NOTED for his unique perspective about the youth of today, a Valenzuelano pride was recently acclaimed as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) at the Malacanang Palace, to carry out the servant leadership mission bannered by the RFM Foundation.

 

Jerome V. David, a lad from Barangay Viente Reales, related his version of Dr. Jose Rizal’s notion about the youth with the present times. According to David, “The youth is not the hope of the future. The world needs us today.”

 

Mayor WIN Gatchalian expressed his commendation to David for his meaningful programs which benefited both his fellow students and the needy sectors of the society. “It is quite seldom that we find young students who have the ability to juggle time wisely between academic requirements and social responsiveness, and further produce substantial output in both fields,” Mayor WIN shared.

 

Nominees for TOSP 2012 were required to cite their most significant accomplishments on academic excellence, leadership, and social responsibility, to prove and emphasize their worth as an individual, capable of being directly involved in the affairs of the community for the improvement of the quality of life of every Filipino who deserve a life of human dignity.

 

David’s accolades on academic excellence were enumerated by Mr. Fritzie Ian P. De Vera, Dean of Student Affairs of De La Salle University, on his signed nomination letter. He inferred, “(David’s) academic standing allowed him to be recognized by external organizations such as the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers, Holcim Philippines, Kraft Foods Philippines, and others.”

 

He was also a scholarship grantee to the Intercultural and Technology Exchange Program of Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan.

 

David’s key leadership accomplishments include his chairmanship of the National Student Chapter of Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers, wherein he was elected as its Executive President who spearheaded the National Student Congress to strengthen the collaboration and network of industrial engineering students in the country.

 

He also made it to the 2012 Ten Outstanding Student of the Philippines (TOSP) – NCR.  Similarly,  Mayor WIN was also hailed last year as one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for his excellent performance in the field of Public Service.

 

David is also a Meralco Leadership Awardee. This citation is given to top notch engineering interns in the country who joined the Power Camp Program geared at invoking nation-building.

 

This recognition on leadership excellence is parallel with the Meralco Luminaries Awards which was conferred to Valenzuela City received recently. The local government of Valenzuela City was highlighted for its prompt delivery of basic services and development programs, though its utilization of public-private partnership benefits in bringing out positive change in the lives of its constituents.

 

Some of the most significant accomplishments that David earned include his delegation to various forums overseas. He represented the country to Ministers of Youth World Forum in South Korea, ASEAN Youth Forum on Innovation and Creativity in Malaysia, and ASEAN Youth Forum and Festival in Indonesia.

 

Other awardees for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines this year were Juan Carlo Tejano, John Michael Dellariarte, Angelita Bombarda, Kenneth Isaiah Abante, Maria Janua Polinar, Ruhell Moreno, Kurt Gerard See, Jay-R Mendoza and Philip Dy.