A USUALLY grand event, PeopleAsia’s People of the Year awards for 2021 had to be held remotely because of the pandemic. The normally flashy affair organized by the magazine used to come complete with fashion and flair and all that jazz. This year’s award show was held via Zoom and streamed on Facebook Live on the evening of April 12. Still, the show was splashy enough with performances by Jasmine Fitzgerald and Jon Joven, and a special surprise performance by Gary Valenciano.
This year’s awardees include a doctor (neurosurgeon Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, director of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital), a vitamin magnate (I-FERN’s president and CEO Tommanny Tan), an editor (The Philippine Star editor-in-chief Ana Marie Pamintuan), executives (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), and politicians (Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla and Deputy House Speaker Rep. Mikee Romero). Special awards were given to HSBC as Bank of the Year, while Builder of the Year went to Alice Eduardo, president and CEO of Sta. Elena Construction Corp.
There were two trophies awarded for the Special Award for Public Service: one went to Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and the other went to Vice-President Leni Robredo.
In her speech, Ms. Robredo said, “The only way that the Filipino can rise through any crisis is together.” Expressing solidarity, she said, “Hindi talaga ito para sa akin, kundi para sa lahat ng tao na nagtiwala at patuloy na nagtitiwala sa trabahong ginagawa at mga adbokasiya na isinusulong namin sa Office of the Vice President. (This really isn’t for me, but for everyone who trusted and continues to trust the work we do and the advocacies we promote at the Office of the Vice President).” The Vice-President — whose office has been working hard on everything from arranging transportation and dorms for frontline workers to collecting personal protective equipment of health care workers during the beginning of the pandemic, to today organizing traveling swab test busses for suffering communities, giving COVID care kits to patients quarantining at home, and arranging a teleconferencing site that brings together patients and volunteer doctors — went on to thank donors, volunteers and staff for giving service “above and beyond.” “Walang naglalakbay o nagtatagumpay na nag-iisa (no one travels or succeeds alone),” she said. “Malaki ang hamon ng panahon natin ngayon, pero mas malaki ang pagkakataon ng bawat isa na makatulong (The challenges at this time are great, but the opportunity for everyone to help is greater).”
The final trophy, the People’s Choice Award, went to Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto for his response to the pandemic.
He accepted the award, saying, “Mas marami pa siguro ang mga indibidwal; mga Pilipino, na maaaring mas deserving o mas mahusay po sa akin. Pero, gayunpaman, umaasa po ako na ang award na ito ay magsilbi hindi lang para ma-recognize ako, kundi ay magsilbing inspirasyon sa marami pang lider, lalo na sa mga kabataang lider ng ating bansa, para magsilbi ng matapat at mahusay (There might be more individuals, more Filipinos, who may be more deserving or excellent. However, I hope that this award would serve not only to give recognition to me, but to inspire more leaders, especially youth leaders, to serve with honesty and excellence).”
PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez said, “We at PeopleAsia believe that we aim not just to spread hope, but to spark it.”
The awards show can be seen here (4) People of The Year 2021 Awards Night-YouTube. — J.L. Garcia
