President Marcos Jr. yesterday recognized the contributions and accomplishments of this year’s winners of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos award, saying their respective actions brings the country closer to his administration’s goal of building a “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines).
The President, during the awarding ceremony held in Malacañang, said the excellence that this year’s awardees demonstrated “is, truly, worth emulating.”
Marcos said it also proves that the Filipinos are not a “damaged culture.”
“We not only honor you, but through you, we honor Filipinos. And we remind our countrymen, this is what a Filipino is. We are not a damaged culture. I hate that. We are a great people and you are the example of that greatness,” he said.
“Magaling talaga ang Pinoy. At pinapaalala ninyo sa inyong pagsisikap, sa inyong pagsasakripisyo at sa pagtanggap ninyo nitong award na ito ay pinapaalala ninyo sa mga Pilipino na mahusay ang Pilipino, mabait ang Pilipino, magaling ang Pilipino, masipag ang Pilipino (The Filipino people are really great. You remind us through your sacrifices, and by receiving this award, that Filipinos are great, the Filipinos are kind, the Filipinos are capable, the Filipinos are industrious),” he said.
Each of the awardee, which include four teachers, three soldiers and three policemen, received a P1 million cash prize (net of tax), a golden medallion, and “The Flame” trophy.
