SM Prime's Hans T. Sy was recently recognized for his contribution to
nation-building and resiliency in the country through sustainability and
disaster risk reduction at The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awards 2022. The
event was held on December 12, Monday, at the Rizal Park Hotel, Manila.
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| December 12, 2022 — SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy was named one of the The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) 2022 awardees, alongside Engr. Maria Catalina Estamo Cabral, Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, Dr. Ruben L. Villareal, and Mr. Nemesio R. Miranda Jr. |
Sy was joined by other notable awardees this year, including Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Engr. Maria Catalina Estamo Cabral, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, horticultural innovator and scientist Dr. Ruben L. Villareal, and the pioneer of Imaginative Figurism in the Philippines Mr. Nemesio R. Miranda Jr. Also present at the ceremony were Civil Service Commission Chairperson Hon. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles and Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito.
When
asked what he would like to advise the next generation of Filipinos when it
comes to promoting resiliency within the country, Sy said, “Start with yourself
for positive change. Don’t really look into [whether the action is] big or small;
whatever you can do for positive change, just do it.”
The TOFIL Awards was first established in 1988 by the JCI Senate
Philippines (JCISP). It was created with the intention of institutionalizing
public recognition of the exemplary achievements and contributions to public
welfare and community building of Filipinos 41 years of age and older. Also
dubbed the Filipino equivalent of the Nobel Prize, the TOFIL Awards seeks to
recognize truly outstanding Filipinos who have dedicated themselves to serving
the nation.
In
his award acceptance speech, Sy stressed the importance of sustainability and
disaster resiliency as a means of uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.
“Our role as private sector members is to supplement public sector assistance
with our expert knowledge and available resources,” he said. “In doing so, we
can lift the majority away from hazards of disasters and enable a sustainable
society we all aspire for.”
“The Outstanding Filipino, or TOFIL Awards, is among the most
prestigious awards given in our country to deserving Filipinos of good moral
character, whose dedication to his or her profession or vocation has made
significant contributions to the advancement of his or her calling,” said
Nograles. “The honorees are chosen based on the strength of their character,
the strength of their integrity and the impact of their achievements in their
field of work.”
Mr.
Hans T. Sy (center) accepts his TOFIL plaque and trophy from ANSA Foundation
President Mr. Anthony Philip A. Nocom (left) and JCI Senate Philippines
(JCISP)-TOFIL Foundation President Mr. Rogelio V. Garcia (right).
This year’s TOFIL Awards follows the theme “Resiliency in Rebuilding
Our Nation”; as such, Sy’s recognition comes from his success in integrating
sustainability and resilience in the framework of the SM Group’s operations. Under
Sy’s leadership, SM has been a major player in disaster relief efforts and
community assistance through initiatives such as the SM Yolanda Housing Program
and COVID-19 vaccination programs. Sy has also helped in the formation of the
ARISE Philippine Network, which fosters more public-private sector partnerships
for capacity building, technological innovation, and sustainability in
underserved communities.
Mr.
Hans T. Sy (center) is joined by TOFIL Awards 2022 National Chairman Mr. Felipe
V. Briones, JCI Philippines Inc. 2022 National President Mr. Henry T. Juan
Tong, ANSA Foundation President Mr. Anthony Philip A. Nocom, JCISP-TOFIL
Foundation President Mr. Rogelio V. Garcia, and Vice Chairman of TOFIL Awards
2022 Board of Judges Dr. Glenn S. Banaguas.
“My father, the late Henry Sy Sr., taught us a multitude of lessons
growing up, one of them being the importance of goodwill and inclusivity. This
evoked in me a passion for helping others and uplifting their lives through
sustainability, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure resiliency programs
at SM,” said Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee at SM Prime, in his
acceptance speech. “My firsthand experiences with disasters and rehabilitation
pushed me to strongly advocate for disaster resiliency in everything we do
across the SM Group, by placing sustainability and resiliency at the core of
our operations.”
Mr.
Nemesio R. Miranda Jr. (left), fellow TOFIL 2022 awardee under Visual Arts and
Sculpture, thanked Mr. Hans T. Sy for SM Supermalls’ contribution to the
proliferation and protection of art culture in Miranda’s hometown of Angono,
Rizal. “I would like to personally thank Mr. Hans Sy…when they built the SM in
Angono, I asked the managers, you have to put up a gallery, because Angono is
an artists’ village. You have to blend with the community, and so they did. We
have a small gallery there, and every month, [we are able to hold an art
exhibit there].”
“I dream about having a resilient and sustainable society that the
next generations can benefit from, and I want you to join me in that
endeavor…where no one is left behind, and where everyone can experience a
safer, better future for us all,” Sy concluded. (SM PR)
