The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 Search for Outstanding Government Workers through its Regional Offices, with the online submission deadline set for March 31, 2024.

As part of the government’s rewards and incentives mechanism under the Honor Awards Program (HAP), the annual search aims to recognize civil servants who have shown utmost dedication and commitment to their work, as well as to inspire other state employees toward deeper involvement in public service.

All government workers in the career and non-career service including appointive barangay officials may be nominated. Employees who are under Job Order or Contract of Service are excluded from the coverage of the program.

Civil servants with exceptional achievements of national impact may be nominated for the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, while those whose contributions resulted in innovations, digital transformation, or other positive changes within their region, agency, or department are eligible for the CSC Pagasa Award.

Meanwhile, public servants who consistently displayed exemplary and ethical behavior in the face of risk or temptation inherent in their work may be nominated to the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan) category.

Posthumous nomination may also be accepted for public servants who died in the line of duty or in the pursuit of their official duties and responsibilities. The nomination must be made within 12 months from the time of death.

Awardees will be entitled to rewards and incentives, including cash prizes, automatic promotion or salary increase equivalent to the next higher position, one-time executive check-up, and scholarship opportunities with any of CSC’s partner educational institutions, among others.

The complete guidelines and nomination forms are available and may be downloaded from the CSC website.

The Search for Outstanding Government Workers is mandated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and implemented pursuant to Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987; Executive Order No. 501, series of 1992, as amended by Executive Order No. 77, series of 1993; and Republic Act No. 6713. As provided under Section 35, Chapter 5, Book V of the Administrative Code of 1987, the CSC shall act as the HAP Secretariat and shall conduct the annual search for public exemplars.

For questions and clarifications, contact the Honor Awards Program Secretariat through email at hapsecretariat@csc.gov.ph; or email the CSC’s Contact Center ng Bayan at email@contactcenterngbayan.gov.ph or text 0908-88-16565. – Rappler.com

In an exciting effort to convene the brilliant young minds of the 21st century and emphasize the pivotal role of integrated circuit (IC) design in the Philippines, Xinyx Design sponsored “Xinyx Unlocked 2023,” a nationwide sandbox competition for engineering students studying microelectronics.

“Xinyx Unlocked is our way to promote IC design as a promising, innovative, and fast-growing career path that our next generation of graduates need to be aware of. Filipino engineers are world-class and always in demand. We need to elevate the field of engineering and develop design thinking in our students so that we can compete in the regional and global market,” said Charade Avondo, Xinyx Design president and general manager.

The following teams and their respective entries are the big winners of the Xynix Unlocked 2023 nationwide contest:

Grand Prize – First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH)

• Contest Entry: “GESTULEARN: HAND TRACKING AND GESTURE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY FOR ASSISTIVE TEACHING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION”
• Engr. Adonis S. Santos, Mentor
• Ivan Renz T. Eser, Lead
• Vianca Dhenise D. Vergara, Member 1
• Jafeth C. Estocado, Member 2

1st Runner Up – Mindanao State University – General Santos (MSU-GENSAN)

• Contest Entry: “FPGA-BASED NEAR-INFRARED GLUCOMETER WITH APP INTEGRATION”
• Cristina P. Dadula, Mentor
• Dr. Ryan Banal, Mentor
• Laurenz Clyde A. Garcia, Lead
• Kenneth Arnyl F. Diaz, Member 1
• Kimbian S. Lim, Member 2

2nd Runner Up – Caraga State University (CSU)

• Contest Entry – “DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FLOATING SOLAR PLATFORM”
• Engr. Jeffrey T. Dellosa, Mentor
• Ricky Pie Resonable, Lead   
• Harvey L. Ablagador, Member 1
• Jesryniel Plaza, Member 2
• Jocelyn Llorente, Member 3

Winners were awarded the following: Grand Prize – P70,000; 1st Runner-Up – P20,000; 2nd Runner-Up – P10,000. The winning team receives a monthly stipend of P10,000 for two academic years.

Launched with the theme “From Problems to Possibilities: Building Tomorrow’s Cities Today,” this inaugural competition underscores the necessity for inventive solutions in urban development anchored on microelectronics. Through this, Xinyx also aims to spark the interest of the younger generation in this crucial industry and encourage them to maximize their talents for economic and social development.

According to Statista, revenue in the integrated circuits market is projected to reach US$5.35 billion in 2023 with a projected annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 11.50%, resulting in a market volume of US$8.27 billion by 2027. However, the Semiconductor Industry Association in Washington released a study revealing that the United States faces a significant shortfall of 70,000 technicians, computer scientists, and engineers in the semiconductor industry by 2030.

A total of 58 entries were received from state colleges and universities nationwide.

Luzon

• First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Finalist)
• Cavite State University – CCAT Campus (Finalist)
• University of Batangas
• Batangas State University – The National Engineering University Alangilan Campus (Finalist)
• Colegio de Muntinlupa (Finalist)

Visayas

• Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas

Mindanao

• Caraga State University (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University – Main (Marawi) (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University – General Santos (Finalist)
• Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
• University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

– Rappler.com

Five communicators will be honored with the 2023 Gawad Gloria Feliciano — also known as the Glory Award — after being selected as outstanding alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UPCMC).

The 2023 awardees are Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (multimedia journalism), Maria Lourdes B. Cabaero (community journalism), Martika Ramirez Escobar (independent filmmaking), Atty. Rowena E.V. Daroy-Morales (public service) and Paz Verdades M. Santos (cultural preservation).

Like the previous awardees, they will receive sculpted trophies designed by UP professor emeritus Dr. Gigi Javier-Alfonso.

“The five winners emerged from a long list of deserving nominees this year. Seven jurors voted for them based on the excellence and impact of their work in various mass communication and allied fields,” said Malou Choa-Fagar, president of the UPCMC Alumni Association which administers the alumni recognition program.

Now on its seventh year, the annual Glory Awards will be presented during the UPCMC Alumni Homecoming on November 11, 2023, at the UP Film Institute in UP Diliman.

This year’s Glory Awards jury of peers was composed of former UPCMC dean and communication research professor Dr. Elena E. Pernia; 2021 Glory Awardee for Corporate Communication Marlu Balmaceda; OneNews anchor and 2017 Glory Awardee for Journalism Roby Alampay; GMA News Senior Consultant and 2018 Glory Awardee for Broadcast Journalism Grace de la Peña-Reyes; UP Vice President for Public Affairs and former UPCMC dean Dr. Roland Tolentino; UP Broadcast Communication and Media Studies professor Dr. Daphne Tatiana Tolentino-Canlas; and former ABS-CBN and CNN Philippines news director Jing Magsaysay, who represents the family of Dr. Gloria Feliciano, the founding dean from 1965 to 1985 of UP’s mass communication program, in whose name the award was dedicated.

UPCMC alumni homecoming tickets will be available at the venue for P1,000 each to cover the dinner, awards show, raffle participation, and alumni membership fee. Singer-songwriter Jay Durias of South Border will be the featured performing artist along with acoustic duo Dindo & Ryan.

The 2023 Winners

Lynda Jumilla-Abalos

Lynda Jumilla-Abalos covered and presented the news for more than three decades — on print for the Philippine Star, the Manila Times, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and on television, radio, and digital platforms. She received the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship in 2012, the first TV journalist to be awarded since the fellowship was established in 1997 by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines. She became executive editor of ABS CBN News Digital in 2019 with responsibility for the editorial content and strategic direction of its news website, social media accounts, video channels and other digital properties before her retirement in 2023.

Nini Cabaero

Nini Cabaero is a pioneer and advocate of digital transformation initiatives in Philippine community journalism. She was director of content for the integrated digital newsroom of SunStar, the only network of community newspapers in the Philippines, and was editor-in-chief of the media group’s flagship newspaper, SunStar Cebu. Nini was a Sandra Burton–Nieman Fellow from 2013 to 2014 during which she spent an academic year at Harvard University and took courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In retirement from full-time work, she still pursues journalism but in a different capacity as a consultant-resource speaker on the integration of print and website newsrooms, online audience measurement, and strategies for managing a digital transition.

Filmmaker-cinematographer Marty Escobar has impressed juries worldwide with her well- thought-out narratives and sharp eye for detail. In 2022 she became the first Philippine director to win at the Sundance Film Festival — the largest independent film festival in the United States — where her first feature film Leonor Will Never Die was the first Filipino film to compete since Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros in 2006. Sundance jurors gave her the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit for her 99-minute homage to vintage Filipino action movies. The film has garnered eight other international recognitions and was distributed in theaters in the US, UK, Japan, Middle East, and Thailand. Escobar’s previous short films Pusong Bato (2014), Dindo (2014), Quadrilaterals (2017), and Limang Taon Ni Lola (2013) were also well-received in local and international festivals.

Rowie Morales

Lawyer Rowie Morales has gone back to her mass communication roots in recent years to share her legal expertise and compassion more widely among the marginalized sectors of society. Her return was rewarded with a 2022 Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Public Service Program on Radio for her DZBB/GMA Network program SOS: Serbisyo On the Spot, where she serves as co-host and legal resource. Morales has actually been extending free legal assistance for many years particularly to abused women and children while advocating reforms to improve the Philippine justice system. In UP where she is a professor emeritus, she headed the College of Law’s Office of Free Legal Aid for two decades and coached UP and Philippine law debating teams that won moot court and debate competitions in Washington DC, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur.

Doods Santos

Doods Santos is one of the country’s foremost multilingual literary writers. She received the National Book Award for Bikol Fiction for Hagong: Mga Osipon (2014), the 2011 Gawad Francisco Balagtas from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino for significant contribution to the blossoming of Philippine and Bikol language and literature, and the Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) 2011 Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for outstanding achievement as literature and communication teacher. She was a Fulbright Fellow at Columbia University in New York in 1991. The retired professor now heads a volunteer environmental organization, Sumaro sa Salog (Unite for the River) in Camarines Sur. She taught for more than four decades at the Colegio de Sta. Isabel, University of Nueva Caceres, Ateneo de Naga University, Miriam College, UP Clark, UP Diliman, and De la Salle University in Manila.

– Rappler.com

The eighth STY International Gymnastics Cup is happening on October 20-22, 2023, at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa City. With over 600 athletes from the Philippines and Asian countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and India, it is the largest international gymnastics meet in the country.

Hosted by the Philippine Gymnastics and Athletics Academy (PGAA) Sonny Ty (STY) Gymnastics Center and back on the international scene after a hiatus during the pandemic, the STY Cup is one of the most anticipated gymnastics competitions in the Philippines this year.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome back our friends from six different nations, and showcase the talent within the Philippine gymnastics community. I can’t wait to see all the routines and also look forward to the gymnasts having fun!” said PGAA STY Founder and Head Coach Normita “Boots” Ty.

The opening ceremony is scheduled on October 20, Friday, at 5 pm. The competition proper is scheduled on October 21 and 22 from 7 am to 7 pm, featuring Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Levels 1 to 6.

“This is a great opportunity for our homegrown athletes to demonstrate their skill and perform at their best, as we foster an enriching sports experience and cultural exchange with our foreign neighbors. With the STY Cup, we also hope to inspire more Filipinos, especially young girls, to pursue sports and lead healthy lifestyles,” Coach Boots further shared.

Coach Boots established PGAA STY Gymnastics Center in 2008 with the dream to develop elite Filipino athletes who would compete with the world’s best and make their country and community proud. The ongoing grassroots training program is supported by the city government, and scholars under Muntinlupa Gymnastics Club train and compete alongside the PGAA STY delegation.

For more information about the eighth STY International Gymnastics Cup and the PGAA STY Gymnastics Center, find them on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. — Rappler.com

The Study UK Alumni Awards recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of individuals who have enrolled at, or have received a qualification awarded by, a listed or registered UK Higher Education Institution from 2008 to 2023. The distinguished awards programme started recognising talented alumni worldwide in September 2014.

For the first time since then, the British Council in the Philippines will be hosting the national-level awards in 2024.

“In our 45 years in the Philippines, the British Council has been privileged to witness the incredible talents that Filipinos has to offer. It is now high time that we shine the spotlight on these outstanding individuals and recognize their exceptional contributions through the Study UK Alumni Awards,” says Lotus Postrado, British Council in the Philippines’ Country Director.

The UK Alumni Awards honors and celebrates applicants who have made a mark in the following fields:

• Science and Sustainability – Recognizing alumni who have distinguished themselves through their career and achievements in the world of science and sustainability, and who can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements in their profession, and beyond. Areas of work could include, but are not limited to, climate action, clean energy, medicine, sustainable cities and communities, engineering, industry, and construction.
• Culture and Creativity – Recognizing alumni who have carved a career for themselves in arts and culture, and who can demonstrate their artistic ingenuity, influence, and creativity. Areas of work could include, but are not limited to, arts, design, humanities, traditional media, music, video, TV, sports and online content and audio-visual media creation (e.g., blogging, vlogging including for YouTube and social media).
• Social Action – Recognising alumni who have made an exceptional contribution and commitment to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others. Areas of work could include, but are not limited to, education, peace and justice and reducing inequality, poverty and hunger and broader humanitarian work or work for social good.
• Business and Innovation – Recognising alumni who are active in initiating and contributing to innovative or creative new ideas, solutions, or business opportunities, that have the potential for growth. Areas of work could include, but are not limited to, entrepreneurship, business, technology and finance.

While this is the first time that the organization is hosting the Study UK Alumni Awards in the Philippines, Filipino talents have long been recognized by the British Council. In 2018, renowned Filipina filmmaker and Chevening alumna Baby Ruth Villarama received the Global Alumni Award for Social Impact.

“I am very proud that so many Filipinos have chosen to study in universities across the UK. Our higher education institutions have long supported exceptional individuals from across the Philippines. I am delighted that, through these Alumni Awards, we have a new opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Filipinos who studied in the UK, and their contribution to our communicates – both locally and globally,” shared Laure Beaufils, British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau.

The British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards is accepting applications until October 22, 2023.

All alumni who are living outside the UK and have enrolled between 2008-2023 from an officially recognized body or received a recognized award from a UK higher education institution are encouraged to apply here.

All applications will be reviewed based on their impact (evidence of tangible impact, and scale of impact, of their work in their profession/community/society), UK influence (evidence of how their UK education has played a key influence in their success and impact), media traction (extent to which their success story is likely to resonate with local/regional/national media in your country of entry, or beyond), potential to influence and inspire (extent to which their story is likely to influence and inspire the next generation of prospective internationally mobile students in the Philippines to choose the UK as their study destination), and quality of application (top 10% applications will be reviewed by an internal/external in-country judging panel for the next stages).

Once the application period closes in October, twenty shortlisted applicants will be announced between November to December 2023. The four national winners will then be revealed between January to February 2024.

To know more, visit https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/after-your-studies/alumni-awards. — Rappler.com

The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication will be awarding actor, satirist, and advertising creative Manuel Urbano Jr., popularly known on television, film and the internet as “Mr. Shooli”, this year’s Gawad Plaridel on October 11, 2023, at 2 pm, at the UP Film Institute Film Center’s Cine Adarna.

Urbano Jr. will be feted for both his unforgettable social commentary in numerous performances across time and media as a peculiar Mongolian figure pondering on Philippine realities, as well as his remarkable contributions to multimedia commercial advertising which are distinguished for their humane values and Pinoy humor. At 84, he continues his work via social media and even participates in anti-disinformation campaigns through his own YouTube channel.

The Gawad Plaridel is the university’s highest award for outstanding practitioners known for their integrity and excellence in the different fields of media (print media, radio, television, cinema, and new media). Named after the great propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar, whose nom de plume was “Plaridel,” the recognition comes with a trophy sculpture depicting the editor of La Solidaridad by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva.

Since the establishment of the award in 2004, the Gawad Plaridel laureate has customarily delivered a lecture on important issues pertaining to his/her/their field or craft. Past recipients include Eugenia Apostol (2004), Vilma Santos-Recto (2005), Fidela Magpayo (2006), Cheche Lazaro (2007), Pacheco Seares (2008), Kidlat Tahimik (2009), Eloisa Cruz Canlas (2011), Rosa Rosal (2012), Jose Lacaba (2013), Nora Aunor (2014), Ricky Lee (2015), Francisca Custodio (2016), Tina Monzon-Palma (2017), Jessica Soho (2018), and Bonifacio Ilagan (2019).

For information, contact the Gawad Plaridel Secretariat at gawadplaridel@up.edu.ph. — Rappler.com

Lights, Camera, Action! The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, in cooperation with the National Youth Commission (NYC), is proud to announce that applications for the “JENESYS 2023 ASEAN -Japan Art Exchange ~ 16th Asian International Children’s Film Festival AICFF~” is still open! 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Japan (MOFA-Japan), through the NYC, will organize the JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange: Attending the 16th Asian International Children’s Film Festival.

Now in its 16th year, the Asian International Children’s Film Festival promotes friendship and goodwill among Asian youths through filmmaking. Young filmmakers from various parts of Asia are invited to Japan for a competition and days of cultural exchange activities that culminate in an awarding ceremony for winning film entries. This year, the film festival focuses on the theme “What I Want.”

Filipino high school students grades 10 to 12 (15-18 years old), except those who have already been to Japan as part of previous Asian International Children’s Film Festivals, are encouraged to join and submit their own three-minute videos under the theme. Deadline of submission for video entries and other requirements is extended on or before September 15, 2023, 11:59 pm.  

The top three teams (composed of nine Filipino junior or senior high school youth delegates) from the Philippines will be sent to Japan to compete in the international leg of the contest. All expenses will be borne by the Government of Japan through the JENESYS2023 Programme. The program will be held on October 10, 2023 (online pre-exchange program), and December 12-19, 2023, in Tokyo and Hyogo, Japan. 

Please send all queries to internationalprograms@nyc.gov.ph with subject heading ”JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange (Attending the 16th Asian International Children’s Festival).” Visit the National Youth Commission website for the full guidelines and mechanics. – Rappler.com

The Galing Pook Citizenship Awards is back, celebrating exceptional contributions in participatory local governance and community development.

This prestigious awards program sheds light on the outstanding efforts of civil society organizations (CSOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), social enterprises, and private entities dedicated to shaping safe, sustainable, and smart (3S) communities. With a focus on empowering localities and driving positive change, these initiatives are at the forefront of community transformation.

“It is our desire to strengthen local government and citizens’ collaboration through the Citizenship Awards. We recognize that local governments will only succeed through active citizens that engage with them in pursuing positive results and impact, and people’s participation and empowerment,” said Galing Pook Executive Director Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang.

“Through this year’s Citizenship Awards, we look forward to learning more about the new and creative approaches of citizens’ organizations in engaging local governments and grassroots communities. The search is open to all sectors, most especially among the youth who are creating positive waves in promoting good governance and sustainable development,” she added.

How to join?

1. Review the detailed 2023 Citizenship Awards Guidelines to ensure your eligibility and to understand the selection criteria.

2. Submit your entry through the online application form on or before September 15, 2023.

A legacy of impact

The 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards draws inspiration from remarkable awardees in 2015. Organizations like Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, and Tagum People’s Cooperative have proven that tangible change emerges from visionary local governance.

Learn more about these inspiring stories and get access the casebook and videos here.

The 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards is conducted in partnership with the Department of Health’s Healthy Pilipinas Awards. Join us in celebrating the spirit of community transformation and excellence. Together, let’s build a better future, one 3S community at a time.

For inquiries and more information, please contact galingpookawards@gmail.com. – Rappler.com