The JCI Senate Philippines formally conferred the 2025 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awards on Monday night, 19 January 2026, recognizing five Filipinos whose careers and advocacies have left a lasting mark on national development. Among this year’s honorees was former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and University of the Philippines (UP) president Alfredo “Fred” Pascual, cited under the Government Sector for a career defined by institution-building and public trust.

Held at the Palawan Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, the ceremony marked another chapter in TOFIL’s nearly four-decade tradition of honoring Filipino leaders aged 41 and above whose work advances their fields and serves the public good. Established in 1988 by JCI Senate Philippines, the awards have become a benchmark for excellence grounded in integrity, perseverance, and service.

Pascual, who served as secretary of the DTI from 2022 to 2024, framed the recognition as one that goes beyond titles or positions. In reflecting on the award, he said it ultimately “speaks to public trust,” underscoring his long-held view that leadership in government is measured by credibility, consistency, and the institutions left stronger after one’s term.

The Government Sector citation adds to a five-decade career that has spanned public service, international development, academia, and corporate governance. At the DTI, Pascual was a key figure in the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery, pushing for innovation-led industrialization, support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and deeper trade and investment linkages.

During his tenure, the department helped secure more than $76 billion (approximately P4.26 trillion) in investment pledges and advanced landmark measures such as the Internet Transactions Act and the Tatak Pinoy Act. His work in economic policy and reform was earlier recognized with the 2024 Arangkada Lifetime Achievement Award.

Before returning to government, Pascual served as the 20th president of the UP System from 2011 to 2017. His term was marked by the implementation of the “One UP” framework, which sought to unify the national university system, strengthen research and public service, modernize infrastructure, and expand access to quality education. Colleagues have often pointed to this period as emblematic of his approach to leadership — focused on systems, collaboration, and long-term impact rather than short-term visibility.

Pascual is also a former senior official of the Asian Development Bank, where he spent 19 years working on private sector operations, infrastructure finance, and public-private partnerships across Asia. He later led the Institute of Corporate Directors as president and CEO, advocating stronger corporate governance standards in the Philippines and the ASEAN region. Today, he continues to serve on the boards of major institutions, including BDO Unibank, Megawide Construction Corporation, and the Philippine Council on Foreign Relations.

In formally accepting the TOFIL Award, Pascual described it as an affirmation of the principles that should guide public leadership — competence anchored on character, integrity, and stewardship. He stressed that success in government is judged “not by titles or visibility but by institutions strengthened and lives improved,” highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and reforms that endure beyond individual administrations.

He also noted that the recognition carries a responsibility, saying TOFIL awardees are presented as role models whose professional success should serve the greater good.

Pascual expressed hope that such examples would inspire younger Filipinos to develop their skills, uphold ethical standards, and commit their talents to public service and national growth.

Alongside Pascual, the 2025 TOFIL Awards recognized Maria Minerva Calimag (Academic Community), Neil Aldrin Mallari (Non-Government Organization/Civil Society), Rene Meily (Private Sector), and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito (Past The Outstanding Young Men Honoree).

The awardees were selected by an independent Board of Judges chaired by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, with Ambassador Rosario Manalo, Professional Regulation Commission Commissioner Louis Valera, Dr. Nona Ricafort, and Engr. Enunina Mangio as members. Organizers emphasized that none of the judges are JCI members, underscoring the independence of the selection process.