AY FoundationEVENTSFr. Peter GeremiaJCI ManilaLumadPress ReleaseSaint Teresa of Calcutta AwardsSt. Teresa of Calcutta
Press Release: Saint Teresa of Calcutta Awards recognizes missionary for 47 years of saintly work
The Saint Teresa of Calcutta Awards (STCA), one
of the most celebrated award giving bodies in the country, has culminated this
year’s search for the most impactful humanitarian with the awarding of Fr.
Peter Geremia. The awards ceremony, which centered on theme “30 years of
Saintly Selflessness,” was held in conjunction to STCA’s 30th
anniversary at the RCBC Plaza Yuchengco Tower in Makati. It was attended by representatives from non-government
organizations, philanthropists, public servants, as well as members and
officers of JCI Manila and the AY Foundation.
Formerly known as the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Awards, the STCA recognizes individuals who have devoted at least 25 years of
their lives to serve underprivileged and underserved Filipinos. Aside from
their work, awardees are also judged based on their character and adherence to
Saint Teresa’s principles of integrity and simplicity in lifestyle.
This
year’s STCA awardee is Fr. Peter Geremia, a 78-year old Italian missionary from
the Pontifical Institute for
Foreign missions or Pontificium Institutum pro Missionibus Exteris (PIME) who has been instrumental in promoting the rights
and living conditions of both marginalized and indigenous people’s for 47
years. He relocated to the Philippines in 1972 and was initially assigned in
Tondo.
Early in his service, Fr. Geremia already
supported and fought for the needs of minority groups beginning with informal
settlers who protested during the La Tondena strike. Fearless for his life, he
also stood up against the Manero brothers and their group of North Cotabato who
were known to commit atrocities against people connected to the New People’s
Army.
Later on, Fr. Geremia and his group also
spearheaded efforts to elevate the living conditions of indigenous tribes who
were oftentimes deprived of their ancestral land. His group ensured that these tribes were
trained in agricultural production so they could sustain
themselves, provided with food and land security, and had peace in their
immediate communities.
His compassion and determination to help these
minorities soon garnered him the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award for Peace
through Paritcipatory Development in 2001. Fr. Geremia has helped thousands of
people through his efforts, particularly the Lumads. His invaluable
contribution even earned him the nickname the “Living Saint of the Lumads.”
He is currently the president of the Fr. Fausto
“Pops” Tentorio Foundation Inc. which enables people to have access to education,
health services, agricultural production, environmental protection and the
sustainable building of multicultural communities that espouse mutual respect,
justice, peace and solidarity.
Through this recognition from STCA, Fr. Geremia
will be able to expand his organization’s reach and help improve the lives of
more underprivileged Filipinos. He will
receive a cash grant of one million Pesos (PHP1,000,000.00), at least half of
which will be donated to his charitable institution of choice.
Through selfless individuals like Fr. Geremia,
STCA hopes to inspire more people, particularly the youth, to be more involved
and active in their communities.
“It is through selfless individuals like Fr.
Peter Geremia that we at STCA believe we can truly impact change in the
community. By looking outside of
ourselves and reaching out to others, we can truly uplift the spirits of those
who are not only in need but of the entire country as well,” said Jerrold Ong, 2017 Chairman of the Saint
Teresa of Calcutta Award.
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