Village Connect
The Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award (STCA) has announced the 2021 and 2022 winners of the distinguished Philippine-based humanitarian awards after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Angela Maria “Beth” Luna Pangan was named the 38th STCA awardee for 2021, while Consuelo Misa Balbero was recognized as the 39th STCA awardee for 2022. Both awardees were commended for their steadfast commitment to children’s welfare and protection.
Angela Maria “Beth” Luna Pangan, the 38th STCA winner, is president and chair of the NORFIL Foundation. NORFIL is a non-profit organization that helps neglected, abandoned, or disabled children gain access to basic services, shelter, and rehabilitation programs. Under her leadership, NORFIL holds a Community-based Inclusive Development Program for Children and Youth with Disability, facilitates Department of Social Welfare and Development-licensed foster home programs and adoptions, and has counseled and housed abused, unwed pregnant mothers. Eighty-nine-year-old Beth has been involved in social service for 38 years and continues to do so.
The 39th STCA awardee, Consuelo Misa Balbero, heads the child caring agency Kanlungan sa Er-Ma Ministry, Inc. (KSEM) as its administrator and executive director. Her direction and passion for upholding children’s rights and protecting the youth have enabled KSEM to reach out to abused and homeless children. At 69 years old, Consuelo continues to spearhead programs that extend essential needs like education, food, shelter, and protection to at-risk or indigent youngsters. Her 38 years of welfare work have allowed her to impact thousands of marginalized and maltreated youth.
STCA is a recognition program dedicated to the late St. Teresa of Calcutta. St. Teresa was known worldwide as the ‘Living Saint” because of her selfless humanitarian work and ideals that inspired many to follow in her footsteps, which led to her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
One of the highly-esteemed humanitarian awards in the country, STCA has been an annual project of the AY Foundation, Inc. (AYF) and the Junior Chamber International Manila (JCI Manila) since 1983. STCA seeks to celebrate lay individuals who have selflessly dedicated at least 25 years of their lives to humanitarian work for underprivileged Filipinos.
Inspired by the vision of it’s founder, Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, the AYF has grown into an organization that undertakes pro-poor and developmental programs nationwide such as scholarships, national discipline and community service awards, health programs, relief operations, among others. AY Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies.
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