After going through close to 800,000 applications in the last few months, the biggest edition of the Cebuana Lhuillier Search for the Happiest Pinoy has now come down to 10 individuals who are already winners in their respective categories.
We had the opportunity to meet each of the finalists as they were presented to the media last April 26 at Happy Garden Cafe in Makati. Each one of them has their own stories to tell, stories of struggles and successes, and each of them has qualities that stood out which made them the perfect finalists for this search.
Khaye Celine Maggay (youth), Francisca Tumampil (senior citizens), Fortunato Januto (overseas Filipino workers), Rodrigo Roble Jr. (lingkod bayan), Zaldy Bueno (professionals), (manggagawang Pinoy), Mark David Cerezo (entrepreneurs), Alfred Santos (employees), Jayson Dela Fuente (persons with disabilities), and Leovy John Terrado (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community) will each receive P50,000 and will go through a panel interview to determine this year’s Happiest Pinoy grand winner who will take home P1 million tax-free.
The panel of judges is led by Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya; Rock Education Project Inc. founder Gang Badoy Capati; Enterph co-founder and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma; TV host, journalist and online influencer James Deakin; TV host Love Anover-Lianko; The Apprentice Asia winner and JY Consultancy and Ventures founder and managing director Jonathan Yabut; and Search for the Happiest Pinoy previous grand winners Winston Maxino, Rommel Arellano, and Richardson Navor.
An advocacy program of Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest micro-financial services company, the Search for the Happiest Pinoy celebrates the values of optimism, resilience and hope as it aims to find a Filipino who has a positive outlook in life, was able to rise above life’s challenges and had a positive impact in the lives of others.
“Filipinos are one of the most resilient people in the world, facing life’s challenges with optimism, faith and a can-do attitude. At Cebuana Lhuillier, we believe that this should be recognized and encouraged at all times,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president & CEO.
As we pondered at the stories of each of the finalists of the Search For The Happiest Pinoy 2019, we realized that they all had one common denominator. They were all happy and satisfied with their lives but their true happiness come from their generosity, their love for helping others. In fact, when they were asked what they will do to the 1 Million Peso tax-free prize if ever they win, almost all of them answered that they will be giving most of the prize to their loved ones or to an organization they are supporting.
Filipinos are known to be the happiest persons on earth and the happiest Pinoys amongst us find happiness in helping their co-Filipinos. Indeed, we are the luckiest citizens in the world.
The grand winner of the Search will be announced during the awards night on May 29, 2019 at New World Hotel.
