OSCAR in the mountains OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF CORDILLERA A century ago, the great Jose Rizal called upon the youth asking, “Where are the youth who will dedicate their innocence, their idealism, their enthusiasm to the good of the country?“ Almost half a century ago, Jose Concepcion Fr. founded the search program that celebrates, affirm, and inspires the burgeoning idealism of the youth in excellence, leadership, and social responsibility--Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). Over the years, TOSP has produced a laboratory of leaders who ahve landscaped the Philippine academe, business, church, and civil society. Among them are Raul Roco, Sonia Malazarte-Roco, Rene Saguisag, Fr. Manoling Francisco, Ricardo “Dong“ Puno and Victoria Pineda-Garchitorena. In response to the challenges posed to youth leaders, finalists of both national and regional searches of TOSP have converged as a community. Acknowledging the vast distribution of Filipino youth, the community has grown Regional Chapters that are committed to bring closer the science of nation building that TOSP advocates to their respective regions. The concept of regional chapters was benchmarked by TOSPCAR, popularly known as the OSCARS (The Outstanding Students of Cordillera Administrative Region). OSCAR Alumni Community, Incorporated was formally created in 2005; however, the regional started in 1994. The search was in conjunction with the national-level awards to bring true empowerment at the lowest level of every community. The regional search aims to inspire these recognized young leaders to establish their own community within the environment, promoting and nurturing the same culture of excellence that TOSP advocates. The search program is being held annually in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education.
TOSP at a glance
10