Another epitome of excellence, leadership and selfless service coming from the ranks of Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholars has been recognized in this year’s national search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) - National Capital Region.

Floramante Sir John Don King Howard T. Ponce III, Batch 13 of the scholarship program, voluntarily sought means to express his gratitude to City Mayor WIN Gatchalian after hooking the prestigious TOSP Award and graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the College of Arts at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Inscribed on his thank you note for Mayor WIN was, “Thank you for being part of my academic journey, I hope that you will continue your strong educational support to the Valenzuelano youth.”

TOSP is an Awards and Formation Program that seeks to galvanize the youth into nation building through exemplary academic performance, change-making social involvement and inspiring leadership services in school, local communities, and the country. Its theme this 2012, “@TOSPNCR2012: Making the mission of #Nation Building trend,” revolved around new technology and social media.

Some of Ponce’s high profile accolades consist of being a delegate to South Korea as Youth Ambassador in the International Youth Leadership and World Camp 2011. He was also the National Champion in the Intercollegiate Showdown on "Rizal@150" Quiz Bee held at De La Salle University last February 17, 2012. He made history in his alma mater by being the first Summa Cum Laude from the College of Arts in a class of 6,500 graduates.

The TOSP citation can be considered as the junior version of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, which Mayor WIN achieved last year for his excellent performance in the field of Public Service.

Equally proud of this milestone, Mayor WIN shared, “he is a great youth leader to look up to for his ripe and noteworthy nationalistic views which are potential catalysts for societal improvement.”

The young gentleman from Barangay Paso de Blas aims to become a competent sociologist who pledges to free our motherland from apathy, corruption and mass poverty.