A highly-motivated employee of the City Government of Valenzuela was hailed as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Employees of Metro Manila (TOYEMM) 2012 for Government Service.

Ms. Sunshine D. Manahan, Online Media Coordinator of the City under the Public Information Office and a resident of Barangay Wawang Pulo bagged the award for raising the bar of performance in fulfilling her duties beyond the public’s perceived norms of a local government employee.

“She is the link between the local government and the people.  Through her dedication to her work, the goal of the City Government to open the line of communication to the constituency is achieved.  During trying times, such as typhoons, she becomes [the symbol] of how the city government works for its constituency – always present and at work, specially, during calamities,” City Mayor WIN Gatchalian remarked of Ms. Manahan.

Ms. Manahan is one of the finest products of the City Government’s Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Program, having graduated magna cum laude at Adamson University last year.  She opted to join the government service to show her debt of gratitude to the institution which helped her attain her Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication.

“It is also commendable to note that her personal passion to help other people boosted her productivity as a public servant working at the city government,” Ms. Manahan’s immediate superior, Valenzuela City Public Information Officer, Ms. Ahna F. Mejia said.

TOYEMM is a prestigious award given annually by the Mind Matter Attitude Media, Inc (MMA Media Inc) in celebration of positive values, meaningful contributions and exemplary performance of young Filipino employees up to 30 years old, both in private and public institutions.  Nominees are chosen from the following sectors: (1) Manufacturing, (2) Religious/Civic/Non-profit Organizations, (3) Academe, (4) Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, (5) Groceries/Supermarkets/Malls, (6) Publishing/Printing/Communication, (7) Food Service, (8) Medical/Healthcare Enterprise, (9) Government Service, and (10) Bank/Financial Services.

“Being the person behind the Valenzuela City social media accounts for more than a year taught me to love my profession, the sector that I belong to and the people I serve – the people of Valenzuela City.  Nothing is indeed more rewarding and fulfilling than being able to help and touch the lives of people whom I have never met through my profession.  Seeing how I am continually contributing in transforming people’s views and perceptions about the local government is even more elating,” Ms. Manahan said.

With this year's theme, "Discovery and Transformation," TOYEMM awardees are said to be exemplary, both in the eyes of those who employ them and those who work with them.

“She is a testament that Valenzuela City Government employees are excellent and competent workers who best epitomize the kind of public service we all want to deliver,” Mayor WIN said of Ms. Manahan’s achievement.