Oscar M. Lopez lauds Nationalism contest winnersFour outstanding essays earned the nod of Lopez Group chairman emeritus Oscar M.Lopez (OML) at the close of his contest on the Lopez Value of Nationalism on June 20, 2012. The contest, launched in March, generated 49 essays from several companies across the Lopez Group. Eight judges trimmed these down to 23 entries and then 11 before the winners were selected.

The chief mentor lauded the winners for getting the idea behindthe cherished Lopez Valueof Nationalism.Cedie Vargas, HR Council head and the voice of the Lopez Values, recalled that OML started the Lopez Values Star project two years ago to share the values and wisdom passed on to him by his father, Eugenio H. Lopez Sr., whose 111th birth anniversary the Group is marking this month. Here are excerpts from the winning essays.

 The full text is available online at http://lopezsummit.com/. Evamaria Cecilia Lobitaña graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with an AB inmanagement economics. She was a full scholar of the Ateneo Scholarship Foundation. She has passed the Civil Service professional eligibility and sub professional eligibility.

Lobitaña joined First Philippine Electric Corporation in 2006 as office/administrative assistant. She

 is responsible for providing office coordination functions, facilities management, records control, purchasing, business communication and other related functions concerning internal customer service.

In her essay, Lobitaña said:“One need not be a Jose Rizalor a Ninoy Aquino to achieve greatness in the Lopez Group or in the country. One needs only to choose commitment amidst pressure. One must choose to perform the hidden greatness in an excellent job even when no one notices one’s work. One must choose tobe loyal and honest. One must choose to do the little things that matter big(L-R) Cris Villaluz (ABS-CBN), HR Council’s Cedie Vargas, Rosan Salcedo (Bayan), Jay Lopez (FPH), Pinky Diokno (Lopez Holdings), winnersHazel Velasco and Eva Lobitaña, chairman emeritus and chief mentor OML, winners Danie Sedilla-Cruz and Joel Pelandiana, Susan Flor (Bayan), Beth Nasol (FPEC) and Mignon Juco (Bayan). Finally, one must choose to pray.

Even such a flicker of light in the surrounding darkness accompanies a glimmer of hope that it may someday be multiplied and emulated. ”Danie Sedilla-Cruz is in charge of promoting the image of ABS-CBN and some of its advocacies at the Creative Communications Management division. She coined the names “BayaniJuan” and “Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig.”

Recently, she wrote the song for Bida Best Kids and co wrote “Da Best ng Pilipino Saan Man sa Mundo.” Her work shave won trophies from the Catholic Mass Media Awards, KBP Golden Dove Awards and Araw Values Awards. She said her inspiration is her father, an honest man in government service. “Nationalism seemed like sucha vague concept. But if we just think about it, nationalism’s bottomline, in the work place or anywhere for that matter, boils down to what every individual is capable of doing—love.

To be nationalistic, we don’t alwaysneed to die. Sometimes, we need to live and work hard and love what we do. It’s when we love our jobs that we’re ready to make sacrifices; we’re willing to take the flak; we’re prepared to go into battle or take chances; and most importantly, we find it easy to give our best,” Sedilla-Cruz said.

Hazel Velasco joined First Philippine Holdings Corporation’s Corporate Communications Group in 2009. She was a scholar and honor student at Ateneo de Manila University, graduating with an AB degree. She is set to take the comprehensive exams for her Master of Arts in Media Studies degree at the University of the Philippines-Diliman later this year.

“…Nationalism means keeping the company’s good reputation, taking responsibility for information and release. We are not just concerned with circulating information, we are concerned with telling a story of our history, challenges and track record to inspire and seek support from various stake holders.“…When nationalism is builtin our core, it becomes so natural that any kind of work, decision leads us to think, ‘How will it affect the community, the country’simage? Is it good for the country?’ When that happens,nationalism will become a very strong value. For a value is stronges twhen it is planted in the heart and bears fruit in words and deeds,” noted Velasco.

JOML hands top essayist Eva Lobitaña her iPad prizeoel Pelandiana crafted the lone all-Filipino language entry among the winners. The operation assistant joined Bayan right out of college in 2002. “Pagpasok ng tama sa oras. Paggawa ng mga nakaatang nagawain na hindi ipinagpapabukas pa at mabuting pakikitungo sa kapwa empleyado. Iyan ang mga totoong makabayan. Sa aking palagay, sa mag-sasampung taon ko nang pananatili sa Bayan Telecommunications, naisasabuhay ko ang pagiging makabayan sa aking pananaw at pinaniniwalaan.

“Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na pinagdadaanan ng aming kumpanya, hindi kami matitinag na ipakita na kayang kaya naming makipagsabayan dahila ng aming kumpanya ay para sa kapuwa Pilipino na umaasa ring mapakinggan ang kanilang boses. Mga Pilipino kaming nagtatrabaho upang maihatid namin ang serbisyong inaasahan sa amin ng aming kliyentena pagkaminsa’y nagiging kapamilya pa ang turing namin sakanila,” Pelandiana said.

Lobitaña, as the first place winner, received the latest iPad; second placer Sedilla-Cruz an iPod touch; third placer Velasco an iPod nano; and fourth placer Pelandiana a microwave oven.