Press Release
October 27, 2009
The Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards Foundation concluded its 7th National Finals, capping off five months of extensive search for the most outstanding youth organizations with various advocacies.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who spearheads the foundation, says he is most proud of the fact that more and more youths are becoming aware of their social responsibilities.
“We saw in the past few weeks the compounding issues of environmental deterioration, lack of quality education, poverty and hunger. Remarkably, these issues and more are being addressed by our youth, as evidenced by the outstanding entries we have been receiving since we started TAYO seven years ago.”
Thousands of entries from different parts of the country were filtered down to 20 during the National Finals, where representatives were asked to present their respective projects to a panel of judges. The judges were TAYO President Bam Aquino, Undersecretary of the National Youth Commission Richie Nalupta, Coca-Cola Foundation President Cecile Alcantara, DSWD Director Violeta Cruz, 1st TAYO Awards winner John Piermont Montilla, Executive Director of Batobalani Foundation Ching Jorge, Philippine Star columnist J. Vincent Sarabia Ong, Managing Director of Intelligent Skin Care, Inc. Cristalle Belo Henares, Backroom Entertainment President and TV host Boy Abunda, and TAYO founder Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
“We have big plans for TAYO. These kids are helping us shape our communities. The challenge lies in adopting these exemplary ideas to benefit Filipinos on a national level,” Pangilinan adds.
The 7th TAYO Awards awarding ceremony will be held October 28 at the Grand Ballroom of the New Renaissance Hotel in Makati.