao del Norte

Consistent student leader in college and a practicing meditator

Peace Education Coordinator promoting the happy co-existence between Muslims and Christians in Lanao

Recipient of various national and international  grants on peace building

Philippine delegate to international fora on promoting culture of peace  and on non-violent communication

Resource speaker and curriculum writer on  peace education, gender development and children’s rights

MARCELO T. OTINGUEY

40, Teacher, Benguet

Worked as a bakery helper to support his school needs at age 12

Initiated literacy and cultural campaigns, organized donation drives for indigent communities

TESDA and DOLE Skills community- based training coordinator and facilitator

2000 Regional Representative to the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program

Recipient, 2005 Lingkod Bayan/ Presidential Award from the Civil Service Commission

JOHN GABRIEL P.  PELIAS

20, College Instructor,  Quezon City

Raised by his Lola Sandra, he is a living proof that  poverty is not an obstacle to achieve and excel 

Graduated Valedictorian in High School and  Summa cum laude with the degree BS Mathematics from University of the Phillipines in Diliman (UP-Diliman)

Highest General Weighted Average (GWA) in the history of UP Diliman after the World War II – 1.016 GWA

Chose to stay as an instructor  in UP Diliman despite lucrative job offers from various companies

Listed as one of the  Ten (10)  Inspiring People in 2011 by Manila Bulletin

GERALD D. RAYMUNDO

45, Entrepreneur, Pasig City

Had  spinal cord injury which left him permanently disabled, has renal failure and Steven Johnson Syndrome

 Motivational speaker and lecturer on livelihood and leadership for the physically-challenged

Featured in Bo Sanchez’s book, 40 Stories of Passion

Director,  Leonard Chesire Disability- Philippine Foundation, Inc (a UK-funded organization)

President/ CEO,  Raymundo’s Trophies and Sculptures

CONCEPCION T. TABABA

57, Teacher, Iloilo

As Alternative Learning System (ALS) Coordinator, she travels to far-flung villages where many have not seen a book 

Introduced the BAOL (Barangay Aid on Literacy) program or community mobile library

Institutionalized non- formal learning through nine (9) Community Learning Centers in Tubungan

Recipient, 2008  Most Outstanding District Alternative Learning School (ALS) Coordinator of the Philippines Award

Honoree, , 2011 Bato Balani Foundation and Diwa Learning’s “The Many Faces of the Teacher”

REBECCA O. TIU SONCO

65, Entrepreneur, Eastern Samar

Took care of her husband who was in coma for 14 years,  espoused environmental causes, women empowerment and  initiated support system projects  for victims of calamities

President, Girls Scouts of the Philippines Local Board

President, Rotary Club of Borongan and Paul Harris Fellow, the Rotary Foundation

Recipient, 1999 Outstanding Rotarian President for Zone II-A  

Recipient, 2007 National “Ulirang Ina” Award

LEONARDO D. VILLANUEVA

40, Utility Worker, Malabon City

Afflicted with asthma but always admired  for his kindness, diligence  and sunny disposition

Lost his mother after she gave birth to his sister at age 7

Didn’t finish high school because he had to help his father for their daily subsistence

Worked as a car wash boy  and  employed as janitor in Tinajeros Elementary School since 1988

Received various recognition for his service from Tinajeros Elementary School