The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Riza Lozada
Service to the community will be highlighted through The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards (BTCA), which returns for its 28th year.
Coming from their successful run last year, the BTCA is once again in search for selfless leaders who have given back to the community through their own social causes that benefit the marginalized members of society.
The award-giving body is dedicated to the late Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, 1979 Nobel Prize winner, and known as “the Living Saint” because of her selfless humanitarian work and ideals.
The search was launched in 1983 and is a joint project of the Alfonso Yuchengco (AY) Foundation and the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila.
Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, chairman of the AY Foundation, said, “their selflessness is humbling and elevating, and their works of charity are inspiring. Within them lives the spirit of Blessed Teresa, who dedicated her life to serve the poorest of the poor.”
“It is, therefore, well worth our time and effort to recognize these individuals who follow in her footsteps.
“The AY Foundation and the Manila Jaycees are now in our 28th year in giving due recognition to them via the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards,” Yuchengco said.
Steven Paul Anthony T. Baltao, 2015 JCI Manila president remarked, “Through the Blessed Teresa of Calcuta Awards, we continuously try to find modern day personas of Mother Teresa, people who prove that her works and ideas continue in our day and age.”
The BTCA aims to encourage the public to refocus on the importance of helping others by recognizing individuals who have dedicated a portion of their lives serving the “poorest of the poor,” just like Blessed Teresa.
The winner will receive a cash grant of P1 million, at least half of which will be donated to the winner’s charitable institution of choice.
Nominees are open to any individual, regardless of age, gender, race and religion, who has dedicated himself or herself fully and selflessly to humanitarian work among underprivileged Filipinos for at least 25 years.
In addition, nominees should have rendered services similar to the degree in which they follow the example of Blessed Teresa, both in integrity and in the simplicity of their lifestyle.
Those behind BTCA aim to more than just inspire but inspire enough to be involved in their own social causes.
“The main goal this year is to get people involved in community. We hope that through the nominations and the awarding of this year’s winner, more people will see the importance of social causes and reaching out,” JCI-Manila BTCA Chairman for 2015, Jim Jimenez said.
Deadline of nomination forms is August 7, 2015.