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Jollibee, the Philippines’ leading fast-food brand, honored a new batch of outstanding Filipino families with admirable advocacies at the 6th Jollibee Family Values Awards’ (JFVA) Gabi ng Parangal para sa Pamilyang Pilipino, which was held recently at the Makati Shangri-La Manila hotel.
The winning Filipino families whose advocacies allowed hope to flourish and spirits to soar for the less forunate are Capiz province’s Rommel and Analy Basa and family, who are lauded for championing the environment and sustainable livelihood for their community; Nueva Ecija province’s Donato and Merlita Bumacas and family, who dedicated themselves to protecting and upholding the rights of indigenous peoples; Cagayan Valley’s Ian and Cecilia Cabalza and family, whose work centers on uplifting lives through health and education; Quezon City’s Victor and Elizabeth Castañeda and family, praised for leading the fight against cancer, and Joe Dean and Ardis Sola and family, celebrated for helping improve the lives of street children; and Saudi Arabia-based Marciano and Josephine Par and family, named Jollibee-Coca-Cola OFW (overseas Filipino worker) Family of the Year for their mission to empower underprivileged Filipinos here and the Middle East.
In addition to the six JFVA awardees, Jollibee also gave special citations to families focused on specific advocacies. Receiving the Special Citation for Education (co-presented with National Book Store) were Camarines Norte province’s Reynaldo and Juliet Arquiza and family, for their educational and scholarship programs, while Zamboanga City’s Alejandro and Lilibeth Cabading and family received the Special Citation for Environment (co-presented with Land Bank of the Philippines) for their underwater cleanup efforts.
The latest addition to the awards this year—the Special Citation for Youth—was given to San Francisco, California-based Harry and Malou San Gabriel-Eng and family, for their programs that benefit the youth.
For their work on autism awareness, Benguet province’s Noli and Isabelita Vizcocho and family are given the Special Citation for Persons with Disability (co-presented with National Council on Disability Affairs).
Besides being hailed as JFVA winners, the Bumacas family received the Special Citation for Minority Groups, while the Sola family was given the Special Citation for Children (co-presented with Children’s Hour).
The six JFVA families and OFW Family of the Year each received a cash prize of P300,000, a trophy designed by brass sculptor Michael Cacnio, and P10,000 worth of Jollibee gift certificates. The recipients of the special citations were each given P50,000 in cash, a plaque, and P3,000 worth of Jollibee gift certificates.
“2016 marks the sixth year of our Jollibee Family Values Awards, Jollibee’s annual advocacy program that aims to promote timeless Filipino family values. With the Filipino family at the core of Jollibee’s brand, the JFVA is committed to reinforcing timeless and cherished values,” Jollibee Philippines President JJ Alano said.
“We are proud to recognize families who can be considered as everyday heroes, families who truly exemplify how the power of Filipino family values can nurture and continue building a nation that can sail through various challenges, calamities, and adversities,” he added.
For its theme this year, the Gabi ng Parangal para sa Pamilyang Pilipino focused on the balangay, which captures the solidarity, harmony, determination, courage, bravery and resilience of the Filipino community. The guests were treated to performances by Darren Espanto and 4th Impact.
Distinguished personalities made up this year’s esteemed JFVA board of judges, headed by Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV as chairman. Also on the board are actress and Movie Workers Welfare Fund Inc. (Mowelfund) President Boots Anson-Rodrigo, Manila Bulletin columnist and television host Suzi Entrata-Abrera, respected inspirational speaker and columnist Francis Kong, ABS-CBN News Channel anchor Edric Mendoza, parenting and relationship consultant Maribel Sison-Dionisio, Coca-Cola Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications Adel Tamano, and columnist and child advocate Audrey Tan-Zubiri.
Completing the board are Jollibee Global Brand CMO and Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head Francis Flores, Jollibee Philippines Head of Human Resources George Wang III, and Jollibee Group Foundation Vice President Belen Rillo.