Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday honored 10 Filipino heroes recognized this year by the Metrobank Foundation for their excellence, integrity and dedication to public service.
In his sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution 629, Lacson lauded this year’s awardees as “Filipinos who saw a problem and, in their own way, chose to do something about it.”
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinarangalan ang 10 Natatanging Pilipino, Pinasalamatan ang mga Ordinaryong Bayani sa Serbisyong Pampubliko
“The 10 Outstanding Filipinos before us are a good reminder that we do not need the highest office in government to be catalysts for positive change. We do not have to be famous to be remembered. We do not have to wait for perfect circumstances before we start doing what is right,” he said.
“We thank you for choosing service again and again. We salute you for choosing excellence. And above all, thank you for showing us that not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes, they wear government IDs,” he added, addressing the 10 awardees.
Lacson chaired the board of judges for this year’s awards, alongside co-chair Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez. Other members of the panel included former Senator and current Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, Philippine Business for Social Progress Chairperson Manolito Tayag and broadcast journalist Pinky Webb.
Skip to PDF contentThe 2026 awardees include four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers. They are:
* Dr. Emmanuel D. Guarde, Master Teacher III at Cornelio Lintawagin Memorial Elementary School in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, the first member of the Alangan Mangyan indigenous tribe to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Lacson cited Guarde’s efforts to preserve and advance indigenous knowledge and heritage while carrying on his parents’ legacy of service to their community.
* Engr. Sheila Marie M. Amigo, Master Teacher I at Siay National High School in Zamboanga Sibugay, who developed the Dynamic Utilization of Learning by Amusement (DULA), an innovative approach that allows students to experience and appreciate science through play.
* Dr. Cecilia O. Bucayong, Professor VI and Director for Environmental and Safety Management at Central Mindanao University, recognized for her work in physics education and her 3D Instructional Apparatus, an invention that has earned various recognitions.
* Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, Professor VI and Dean of the College of Engineering at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, honored for his contributions to engineering education, research and innovation, particularly in microelectronics.
* S/Sgt. Joebelle O. Cerdinio (SC) of the Philippine Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, who established a unified radio network covering 16 municipalities, strengthening communication and emergency response capabilities in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
* S/Sgt. John Daren P. Noche of the Philippine Air Force in Butuan City who developed digital systems for personnel accountability, armory management and mission risk assessment after teaching himself computer programming, helping make Air Force operations safer and more efficient.
* Lt. Col. Rommel M. Geli of the Philippine Marine Corps, who was cited for his leadership in territorial defense and peacebuilding, particularly in high-tension areas involving the West Philippine Sea and the Kalayaan Island Group.
* Police M/Sgt. Dwight Alexis Supsupin, team leader of the Technical Support Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 in La Trinidad, Benguet, cited for innovative community-policing initiatives including Sulat Kamay, Turismo, Hindi Terorismo, and Kaalaman at Kapayapaan.
* Police Maj. Baby Rose P. Cajulao of Cagayan Valley, cited for her community empowerment initiatives, including Project Manang BIDAY, an award-winning anti-illegal-drug advocacy program inspired by the Ilocano folk song “Manang Biday.”
* Police Lt. Col. Robert Mansueto, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration of the Antique Police Provincial Office under Police Regional Office 6, cited for developing digital systems such as the Traffic Information and Monitoring System and the Barangay e-Blotter System to promote road safety and strengthen community collaboration.
*****
Lacson, Pinarangalan ang 10 Natatanging Pilipino, Pinasalamatan ang mga Ordinaryong Bayani sa Serbisyong Pampubliko
Pinarangalan ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules ang 10 bayaning Pilipino na kinilala ngayong taon ng Metrobank Foundation dahil sa kanilang kahusayan, integridad at dedikasyon sa paglilingkod sa bayan.
Sa kanyang sponsorship speech para sa Senate Resolution 629, pinuri ni Lacson ang mga awardee ngayong taon bilang mga Pilipinong nakakita ng problema at gumawa ng paraan para tugunan ito.
“The 10 Outstanding Filipinos before us are a good reminder that we do not need the highest office in government to be catalysts for positive change. We do not have to be famous to be remembered. We do not have to wait for perfect circumstances before we start doing what is right,” aniya.
“We thank you for choosing service again and again. We salute you for choosing excellence. And above all, thank you for showing us that not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes, they wear government IDs,” dagdag niya sa 10 awardee.
Naging chairman ng board of judges si Lacson para sa mga parangal ngayong taon, kasama si Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez bilang co-chair. Kabilang naman sa iba pang miyembro ng panel sina dating senador at kasalukuyang Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, Philippine Business for Social Progress Chairperson Manolito Tayag at broadcast journalist Pinky Webb.
Kabilang sa 2026 awardee ang apat na guro, tatlong sundalo at tatlong pulis. Sila ay:
* Dr. Emmanuel D. Guarde, Master Teacher III sa Cornelio Lintawagin Memorial Elementary School sa Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, at unang miyembro ng katutubong Alangan Mangyan tribe na nakakuha ng Doctor of Philosophy degree. Binanggit ni Lacson ang pagsisikap ni Guarde na mapangalagaan at mapaunlad ang kaalaman at pamana ng mga katutubo habang ipinagpapatuloy ang pamana ng paglilingkod ng kanyang mga magulang sa kanilang komunidad.
* Engr. Sheila Marie M. Amigo, Master Teacher I sa Siay National High School sa Zamboanga Sibugay, na bumuo ng Dynamic Utilization of Learning by Amusement (DULA), isang makabagong pamamaraan na nagbibigay-daan sa mga estudyante na matutuhan at pahalagahan ang agham sa pamamagitan ng paglalaro.
* Dr. Cecilia O. Bucayong, Professor VI at Director for Environmental and Safety Management sa Central Mindanao University, na kinilala dahil sa kanyang mga ambag sa physics education at sa kanyang 3D Instructional Apparatus, isang imbensiyong nakatanggap na ng iba’t ibang pagkilala.
* Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, Professor VI at Dean ng College of Engineering ng Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, na pinarangalan dahil sa kanyang mga ambag sa engineering education, research at innovation, partikular sa microelectronics.
* S/Sgt. Joebelle O. Cerdinio (SC) ng 102nd Infantry Brigade ng Philippine Army, na nagtatag ng unified radio network na sumasaklaw sa 16 na munisipalidad, na nagpalakas sa komunikasyon at kakayahan sa pagtugon sa emergency sa Zamboanga Peninsula.
* S/Sgt. John Daren P. Noche ng Philippine Air Force sa Butuan City, na bumuo ng mga digital system para sa personnel accountability, armory management at mission risk assessment matapos matutong mag-program ng computer sa sarili niyang pagsisikap, na nakatulong upang maging mas ligtas at episyente ang mga operasyon ng Air Force.
* Lt. Col. Rommel M. Geli ng Philippine Marine Corps, na kinilala dahil sa kanyang pamumuno sa territorial defense at peacebuilding, partikular sa mga lugar na may mataas na tensiyon sa West Philippine Sea at Kalayaan Island Group.
* Police M/Sgt. Dwight Alexis Supsupin, team leader ng Technical Support Company ng Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 sa La Trinidad, Benguet, na kinilala dahil sa mga makabago niyang community-policing initiative kabilang ang Sulat Kamay, Turismo, Hindi Terorismo, at Kaalaman at Kapayapaan.
* Police Maj. Baby Rose P. Cajulao ng Cagayan Valley, na kinilala dahil sa kanyang mga programa para sa community empowerment, kabilang ang Project Manang BIDAY, isang award-winning anti-illegal-drug advocacy program na hango sa Ilocano folk song na “Manang Biday.”
* Police Lt. Col. Robert Mansueto, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration ng Antique Police Provincial Office sa ilalim ng Police Regional Office 6, na kinilala dahil sa pagbuo ng mga digital system tulad ng Traffic Information and Monitoring System at Barangay e-Blotter System upang itaguyod ang kaligtasan sa kalsada at palakasin ang pagtutulungan ng mga komunidad.
*****