Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman recently received the ETON International School’s Pillars of Hope award in recognition of her selfless and dedicated service to the country’s poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people.

In receiving the award, Secretary Soliman expressed her gratitude and encouraged everyone to support the endeavors of people who provide social services. 

“To be named as one of the pillars of hope is truly an honor.  I am sharing this award with my fellow workers in government, partners from the civil society and private sector and most of all to the poor, vulnerable and marginalized people for whom we have been zealously working for, so that we may continue to be of service to our countrymen,” Secretary Soliman stated.

“I am also hopeful that with this award, I can inspire more people in delivering “matapat, mahusay, at magiliw na paglilingkod,” Secretary Soliman added.

The Pillars of Hope is an annual event of the ETON International School that  recognizes personalities and luminaries from various sectors like media, government, entertainment, music, arts, sports, and community building. The nominees were voted through online or e-learning system by the students, faculty, and administration of ETON School, the first International learning school in the country.  Pillars of Hope awardees should embody the core values of ETON: Big Faith in Self, Big Faith in Others, Big Faith in Family, Big Faith in Supreme Being.

The awarding ceremony, which coincided with the school’s celebration of United Nations Day, was held on October 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Earlier this month, the DSWD also received the United Nation’s MY World Outreach Award for Asia-Pacific and Oceania in recognition of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program that allows and encourages its beneficiaries’ voices to be heard especially as the world decides on its development agenda beyond 2015.

Pantawid Pamilya, the country’s conditional cash transfer program, has become an instrument in bringing positive changes in the lives of over 3.9 million household beneficiaries nationwide. The program will continue its support to underprivileged families with the expansion of its age coverage to up to 18 years old to ensure that children beneficiaries could finish high school. ###