From left: Roy Torrentira, Arizza Ann Nocum, Erick Epistola and Dr. Anton Mari Lim
(Photo by Alysa Salen)
By Ricardo D. Cruz
A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. This statement supports the Cobra Energy Drink in honoring Filipino’s incomparable acts that go beyond the call of duty through the Cobra Pinoy Heroes 2013.
“These new Cobra Pinoy Heroes have shown that there are no problems too big to be solves. It only starts with a small dream to bring about change, and this is why these are the people… heroes in their own ways, who we need today to inspire and lead people to have better lives,” said Abe Ciprano, Asia Brewery marketing assistant vice president for non-alcoholic brands.
The recognition for exemplary hero-like qualities includes the categories of youth, work force, service, and modern day hero, which support the brand’s motto of “Lakas ng Pinas”.
With her passion to equip the minds and the souls of more than 200 Muslim-Catholic students, Arizza Ann Nocum is the recipient of the Cobra Pinoy Hero youth award.
Nocum believes that growing up with two different religions with her Muslim mother and Catholic father is not a hindrance in attaining peace, which led her family to establish the “KRIS library” that gives scholarships to under-privileged children in Zambaonga city.
Meanwhile, Roy Torrentira, a taxi driver-turned-lawyer, is recognized as Cobra Pinoy Hero Workforce awardee for his passion in attaining his dreams despite the hardships that came his way.
Torrentira came from a poor family in Bohol that led him to take on different odd jobs, including being an ice-cream vendor, car wash boy, delivery truck driver and taxi driver–all these to be able to reach his dream of becoming a lawyer.
Now, Torrentira practices his profession by providing free legal counsel for non-governmental organizations and indigenous people through the Sacdalan Law office in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The Cobra Pinoy Hero Service Award is given to Erick Epistola for his invaluable contribution in developing affordable compact solar home lighting system for families in remote areas through his Solar Power Initiative (SPIN) project.
Through the SPIN project, 86 Mangyan families and 500 houses in rural areas have been given the gift of light, and he continuously conducts workshops among various groups on how to set up a solar lighting system to expand the project’s beneficiaries.
A 46-year-old veterinarian by profession, Dr. Anton Lim, is the Cobra Modern-Day Hero for his “Yellow Boat of Hope” project that transports children from their houses to schools.
According to Dr. Lim, it was an eye-opener for him seeing children of Layag-Layag in Zamboanga city swimming just to reach school.
Dr. Lim added that there are 370 boats have helped 21 communities nationwide and the project continues to benefit even more small island communities in the country.
Each of the awardees received P150,000, which, according to them, will be used in broadening their advocacies and extending aid to people in need.
Ciprano said the votes that determined the awardees were through online and on-ground voting. A total of 50,000 votes were cast.
During the recent presentation of awardees to the media, the awardees expressed the hope that through the Cobra Pinoy Hero Awards, more Filipinos will engage in heroic acts to benefits communities.
(Also published on Friday-Saturday, September 13-14, 2013 issue of BusinessMirror)
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