The Outstanding Filipino or TOFIL Award is the honor given by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines to Filipino men and women, 41 years of age and over, whose exemplary achievements are worthy of emulation. The award was conceived in 1988 to institutionalize the public recognition of these outstanding individuals.
History
JCI Senate Philippines believes that there are a lot of men and women age 41 and over who deserve recognition for their contributions to society. It enlisted the support of Insular Life in an endeavor that would give due recognition to these people. Thus the TOFIL Award was born.
The JCI Senate Philippines is an organization of a select group of Junior Chamber International (JCI) members, who, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the JCI movement, have been awarded lifetime membership as JCI Senators. They now number 3,000 in the Philippines. Among them are: a former chief justice, senators, representatives, cabinet secretaries, governors, city mayors, judges, and other government officials; presidents of financial, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and other business enterprises; distinguished doctors, lawyers and other professionals; successful entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Criteria
Nomination for the award is open to every Filipino, natural born, naturalized citizen or bearing dual citizenship (Filipino and a foreign country), at least 41 years of age and of good moral character whose dedication to his/her profession or vocation has made significant contributions to the advancement of his/her calling, public welfare and national development. Honorees are chosen based on the strength of their character and integrity; and the impact of their achievements on their field of work, public welfare and national development.
TOFIL Awardees
The following is the list of TOFIL awardees from its conception in 1988 to the present:
1988
Edgardo Espiritu, Banking
Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Public Service
Emmanuel Pelaez, Government Service
Jose B. L. Reyes, Human Rights
Cardinal Jaime Sin, Spiritual Leadership
Lorenzo Tañada, Freedom Advocacy
1989
Marcelo B. Fernan, Judiciary
Jose B. Fernandez, Banking
Lucrecia Kasilag, Arts & Culture
Rosa Rosal, Humanitarian Service
1990
Diosdado Macapagal, Government Service
Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, Judiciary
Teodoro Locsín Sr., Journalism
Zeneida Amador, Theater
1991
Arturo D. Gorrez, Manufacturing
Manuel P. Manahan, Rural Development
Leonardo S. Sarao, Entrepreneurship
Dioscoro L. Umali, Agricultural Research
1992
Henry R. Canoy, Media
Renato Constantino, History
Edgardo D. Gomez, Science
Jose T. Joya, Visual Arts
1993
Jovito Salonga, Public Service
Jose L. Guevara, Journalism
Francisco Demetrio, SJ, Culture
Antonio Manikan, Humanitarian Service
Jorge Garcia, Medicine & Surgery
Bonifacio Isidro, Science & Technology
1994
Romeo Contemplacion, Rural Medicine
Armando Malay, Journalism/Human Rights
Nicanor Perlas, Agriculture
Dionisio Salazar, Drama/Literature
Benjamin Tayabas, Education
1995
Jose T. Amacio, Cooperative Development
Alfredo S. Buenaventura, Music
Gonzalo O. Catan, Jr., Science & Technology
Crispin C. Maslog, Literature/Journalism
Christian Monsod, Government Service
1996
Irene R. Cortes, Justice and Law (Posthumous Award) Salvador H. Laurel, Public Service Richard J. Gordon, Government Service Onofre R. Pagsanghan, Culture and Arts Helena Zoila T. Benitez, Education