Cebuana Lhuillier’s 2019 edition of the Search for the Happiest Pinoy has finally been concluded last May 29 at the Grand Awarding Ceremony with Public School Teacher from Gumaca, Quezon, 37-year old Zaldy Bueno honoured as the 4th Happiest Pinoy!
The event, was intimate- by popular awards ceremony standards, but is still grand! The program opened with a production number from Philippines’ pride – El Gamma Penumbra and with additional entertainment provided by the UP Singing Ambassadors. Ang bongga talaga!
The top 10 finalists were initially presented wearing Filipiniana attire, each one looking like a winner!
But of all ten, Zaldy came out on top, chosen by the judges to be the one who most exemplifies the character of a Happiest Pinoy – a Filipino with the innate characters of optimism, resilience, and hope amidst different life crises. I will never forget that one of Zaldy’s greatest achievement was the help he gave his mother in order for her to finish her secondary education. Sya ang naging teacher ng nanay nya!
I am truly grateful to have been invited to the Happiest Pinoy events – from meeting the first ever Happiest Pinoy, to getting to know the top ten finalists up-close and to finally seeing who the grand winner is. The Search for the Happiest Pinoy was not just a very meaningful journey for all who took part in it, but also an inspiring journey for bloggers like myself who was able to follow their progress.
Congratulations Zaldy! You deserve to be the Happiest Pinoy 2019! Kudos to Cebuana Lhuillier, led by their President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier! You not only know how to come up with awesome micro-financing products but also with projects or advocacies that highlight the indomitable Filipino spirit. Cheers!
To read more about the event, please refer to the official press release below.
PRESS RELEASE:
Public School Teacher named Cebuana Lhuillier’s Happiest Pinoy 2019
Zaldy Bueno, a 37-year old teacher from Gumaca, Quezon was hailed as the 4th Happiest Pinoy, winning Cebuana Lhuillier’s Search for the Happiest Pinoy which honors and celebrates the Filipinos’ innate “optimism, resilience, and hope amidst different life crises.”
Zaldy bested nine other finalists from different categories, winning one million cash and a trophy.
The board of judges composed of Usec. Zenaida Maglaya, Gang Badoy Capati, James Deakin, RJ Ledesma, Love Anover-Lianko, Jonathan Yabut, Winston Maxino, Rommel Arellano, and Richardson Navor chose Bueno unanimously by virtue of his advocacy to see more children’s lives change through education. Zaldy volunteered as an ALS teacher and taught on weekends, he even had his mother as his student at one point and helped her finish her secondary education. Zaldy also co-founded project PADYAK in 2017, PADYAK stands for Pidal Apakan Dunong Yayaman, Asenso’y Kakamtan, which aims to provide bicycle units for students who could not afford to travel to school.
The project turned out huge with so many people donating new and used bicycle units from all over the Philippines even getting donations from OFWs abroad. This project drastically increased attendance for students at school for which their school received a perfect attendance award.
“I am very happy with the results of this year’s search — with over 800,000 entries received through our branches, online, SMS, and walk-in entries. It’s been amazing to read the entries of the 10 finalists and Zaldy proves to be a worthy winner as his tale will definitely inspire countless people to push on despite life’s difficulties, Zaldy exemplifies the commendable Filipino spirit of rising up from your current predicament and using that as fuel to make a difference in the lives of others.” said Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Currently, Bueno serves as the head teacher of the English department at the Gumaca National High School. As a kid, their family would often encounter financial difficulties, Zaldy would help his mom wash clothes for their neighbours and would get his daily allowance from selling vegetables he planted to augment the family income. Zaldy vowed to work hard and study hard in order to improve their life.
A turning point in Zaldy’s life was when typhoon Rosing hit in 1995 which completely obliterated their house, and forced to stay at the barangay health center. During clinic days, Zaldy and his family had to move their things on the street to accommodate the influx of patients.
After graduating secondary school, Zaldy tried to get a college education but had to stop schooling due to financial constraints. In order to get back to school, he had to work two jobs, including stints at a tile store and as an advertiser scout for a local radio station. He finished college after 6 years.
Bueno is the fourth winner of the biennial search following Richardson Navor (2015), Rommel Arellano (2012), and Winston Maxino (2009).
When asked what Bueno will do with the prize money, he shared that he will use it to further improve Project PADYAK by acquiring more bike units which more youths can use to get to school. He also shared that he will use a part of it to bring his parents to Singapore for a well-deserved vacation.
Breaking its own record, the Cebuana Lhuillier search received over 800,000 nominations this year, the most entries it received in its ten-year history.
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