The Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) was conferred the Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan Award by Ateneo de Manila University at a special academic convocation on Tuesday afternoon, November 22.
NVC president Millie Kilayko, received the award, from Ateneo de Manila University president Roberto C. Yap and Board of Trustees chair Bernadine T. Siy.
The award was given to NVC “in recognition of its deep commitment and extraordinary ability to harness the energies, resources, talents, and skills of individuals to help neglected communities and those in great need; and for its effective, community-centered, and hands-on approach to service initiatives in the areas of nutrition, education, and livelihood,” they said.
Kilayko, in her speech, said she shares the award with the country’s “small volunteers”.
Starting with a story of NVC boat beneficiary fishermen whose P20 donation started a fund drive for Nepalese earthquake victims, she called out “to small groups of friends who band together to do good things, to little children who break their piggy banks so other children may be fed, and the nameless and unknown volunteers who perform acts of kindness in their homes, their villages and their communities – hindi kayo nag i-isa. Hindi tayo nag i-isa (You are not alone. We are not alone). This award is yours as well.”
She told Ateneo’s Board of Trustees and the judges that “in recognizing NVC Foundation’s power to make a difference, you are recognizing the power of the human spirit, the generosity of an enlightened community and the love of God which upholds all things good. NVC has delivered, because God’s love never fails.”
The Ateneo awards “recognize the life and works of men and women who exemplify the values of the university, and who have been transformative forces in our society.”
Lino Rivera, Ateneo de Manila University Vice President for Mission Integration, in an interview said “NVC has been helping our countrymen in various years through many ways. They have been very active in the areas of the nutrition, livelihood, and education, to name a few. They seem to be very organized. Very efficient. I’ve always admired NVC and the people behind it.”*