Ginebra Ako Awards Year 2 pays tribute to everyday heroes

An entrepreneur who brought light to so many lives, a storyteller who spread the word on the joys of reading, a not so typical artist turned performing arts advocate, a jail warden who emerged as an unlikely agent of change, and a street orphan who overcame the odds to become an international rugby player.

They are the everyday heroes who were recently honored at “Ginebra Ako Awards Year 2: Pagkilala sa Tunay na Tapang at Husay ng Pilipino” held at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City with no less than Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach hosting the grand awarding ceremony along with veteran host and writer RJ Ledesma.

Inspired by the award-winning “Ginebra Ako” campaign of Ginebra San Miguel, the awards program is a nationwide search that seeks to recognize and salute the extraordinary accomplishments of exemplary Filipinos who embody Ginebra San Miguel values – matapang (courage), ganado (passionate), and never-say-die (resilient).

“We hope ‘Ginebra Ako Awards’ would inspire each one of us to be better and encourage our fellow Filipinos to keep their dreams alive,” says Ginebra San Miguel Marketing Manager Ronald Molina. “There is no need to look far to be inspired. Simply look to the person beside you because, in real life, ordinary Filipinos are doing heroic deeds. These are the people that we want to pay tribute to,” he adds.

The awardees recognized for their accomplishments and contributions in their respective communities were: Illac Diaz, founder and executive director of Liter of Light for Ginebra Ako Para sa Kalikasan; Rey Bufi, founder of The Storytelling Project for Ginebra Ako Para sa Kabataan; Pedro Abraham, Jr., founder of Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi) for Ginebra Ako Para sa Entablado; Aris Villaester Jail Warden of Tagaytay City Jail for Ginebra Ako Para sa Paglilingkod; and Lito Ramirez of the Philippine Volcanoes for Ginebra Ako Para sa Palakasan.

Candidates were chosen from well-respected organizations around the country and passed through a screening committee. Each awardee was given a cash prize and a trophy featuring the iconic Ginebra San Miguel logo designed by no less than National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Senator Robert Jaworski, Philippine sports icon and former playing coach of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, led the presenters in the awarding ceremony.

Ginebra Ako Para sa Kalikasan

Illac Diaz, the founder and executive director of Liter of Light, thought of an environmentally friendly lighting concept made out of recycled plastic bottles that has brought light to poor areas without access to electricity.

“Nakita ko 35 percent ng kinikita ng tao pumupunta sa paghanap ng energy. May mga crimes against women kasi walang ilaw. Sabi ko, gawa tayo ng isang corridor of light. Bumaba ‘yung krimen by 70 percent. Dun na nag umpisa ‘yung mga volunteer, mga grupo ng mga women cooperative na nag-umpisang gumawa ng solar lights. More than 1.5 million households have already benefitted. At taon-taon, mas lumalaki ito. Bawat isa na binigyan namin ng ilaw ay napakalaking pagbabago ang nangyari sa buhay nila at sa bawat pamilya,” says Diaz.

Ginebra Ako Para sa Kabataan

Rey Bufi or kuya Rey, as he is often called, lives his passion for telling stories to children and students through The Storytelling Project (TSP), which he founded to spark hope, to inspire, and to instill the love of reading and learning to children. TSP is focused on communities where literacy is low, and kuya Rey stays in the community for almost a month to give daily storytelling sessions.

“Napansin namin na ang pagbabasa sa atin ay isang gawaing pang-eskwelahan. Gusto namin mabago ang pananaw ng mga bata sa pagbabasa na makita nila masaya pala magbasa. Hindi pala nakakatakot. Reading is the foundation of all other subjects. Pag ang bata ay hindi nakakapagbasa, hindi niya maiintindihan ‘yung subject na Filipino, Math, Science at English. Ang pangarap ko sa The Storytelling Project ay marating ang bawat rehiyon sa Pilipinas at mas marami pang bata ang makwentuhan,” says Bufi.

Ginebra Ako Para sa Entablado

Pedro Abraham, Jr., who started his career as a dancer and musician, created Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino or Kontra-GaPi in 1989 to pay respect to tribes and to indigenous peoples through celebrating the culture and music of our natives. Professor Abraham has been known as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Culture and Arts for his pursuit of bringing the cultures of the Philippines to the world.

“I’d like to think of the arts as another word for love. The power of dance, the power of music is that it awakens emotions. If you love your audience enough, you will do everything you can in order to generate a kind of communion with your audience. It’s not the applause that comes later. My aim is all the Filipinos to embrace the richness of our national culture,” says Abraham.

Ginebra Ako Para sa Paglilingkod

Aris Villaester, Jail Warden of Tagaytay City Jail, puts color inside the facility by initiating a livelihood program on painting. To date, the project has earned over P1.5 million and enables them to improve their facilities and help Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) to post bail while on trial.

“We sell paintings, furniture, and eco-bags. Gawa po ang mga ito sa loob. The proceeds help fund an inmate’s bail. I usually market them on my Facebook page and some of my friends who also want to help. Gusto kong tumulong sa kanila kasi most of them they cannot afford to produce kahit 10,000 pesos. As of the moment nakapag release na kami ng 50 PDL. ‘Yung pag-asa, it applies to everybody. Lahat naman may pag-asa. A chance to change our deeds,” says Villaester.

Ginebra Ako Para sa Palakasan

Before Lito Ramirez became one of the first Filipino homegrown rugby players of Philippine Volcanoes, the Philippine men’s national rugby team, he was a street orphan who survived on trash and begging, and sniffing rugby glue. When he was eventually brought to a shelter and broke his addiction to rugby glue, Ramirez then discovered his love for the fast-paced game of rugby. And just recently, the Philippine Volcanoes captured the gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

“May mga problema man tayo, hindi tayo pinapabayaan ng Diyos. Hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para magsumikap tayo sa ating mga pangarap. Ganado ako sa buhay kasi alam kong may mga taong naniniwala sa akin lalo na sa mga potential ko. Sa mga kabataan din ngayon, gusto kong hindi nila maranasan ang naranasan ko before para ma-inspire ang mga kabataan na maglaro balang araw at maging katulad ko na maging national team at i-represent ang Pilipinas sa ibang bansa,” says Ramirez.

Towards the end of 2017, Ginebra San Miguel launched the campaign “Ginebra Ako” through a music video dedicated to all Filipinos who tirelessly commit their everyday

lives to their family and the nation. Its success led to a follow-up TV commercial featuring Olympic Silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, basketball superstar Scottie Thompson and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, with Quest and KZ Tandingan performing the new “Ginebra Ako” theme song for the 2019 campaign.

The campaign has already won numerous recognitions including the Quill Award for Excellence in Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication and a Special Citation from the Catholic Mass Media Awards for Best Branded TV AD.

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) is the producer of Ginebra San Miguel and other quality liquor products including GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, GSM Premium Gin, Antonov Vodka, Don Enrique Mixkila, Anejo Gold Rum, Primera Light Brandy and Vino Kulafu.

Ginebra San Miguel is celebrating its 185th anniversary this year.