Search begins for 2025 TOYM honorees
Choosing the nominees for the prestigious The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awards is no easy task. Screening committee members must comb through stacks of documents, and, just as crucially, read between the lines.
“They have to keep their ears to the ground. Even the smallest negative issue, whether mentioned or not, can affect the integrity of the awards. We do our due diligence,” said Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, director of TOYM Foundation Inc., during a recent media gathering announcing the call for nominations.
The TOYM, widely regarded as the most prestigious recognition for young achievers (ages 18 to 40) in the country, has always maintained high standards, and with those standards come struggles.
“Every year, there are politicians who lobby hard for their preferred nominees. Everyone knows how valuable this award is. Even though the identities of the screening committee and judges are kept confidential, some still try to pull strings,” said Dumlao-Abadilla, who is also a TOYM 2015 honoree and an editor of the Inquirer’s Business section.
Another major challenge: background checks. “Many nominations look great on paper. But evaluators have to dig deeper to see if there are any controversies or red flags surrounding a nominee. Once the nominations come in, the committee short-lists them—but that means reading through every bid portfolio, thoroughly,” she said.
“Our evaluators have full-time jobs and still dedicate time to this process as a way to give back. We don’t just rely on what’s written. If we uncover any adverse issue, the candidate is disqualified—no matter how strong the lobbying.”
The TOYM Search 2025 national chair Hannah Chloe Cano added: “Time is another major challenge. All the evaluators and judges are volunteers, so scheduling can get complicated. That’s why we intentionally launched earlier this year.”
Targeting 150
Cano said their goal this year is to gather at least 150 nominees. “In the past years—this is TOYM’s 66th year—we’ve been working on increasing the number of nominees,” she said. “We’re hoping to cross the 150 mark this year because it means the nominations are more spread out, more inclusive.”
For Billie Crystal Dumaliang, TOYM 2024 honoree for Environmental Leadership and Community Development, the award has had a lasting impact. “We really need this kind of support in the environmental sector. Our work is risky. And sadly, we often have to rely on the international community to back us up,” she said. “The TOYM award helped because it gave us that sense of local support—from the forefathers of TOYM, the alumni, the community that stands behind it.”
Dumaliang is a cofounder of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, a geotourism and conservation initiative that protects limestone formations, endemic species, and watershed areas near Metro Manila.
“This recognition is a huge boost, especially for marginalized groups. As a woman, being honored in what was once an all-men’s awards program is a big deal. The TOYM isn’t just for me, but also for the entire Masungi rangers team. There are about a hundred of us, and now they feel that our work is being seen and valued.”
Eleazar “Abe” Orobia, TOYM 2021 honoree for Education, Culture, and the Arts, echoed the same sense of affirmation. “TOYM gave me a big push—not just as an educator in the academe, but also as an artist, a writer, a curator, and definitely as a visual artist,” he said.
“Human connection is contagious. When you’re inspired, you inspire others. And suddenly, entire communities start dreaming. They begin to believe that there’s hope. Without hope, we stop dreaming. And without dreams, we stop growing,” said Orobia.
Maristelo Asilo, TOYM 2021 honoree for Social Entrepreneurship, said that before receiving the award, he preferred to stay behind the scenes. “But after I got the TOYM, everywhere I went, especially in Mindanao, it became an extension of my name. It’s actually a heavy thing,” he said.
Responsibility
The recognition came with a sense of responsibility. “There are expectations that come with it. And I think those expectations mean you now have to do things with integrity. That’s something I really try to live up to,” he added.
Asilo, who has a hearing disability, said the award also helped him embrace what makes him different. “People expect you to inspire or help someone. That’s when I realized that when you do things differently, that difference becomes your strength. And once you find that strength, it becomes easier to work with others. It’s like there’s this invisible thread that connects all TOYM honorees wherever they go—and that makes the impact even more meaningful,” he said.
In partnership with JCI Philippines, the TOYM honors young Filipinos aged 18 to 40 who have made significant contributions to their field or community. This year’s theme is “Excellence in Action, Building a Better Tomorrow.” Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 30.
To apply, connect with a JCI Philippines local organization to serve as your nominator and sponsor. Next, fill out and sign the pre-nomination form. The sponsoring local organization will then upload the form through the JCIP website. After that, prepare your bid portfolio. Once the application is approved, submit your portfolio and all required documents through your sponsoring JCI chapter.
The screening, judging, and selection process will run from September to October. Winners will be honored at a gala dinner in January 2026.
