Three members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were formally recognized for their exceptional service on Monday, September 14, 2026, when the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Soldiers (MFOFAS) ceremony took place at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City — spotlighting military excellence drawn from three distinct branches of the AFP.
The annual awards program, conducted in collaboration with the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati, was established to acknowledge soldiers whose conduct in uniform best embodies integrity, dedication, and outstanding service to the Filipino nation.
Awardees Represent Three Branches of the AFP
According to the AFP Public Affairs Office, the three honorees came from different service branches and commands, underscoring the wide reach of the recognition program across the entire military establishment. The 2026 MFOFAS awardees are:
- Lieutenant Colonel Rommel M. Geli PN(M) — Commanding Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team 9, representing the Philippine Navy’s Marine Corps
- Staff Sergeant John Daren P. Noche PAF — Assistant NCO-in-Charge for Safety, Tactical Operation Group 10, Tactical Operation Wing Eastern Mindanao Command, representing the Philippine Air Force
- Staff Sergeant Joebelle O. Cerdinio PA — Signal NCO, 102nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, representing the Philippine Army
The selection brings together expertise from naval ground operations, air force safety and tactical functions, and infantry brigade communications — reflecting the breadth of roles in which AFP personnel demonstrate outstanding performance, the AFP Public Affairs Office noted.
Vice Chief of Staff Leads Ceremony on Behalf of AFP Chief
AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan presided over the ceremony in place of AFP Chief of Staff General Antonio G. Nafarrete. In his address to the awardees, Lieutenant General Roldan urged the honorees to channel the same spirit of dedication into their future assignments and to pass on their knowledge to fellow soldiers.
“Ang pagkilalang ito ay pagpupugay sa inyong nagawa. Dalhin Ninyo ang parehong diwa sa susunod na tungkulin, at ibahagi ang inyong kaalaman upang mas marami pa ang makinabang sa inyong nasimulan. Your recognition reminds us that every act of committed service strengthens our organization and contributes to a stronger nation,” Lieutenant General Roldan said.
The statement encapsulated the AFP’s view that individual acts of service have a compounding effect — strengthening the institution from within while also contributing to national security and public confidence in the military.
AFP Core Values at the Center of the Recognition
The AFP Public Affairs Office emphasized that the accomplishments of all three awardees are a living demonstration of the AFP’s foundational values: honor, service, and patriotism. These are not merely ceremonial words within the institution, officials noted — they are benchmarks against which military professionalism is measured and rewarded.
The AFP said in its statement that the professional excellence shown by Lieutenant Colonel Geli, Staff Sergeant Noche, and Staff Sergeant Cerdinio has left a tangible impact both within their respective units and in the broader communities where they have carried out their duties. Their selection to receive the MFOFAS award places them among an elite group of AFP personnel recognized under this program.
Private Sector and Civil Society Partnership Highlighted
The AFP also expressed formal appreciation to the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati for sustaining their partnership in the awards program over the years. According to the AFP Public Affairs Office, the continued involvement of these civilian organizations in recognizing military personnel reflects a meaningful bridge between the armed forces and Philippine civil society.
The Metrobank Foundation, as a longstanding partner in the MFOFAS program, plays a central role in funding and promoting the recognition, helping ensure that stories of quiet dedication within the military ranks receive the public acknowledgment they deserve. The Rotary Club of Makati’s participation further cements the program’s ties to the broader community of civic-minded institutions in the country.
The ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo served not only as a moment of recognition for three individuals but also as a reaffirmation of the AFP’s institutional commitment to nurturing and celebrating a culture of excellence across all its branches and commands. Officials present at the event reiterated that the program continues to inspire other soldiers to pursue the same standard of selfless service.
By the Numbers
- 3 — AFP personnel honored at the 2026 MFOFAS ceremony on September 14, 2026
- 3 — organizations co-hosting the awards: the AFP, Metrobank Foundation, and Rotary Club of Makati
- 3 — AFP service branches represented among the awardees: Philippine Navy (Marine Corps), Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Army
Why This Matters
The MFOFAS program represents a sustained, institutionalized effort to publicly affirm military professionalism through a partnership between the AFP and civilian organizations, signaling that the armed forces values both internal accountability and external recognition. Honoring soldiers from three distinct branches reinforces the message that exemplary conduct is expected and celebrated at every level of the military hierarchy. The active participation of the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati further demonstrates the vital role that private-sector and civil-society institutions play in supporting public trust in the AFP.
Source: AFP Public Affairs Office / PAOAFP
