130 Nominees for the 2012 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas

A total of 130 individuals and organizations overseas were received by the CFO Awards Secretariat as the June 30 deadline for nominations came to a close. The roster of nominees will go through a rigorous review, evaluation and screening process before the Awards can finally be conferred at the Malacanan Palace in December 2012 – the month of Overseas Filipinos.

The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas is a biennial awards system intended to give recognition to Filipinos and other individuals or organizations that contribute to Philippine development and progress, or promote the interests of overseas Filipino communities. The Awards are also given to overseas Filipinos who have distinguished themselves in their profession, and have brought honor to the Filipino people. There is also a distinct category in the Awards that is solely reserved for foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional contributions to the Philippines and for advancing the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

Since its inception, the awards have so far been extended to 338 Filipino individuals and organization overseas from 44 countries. President Fidel V. Ramos conferred the first and second sets of Presidential Awards to 22 and 45 awardees in 1993 and 1996, respectively. President Joseph E. Estrada conferred the third and fourth sets of Presidential Awards to 30 and 59 awardees in 1998 and 2000, respectively. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sets of Presidential Awards to 34 (with one special citation), 45, 48, and 31 awardees, in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 respectively. President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the last set of Presidential Awards to 24 awardees in 2010. 

These awardees not only have a tremendous contribution to the global economy and society but they also reinforce the people’s faith and confidence in the Filipino race by giving form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time-honored values of pakikipag-kapwa, pagtutulungan, and pagkakaisa. 

The awards ceremonies will be held on December 2012 at the Malacanan Palace, Manila.