From transforming a treacherous mountain of garbage where scavenger families eke out their living into a modern and sustainable haven, Dr. Reghis M. Romero has gone a long way with his noble vision. And for his indomitable efforts, the Presidential Envoy to Japan has been awarded with a peace award from a distinguished international organization.
The award was given to Dr. Romero II by SinoPhil Asia International Peace Awards Foundation Inc., an award-giving body dedicated to enhancing the quality of human life through the preservation and promotion of peace. Dr. Romero received the accolade for his contribution to humanity in the field of business management and leadership.
“The award isn’t only given to achievers but we also consider how this achievement has helped in the progress of humanity,” noted Sonny Chico, Senior Vice President of Sino-Phil Asia International Peace Foundation or SPAIPAFI.
“In the case of Dr. Romero, he showed compassion in helping the underprivileged while at the same time improving and expanding his business. He used his success to further his philanthropic activities,” noted Chico. “There are many successful businessmen, but Dr. Romero’s efforts at helping humanity is why he was awarded Laureate for Business Management.”
On what made Dr. Romero stand out among other businessmen across the globe, Chico said, “In three aspects, he is a corporate leader, having organized his different companies to become successful; he has also been recognized globally for his business efforts by being chosen the vice president of a Paris-based real estate federation; and the third aspect is that he is also active in civic work.”
Presenting the award to Dr. Romero II were Sri Lankan Ambassador Shobini Gunasekera and Laureate 2019 chairman Dr. Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr. Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with video messages from Sino-Phil Asia board chairman Dr. Billy Chan and director Dr. Heng Sok Kung for IndoChina comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Sino-Phil Asia members, including the founding members, consist of healthcare professionals, academics, artists, journalists, policymakers and philanthropists from around the world who pool their resources for the pursuit of peace.
Deeply rooted in China, the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region, the organization has a panel of independent jurists from around the world to determine the appropriate award categories based on currently prevailing global conditions and identify the corresponding exceptional peacemakers through their outstanding achievements in their respective fields of expertise.
Sino-Phil Asia’s strategic founding partners in that endeavor are the Order of the Knights of Rizal, World Brothers Chapter, and the Diliman Central Chapter of the Rotary Club International.
Among its three strategic partners, the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) is the oldest, having been established as a fraternal society in 1911 and officially created by Republic Act 646 in 1951 to promote the teachings of the national hero, himself a staunch advocate of peace.
Exemplar for business and civic work
Like Rizal, peace awardee Dr. Romero II came from various industries, academic disciplines and civic organizations, including OKOR as its supreme commander from 2012 to 2014 after having served as its deputy supreme commander in 2010 to 2012.
Dr. Romero II is a philanthropist and businessman involved in property and infrastructure development. He is the vice president of the World Council of Developers and Investors of the Paris-based International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), whose Philippine chapter he also heads as president.
Among his many legacies is the transformation of Smokey Mountain from the country’s biggest dumpsite into a sustainable and peaceful community with mid-rise condo buildings awarded to beneficiaries by the government.
Dr. Romero II was FIABCI-Ph immediate past chairman and once headed the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations as president.
A multi-awarded Filipino entrepreneur, Dr. Romero II has received a Doctorate Fellowship from London-based Academy of Multi-Skills of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Romero is a graduate of Foreign Service in UP-Diliman, Executive Development Program of the Asian Institute of Management, Masters in Business Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific, and honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
An exemplar in business and service to the country, Dr. Romero is a three-time recipient of the Legends of Philippine Real Estate Awards from Biz News Asia Real Estate Who’s Who, Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Philippines Award from the Quezon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1991, Most Outstanding Employer Award from District 3780 of the Rotary Club in 1993, Most Outstanding Kapampangan for Exemplary Achievement Award from the Kapampangan Press Club in 2009, PAMANA Award from the Local Government and People of Angeles City in 2014, KAIBIGAN Award from the Manila Police District in 2016, Nation Builder Award from BizNewsAsia in 2018, and Outstanding Port Operator Award in 2017 and Diplomate in Real Estate Management in 2018.
And while currently serving as presidential envoy to Japan, Dr. Romero II also chairs the Advisory Council of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) of the Philippine National Police and is an incumbent member of its Regional Advisory Council and the board of directors of the City College of Angeles.
Walking the talk
According to Chico, the pandemic may have hampered plans for the next awards, but it hasn’t stopped members from across the world to work on helping humanity. On 22 January, for instance, SPAIPAFI has offered aid to children with autism and people undergoing drug rehabilitation in Macau. SPAIPAFI has been active in its civic work despite the uncertainty of Covid-19.
“SPAIPAFI is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all humanity. It was founded by healthcare professionals, academics, artists, journalists, policy makers and philanthropists from around the world with the vision of pulling their collective resources to empower leaders of peace — from distinguished individuals to institutions.
“We keep roots in China, the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region. We bring a unique perspective of peace that manifests itself. Our panel of independent juries from the region, and globally, choose from a variety of categories to identify exceptional peacemakers in their respective fields,” noted Chico, who shared the core of the foundation’s manifesto.
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