More awards

After our executive director at Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation – Mayan Villalba – was named as the Philippines Social Entrepreneur of the Year last month, we reaped two more awards recently.

Association of Young Linamon Producers (ALYP) of Linamon, Lanao del Norte which produces Virgin Coconut Oil for the 2008 Hatag Kalinaw Project of the British Council; and

New Lives for Old – Peace, Growth and Governance Through Social Enterprise for the Panibagong Paraan 2008. This project helps former Moro rebels undertake community livelihood programs.

Keep up the good work Mayan!

Outstanding Pinoys

Kudos to two of my friends, truly outstanding Pinoys:

Walden Bello who is this year’s Outstanding Public Scholar named by the International Studies Association for his achievements in combining his academic work and activism.

Walden teaches at UP and writes on his many advocacies as a global activist for social justice, peace, human rights and the environment. Described by a Belgian newspaper as the “most respected anti-globalization thinker in Asia,” he was earlier a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, known as the alternative Nobel Prize.

Walden and I sit at the National Council of the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party.

And May-an Villalba who is a finalist in the Ernst & Young search for the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines.

A dedicated worker for the cause of the OFWs, May-an is the executive director of the Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation where I sit as a board member.

She pioneered in promoting savings mobilization for investments among our overseas workers and an outstanding social entrepreneur.

(5:50 a.m.)