BY JOSE PAOLO DELA CRUZ & ALEX VERGARA
PeopleAsia’s “People of the Year” awardees sparked hope and shared their awards with frontliners, public servants and the rest of the country during the magazine’s first purely virtual awards ceremony.
Leading this year’s roster is Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who received a Special Award for Public Service. She shared the recognition with volunteers and staff of the Office of the Vice President, as well as other frontliners.
“We have proven that no one succeeds in his/her journey alone. Our journey towards a more responsive, advocacy-driven office geared towards uplifting the lives of our people could only be made possible through a vast constellation of efforts,” she said.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez also accepted a Special Award for Public Service, after he helped strike a difficult balance between lives and livelihood by adopting and implementing smart, responsive strategies for reopening the economy in 2020 and beyond. “My gratitude goes to our president, Rodrigo Duterte, for the inspiration to always give our best and sincere service to the Filipino people, especially the marginalized sectors,” he said.
Meanwhile, People’s Choice Awardee Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto also inspired with his short but meaningful speech. “I know that there are other individuals, Filipinos who are more deserving of this award. Nevertheless, I hope this award not only serves to recognize my efforts, but also serves as an inspiration for more leaders, particularly young leaders, in our country to serve with honesty and excellence,” Sotto said, in the vernacular.
This year’s “People of the Year” awardees also included The Philippine STAR editor-in-chief Ana Marie Pamintuan, Deputy House Speaker Rep. Mikee Romero, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital director Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi, Pilipinas Shell president Cesar Romero, AC Energy president and CEO Eric Francia, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chief finance officer and chief sustainability officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla, I-FERN’s president and CEO Tommanny Tan and Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla.
Alice Eduardo, president and CEO of Sta. Elena Construction Corp. was named “Builder of the Year”; while HSBC, represented by CEO Graham FitzGerald took home the “Bank of the Year” award.
Accepting his award from the “trenches of the battle against COVID-19” at the UP-PGH, Legaspi, the neurosurgeon-turned-Covid fighter said in his speech: “The greatest dream we make of ourselves is the dream we make for others.”
Speaking from the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, PeopleAsia publisher president and CEO (on leave) Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez also said: “Our awardees are extraordinary individuals, who are making a positive change in the lives of people.”
Hope: ‘Believe in it. Be it. Spark it’
Designed to light a spark of hope in extraordinary times, the “People of the Year 2021” Virtual Awards Night traded in the glitter of a traditional awards night to train the spotlight on hope and resilience.
“In sparking hope we ignite light – light that we hope will brighten our days and nights… So tonight, you can look up at the skies and see not just a glimmer of hope but a constellation of hope. Believe in it. Be it. Spark it,” said PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez in her opening remarks.
One of the night’s most touching moments was a musical tribute featuring hardworking frontliners. Jasmine Fitzgerald sang “Hero” as photos of valiant frontliners – priests, doctors, nurses, grocery workers, construction workers, volunteers and more – lit up the screens of viewers in their respective homes.
Musical numbers by Jon Joven and the Marcy David Band, along with a two-time “People of the Year” awardee who performed live, also buoyed the spirits of viewers in the show, which has reached more than 170,000 Facebook Users, as of this writing, since it aired last April 12.
Glittering gowns and winding red carpets took a backseat as the “People of the Year” and select VIP guests from the diplomatic corps, business, political and entertainment circles joined forces in an inspiring event held in the midst of the pandemic.
PeopleAsia’s “People of the Year” 2021 Awards Night is co-presented by PLDT Home, Pilipinas Shell and Hilton Manila; and brought to you by major sponsors Lueur Lauren, Brilliant Skin Essentials, Sunlife Canada Philippines Inc., KMV Asia, HSBC Philippines, Converge ICT, Sta. Elena Construction & Development Corp. and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.; as well as Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and The Philippine STAR.
