Senate Approves Medal of Execellence

MANILA - The Senate on Monday adopts Philippine Senate Resolution (PSR) No. 781 which aims to establish the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence introduced by Senators Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Juan Edgardo Angara.

"Filipinos who are recipients of major international award giving bodies are automatically qualified to receive the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence" Tolentino said.

The measure automatically confers the Senate Medal of Excellence to Filipino recipients of the five international awards, namely the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, the A.M. Turing Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, or an Olympic medal.

According to Tolentino, the said international recognitions set the highest standards of excellence, nationalism, and virtue that their fellow countrymen can aspire for.

Tolentino earlier mentioned that the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence awaits Filipino athletes who won medals for the country in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, regardless whether it's a gold, silver, or bronze medal.

The award that is set to be given by the upper chamber is comparable to the Congressional Gold Medal of the United States Congress which is their highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.

The Philippine Senate has consistently recognized and commended Filipinos who have excelled in their own field of expertise and, through their own actions and example, served as a symbol of hope to the nation.