Polio-stricken Rommel Arellano is this year’s Happiest Pinoy. He bested 9 other finalists and over 13,000 nominees nationwide to take home the title plus a cash prize of PhP250,000, tax-free.
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“I may be different, but let me make a difference in the lives of others,” said our Happiest Pinoy 2012 Rommel E. Arellano Please watch and be inspired by his story of triumph and rising above life’s challenges tonight, September 26,2012 early airing at DZMM Teleradyo at 9 p.m and after Bandila at 11:00 p.m.
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The 35-year-old Bataan native was afflicted with poliomyelitis at the age of one, which taught him to crawl with slippers on his hands as his only means of mobility. Finding a job wasn’t easy for Rommel but he never stopped pursuing success in life.
With his determination and brushing off discrimination, Rommel was able to land different jobs—an insurance agent, part-time instructor, disc jockey, emcee, singer, musical director, resource speaker, call-center agent, and a school guidance counselor. He is also the current president of the Organization of Person’s with Disability in their community.
“I am overwhelmed with this unique recognition. By receiving this award, I hope to encourage more Filipinos to stay positive and remain optimistic despite life’s problems. I may not be able to walk, but getting up is never an issue. I will continue my journey, even if I have to crawl.” said Arellano.
With its origins in 2009, the Search for the Happiest Pinoy is a flagship campaign of the Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS). It seeks to find the most optimistic and resilient Filipino despite life’s challenges in the hopes of inspiring other people to do the same.
Present during the awarding ceremony at the Makati Shang-ri La Hotel were P.J. Lhuillier Inc. (PJLI) chairman and ambassador to Portugal Philippe Jones Lhuillier, PJLI president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, and first Happiest Pinoy awardee Winston Maxino.
The Search for the Happiest Pinoy honorees included student leader Arnel Alipao, family counselor Gilda Fortunata Altez, peace coordinator Connie Emborong, teachers Marcelo Otinguey and Concepcion Tababa, college instructor John Gabriel Pelias, entrepreneurs Gerald Raymundo and Rebecca Tiu Conco and utility worker Leonardo Villanueva.
The Happiest Pinoy 2012 panel of judges included Ramon Magsaysay Foundation president and CEO Ma. Carmencita Abella, Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, PJLI chief administrative officer Jose Miguel Jimenez, 2010 Happiest Pinoy awardee Winston Maxino, 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, Brahma Kumaris Foundation Philippines president Dr. Leticia Ramon-Shahani, University of the Asia and Pacific senior vice president Dr. Bernardo Villegas and Philippine National Red Cross governor Miguel Zubiri.
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