IDEA Honored as a Modern-Day Hero!

Amor & Maricris receiving award

Amor & Maricris receiving award

Each year The Bayaning Pilipino Awards search for modern-day heroes that continue to make a difference in spite of their limitations. Launched in 1995, it was envisioned by the late Don Eugenio Lopez, Jr. for which this award is named, to give recognition to ordinary folks who have done heroic acts and extraordinary deeds. Thus with his acquiantance with Fr. Nilo E. Tanalega, SJ Excecutive Director of UGAT Foundation, Inc. this noble project was born.

The Bayaning Pilipino Awards, comes as a fitting tribute to fine Filipino values of humanitarianism, industry, determination and dedication to public service.  It is intended to hold in high public esteem “existing heroes who have rendered service to the Filipino people.”

“The heroes that we want to recognize now are those who are living and those whom the ordinary people can emulate, ABS-CBN management stressed. ” 

As envisioned, the annual search for the Bayaning Pilipino Awardees will promote Filipino values by highlighting their accomplishments in the field of public service.

 IDEA Philippines was nominated and won the Regional Competition in the Institutional Category and was listed as a finalist and entered in the competition for the National Level. 

Maricris Magallones, IDEA Program Officer and Jamela Amor Borja-Balatero, Legal/HR Officer for IDEA were on hand in Cebu, Philippines to receive the award.

On June 10, 2014 Marilou Drake, IDEA Co-Founder and CFO and Maricris Magallones, IDEA Program Officer attended the National Bayaning Pilipino Awards Ceremony held in Manila, Philippines. 

Marilou & Maricris accepting National Award

Marilou & Maricris accepting National Award 

IDEA PHILIPPINES WON THE NATIONAL MODERN-DAY HERO AWARD FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORY!  

Marilou Drake, CFO IDEA

Marilou Drake, CFO IDEA

Humbled by the recognition Marilou and Maricris gave an acceptance speech, first and foremost thanking God for all He has allowed IDEA to accomplish.  She then  thanked our partner organizations, sponsors, and all those who have supported IDEA throughout the years.  Marilou praised her husband, IDEA Founder, Dennis Drake for all he has accomplished over the past 30 years and accepted the honor for him.  This honor also came with a generous cash donation to help further our work with the Deaf in the Philippines.

Through the earthquake, typhoon, and national recognition, IDEA has been catapulted to a whole new level.  We are humbled and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to minister to that many more Deaf and Hearing Impaired throughout the Philippines.

We wait with anticipation and a little trepidation as to what God has in store for us next….just know it’s going to be BIG!