By Francis Wakefield Three soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were presented as among the 2018 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos in a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday. (photo courtesy of AFP Public Affairs) MANILA BULLETIN Major Francis Señoron of the Philippine Army, Lt. Col. Danilo Facundo of the Philippine Marine Corps, and Lt. Col. Thomas Ryan Seguin of the Philippine Air Force were recognized "for rendering service above and beyond his/her call of duty." "The recognition that they have received today manifests their dedication to their duties and exemplary service not only for the benefit of the AFP, but more importantly for the whole country," said AFP Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. Maj. Señoron, an assistant division chief in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, OJ4, was especially cited for his expertise in bomb disposal and management that has saved countless soldiers and civilians. His particular ingenuity allowed him to develop devices similar to the galvanometer and disruptor that are much cheaper and sustainable compared to their commercial equivalents, costing the AFP only P1,500 and P600 respectively, and have been adopted and mass-produced by the Philippine Army for EOD units nationwide. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Facundo, director of the Marines' Mobile Training and Exercise Unit, was cited for conceptualizing and facilitating the creation of the Sustained Multi-Agency Assistance in Resorts and Tourist Areas (SMART-MARINES) and the Joint Inter-Agency Task Unit Brooke's Point, Bataraza, Rizal, and Balabac (JIATU-BBRB). Both agencies have military, local government, and private sector components that strengthened the information-sharing protocol across Palawan province, securing the tourism hub from terrorism, kidnapping, and insurgency. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Seguin, commander of the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, directed aerial missions vital in securing Marawi City against terrorists in 2017. He was cited for flying 134 out of the 156 total air-to-ground attack missions and ably dropped a total of 267 bombs, equivalent to 134,000 lbs of explosives, in the Marawi City campaign. "These awardees redefine the true essence of public service, raise the bar of excellence, and serve as good examples to their colleagues and their respective organizations," said Metrobank Foundation President AnicetoSobrepeña. The awardees join the ranks of 655 outstanding public servants recognized by the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati Metro since 1985, including General Galvez who was among The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers in 2007. Formal conferment ceremonies will be held on September 7 at the Metrobank Plaza in Makati City.