“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18
The world, as it is, is not perfect. But there are people who are changing it every day.
These are the visionaries. The people who imagine the world as it should be, and are doing everything they can to ensure this world changes – little by little – into something better. One field at a time. One area at a time. One person at a time.
Visionaries. People who, through the clarity of their vision, fueled by passion, are able to create change that makes life better for those around them.
These are the people we are honoring with The Standard Visionary Awards. They include students. Chefs. Housewives. A retired harbormaster. OFWs. And more.
They are people who are driving the change we need to see in our country. Showing us a clear picture of how things could be, and should be.
The Power of Vision
“If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
We are a country powered by vision. It is what created a small group of islands into an independent sovereign state. Vision is what turned small businesses into the conglomerates we know today. It is what turns talent into performances that bring the world up on its feet.
And into the future, it is still vision that will turn the Philippines into what it could be: a country of peace, progress and prosperity. We have heard of big names in government, industry, education, science and technology, business and more who have helped this country achieve milestones and are driving it forward.
But there are more visionaries out there than have been seen, heard or read about in our media. These are people who are quietly doing the things that still need to be done.
Defining the Visionary
“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.” -John Sculley
We have been asked, how did you choose your visionaries? Where did you find them? What were their qualities?
Passion. Purpose. Insight. Creativity. Compassion. Innovation. Dedication. Inspiration. And the resolution to take a stand, and match it with hard work.
It’s not just about doing good, although the visionaries indeed do good. It’s about changing the world, and ourselves, into something better.
At The Standard, we also have our own vision: To tell the stories of these visionaries and how they are changing the lives of those around them, to help them reach those who are able to run with them and help them move them forward in the direction of greatness. We know it will take more than a single visionary to take us where we need to go. But here’s the good news: We are a nation of visionaries.
Here are the people we are recognizing on Friday, December 4 at the first ever The Standard Visionary Awards. (Click on their names to read their stories.)
Charie Villa (Social Media And Citizen Journalism), Waya Araos Wijangco(Special Needs Culinary Art Education), Rachel Harrison (Autism Awareness And Education), Casimiro Olvida (Watershed Protection), Jaafar Kimpa (Muslim Rights), SLIM’S Fashion And Arts School/ Sandy And Mark Higgins (Fashion Education), Lenora Luisa Cabili (Fashion), Maiki Oreta (Children’s Advocacy), Quintin Pastrana (Reading and Literacy Advancement), Hindy Weber Tantoco (Sustainable Living), and Roberta Dans Thomas (Arts and Culture).
For Social Entrepreneurship, we have Cristina Liamzon and Edgardo Valenzuela (OFW Education), Kevin Lee (Safe Water For Poor Communities), John Paul Maunes (Empowering the Deaf), and Nanay Ines Fernandez (Breastfeeding and Motherhood Education).
And because age is no deterrent to vision, here are the young ones who are changing lives, minds and paradigms, even before thirty. Our Young Visionaries: Aisa and Raphael Mijeno (Science and Technology), Charlene Tan (Community and Agriculture), Jason Buensalido (Architecture), Xyza Cruz Bacani (Photojournalism), Zark Varona(Entrepreneurship), and Cristalle Belo Henares (Entrepreneurship).
The men and women we are honoring in The Standard 2015 Visionaries are just a few; they are only the first. There will be more. Because there are more out there, all working silently, some unobtrusively, to take this country where it needs to go.
The Standard Visionaries 2015 Team
Editorial team: Tatum Ancheta, Bing Parel, Bernadette Lunas
Special Projects team: Jocelyn F. Domingo, Elizabeth Mendoza, Judith Albano, Kaye Kho, Edelyn Elamparo
Photos by Dix Perez • Hair and makeup courtesy of Creations by Lourd Ramos Salon • Layout by Romel “Ismit” Mendez
The Visionaries’ images were shot using FUJIFILM X-T1 with 16-55mm f/2.8 lens
Special thanks to FUJIFILM Philippines, The Cravings Group, and Philippine Airlines
Behind the scenes photos by Sonny Espiritu
Additional behind the scenes photos by Patricia Topacio, Clarence Manaois, Noime Dagohoy, Rey Porras
