DAVAO CITY (PIA)—Two educators who dedicated their work to serving the indigenous peoples (IP) community in Davao City and one visionary cooperative advocate who founded one of the country’s top-performing cooperatives were named honorees of the Leaders and Achievers of Davao (LEAD) 2024 Awards.
LEAD is an annual award held by the Davao Jaycee Senate and the Davao Jaycee Senate Foundation to recognize outstanding Dabawenyos who have created a tangible difference in their chosen fields.
The three honorees are Agripino Torres, the founder and CEO of Manuel Guianga and Sirib Growers and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (MAGSIGE MPC); Arnando Blando, Head Teacher IV of Alambre Elementary School, Piedad District, Toril; and Noemi Amandoron, Teacher I, Gilun Elementary School, Marilog B District.
Torres, who founded Magisge MPC in 2008, was recognized for his passionate advocacy for harnessing the power of cooperatives for community development in rural areas in Davao City.
“I was on hiatus from the cooperative movement for five years, but I continued my own business as a grower of bananas for export in the area of Manuel Guianga. I regularly interact with the other growers and their workers. I came to know their life and felt the drive to take action to help them in their difficult situation,” Torres recounts the inspiration for creating Magsige MPC.
For Amandoron, a Matigsalug who was crowned ‘Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2013,’ recalled a question and answer during the pageant 11 years ago. “How can you be a catalyst for change in the community? ”
“Getting the crown gave me a voice and a platform; I came to understand that this title carried not only recognition but also the need to change things. I started my journey in the Department of Education as a pioneer of the elementary school,” Amandoron recalls.
Overcoming the challenges of starting a school in the remote hinterlands, Amandoron said despite the immense challenges, “the determination was greater to create a brighter future for Matigsalug learners.”
Also, Amandoron was known for her leadership in advancing the welfare and empowerment of her Matigsalug community.
Meanwhile, Blando was recognized for his commitment to education, cultural preservation of the Bagobo-Tagabawa community, and care for the environment.
He describes his principles of leadership, which guided him in developing a literacy module aimed at preserving the language and culture of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, which was born out of the concerns coming from elders of the tribe that their culture was fading.
“Leadership to me is not about titles or position but about the difference I make in the lives of others. It is about serving with integrity, guided with empathy, and inspiring with purpose,” Blando said.
The three awardees were honored at a ceremony held on August 31 in the Acacia Hotel in Davao City.
This year’s LEAD Awards has the theme “Dabawenyos Making a Difference,” putting in the spotlight individuals who have selflessly dedicated time and effort to enhancing the quality of life in Davao. (RGA – PIA XI)
