By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA – The Family Peace Association (FPA) will confer the Golden Leaf Award to Las Pinas City (Lone District) Rep. Camille Villar, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Bulacan (6th District) Rep. Salvador Pleyto, Sr. and his family, and Venerable Noppadon Siriwangso during the FPA’s First Asia-Pacific Family Peace Leadership Conference at the historic Manila Hotel on July 19-21, 2024.
Dr. Leonida Bayani Ortiz, Conference Co-Chair, Chair of the Golden Leaf Awards Committee, Governor of the Philippine Red Cross, and Vice Chair of the Asia-Pacific Regional Peace Council of Professionals, in a press conference, noted that the FPA, which bestows the award, said that Rep. Villar is honored “because of her sterling government service”.
The Golden Leaf Awards Committee, chaired by Dr. Ortiz, is composed of Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, the Archbishop Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro City; Dr. Samuel M. Salvador, Conference Chairman, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Peace Council of Professionals, and Chancellor of the Royal Institution of Singapore; and Dr. Michael G. Zablan, Conference Co-Chair, Regional Chairman of FPA Asia-Pacific, and International Visiting Professor of the Royal Institution of Singapore.
Dr. Salvador said “The family is the center of hope and peace one at a time. The Family Peace Association seeks to dig deeper into one Family under one God.”
He stressed that in 2017, the founding chairman of FPA Dr. Hyun Jin “Preston” Moon joined by his better half launched the FPA in Seoul, South Korea.
For his part, Dr. Zablan, said “Villar provides invaluable educational support to youth and students, as well as assistance to families, teachers, urban poor, and professionals. She likewise serves as a positive role model for the people”.
Pacquiao will receive this year’s FPA’s Golden Leadership and Family Award (Golden Leaf) for Sports and Philanthrophy.
The eight-time world boxing champion, will receive the inaugural award because of his outstanding contributions both sports and philanthrophy.
The award recognizes Pacquiao’s exceptional achievements in the boxing world, as well as his unwavering dedication to using his platforms for charitable endeavors.
Rep. Pleyto and his family will receive the Golden Leaf Award as model family on July 19-21, 2024 at the 112-year-old historic Manila Hotel.
Rep. Pleyto is the Vice Chairperson of the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy in the 19th Congress.
Rep. Pleyto will be honored with an award as a representative of a model and exemplary family.
The Pleyto Family has demonstrated unwavering commitment to upholding values of integrity, excellence, and compassion for fellow men.
The other awardee, Venerable Noppadon Siriwangso, will be conferred with the Golden Leaf Award for Interfaith for Peace.
Venerable Siriwangso is the Head of the Dharma Practice Division and Assistant Director of the Phra Dhammakaya Temple of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The awarding ceremonies coincides with the First Asia-Pacific Family Peace Leadership Conference which is organized by the FPA, with this year’s co-convenors Royal Institution of Singapore and Federation of Associations of Private Schools Administrators (FAPSA).