TAGUIG CITY – Ayala Foundation partners with the Philippine National Police- National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for the #PulisMagiting spot awards, as formalized in a memorandum of agreement signed today, July 12 at the NCRPO Headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa.
The #PulisMagiting spot awards will recognize acts of ‘kagitingan’ or simple acts of courage, valor or empathy in extraordinary ways, exhibited spontaneously by policeman either off or on duty. This is part of the Maging Magiting Campaign, an Ayala Foundation program that seeks to highlight love of country and pride in being Filipino.
Present at the signing were NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan. Also present were National Historical Commission of the Philippines Head of Heraldry Teddy Atienza, as well as Chooks to Go President Ronald R. Mascarinas, one of the key partners of the campaign.
Police Corporal Claro Fornis of the Makati Police Community Precinct (PCP) 1 was recognized as the first awardee, having passed the special screening by both PNP NCRPO and Ayala Foundation.
Fornis’s story captured the heart of the public as he acted as a guardian to a grade 7 student whose parents he detained due to drug charges. The grade 7 student, Angela Perez, needed a guardian as mandatory requirement for enrollment. Having no relative to turn to at that time of need, Angela sought out Fornis for help.
Fornis said he didn’t think twice to become her guardian as he is also a father himself. “What if my three sons were also in her (Angela’s) situation? I hope another person will help them.”
The NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar said that the #PulisMagiting recognition is closely related to the core value of the Philippine National Police (PNP) which is pro-people. “These actions go beyond the duties and responsibilities of a police, proving that the PNP are in service of the greater good of every Filipino.”
In his message, Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan expressed that the organization is grateful to be partnering with the local police in this initiative to give recognition where it is due. “Isa ang mga pulis sa mga buhay na patunay na ang kagitingan ay naipapamalas sa iba’t ibang paraan – maliit man o malaki, sa lahat ng antas ng lipunan (Our police are one proof of modern-day heroes who show their bravery in small, significant ways, for the good of every Filipino).”
He also emphasized that the #PulisMagiting spot awards represent the hope of the Maging Magiting campaign: to change Filipinos’ perspective and bring the country towards betterment though ordinary deeds done extraordinarily. “We are all under one flag – united as one Filipino country, one Filipino people who desire a better future for our children and better lives for all. Lagi nating tandaan na araw-araw, may pagkakataon tayong Maging Magiting (everyday, we have the opportunity to be a good Filipino citizen).”
The #PulisMagiting spot awards will continue to look out for policemen who present exemplary efforts in their daily grind. It is part of Maging Magiting Campaign, started by Ayala Foundation, with partners from government institutions and private organizations, that altogether aim to rekindle nationalism through highlighting the Filipino spirit.
The Maging Magiting program also encompasses flag distribution in response to NHCP’s call that 100,000 more flags are needed across the country. Even as Republic Act 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, prescribes that all “public buildings, official residences, public plazas and institutions of learning” should display the Philippine flag throughout the year, there are a lot of institutions or establishments that either do not display flags or are not aware that tattered or discolored flags are to be retired and disposed of in the proper manner.
The Maging Magiting Program seeks to fill the gap through distributing 10,000 flags to public elementary schools, police precincts, and military installations. To date, Maging Magiting has distributed close to 5,000 flags to public elementary schools in eight geographic regions – NCR, Region III, Region IV-A, Region VI, Region IX, Region XI and CARAGA Region.
This latter half of 2019, as signed last Monday with the PNP, the campaign will also start providing flags to major police stations and police precincts nationwide.
It hopes to continue distributing flags to all 17 Philippine regions by 2019.