Manila- Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will receive today the ETON International School’s Pillars of Hope award.

Soliman expresses her gratitude for the award and encourages everyone to support the endeavours of people who provide social services.  She said that, “To be named as one of the pillars of hope is truly an honor and joy. I am receiving this award and share it with my fellow workers in government, partners from the civil society and private sector and most of all to the poor, vulnerable and marginalized people for whom we have been zealously working for so that we may continue to foster goodwill and to be of service to our countrymen.” Soliman is also hopeful that with this award, she can inspire more people and bring encouragement to everybody in delivering matapat, mahusay at magiliw na Paglilingkod.

The Pillars of Hope is an annual event of the ETON International School that  recognizes personalities and luminaries from various sectors like media, government, entertainment, music, arts, sports, and community building. The nominees were voted through online or e-learning system by the students, faculty, and administration of ETON School, the first International learning school in the country.  Pillars of Hope awardees should embody the core values of ETON: Big Faith in Self, Big Faith in Others, Big Faith in Family, Big Faith in Supreme Being.

The awarding ceremony, which coincides with the school’s celebration of United Nations Day, will be held on October 19, Saturday at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Earlier this month, the DSWD headed by Soliman also received the United Nation’s MY World Outreach Award for Asia-Pacific and Oceania in recognition of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program that allows and encourages its beneficiaries’ voices to be heard especially as the world decides on its development agenda beyond 2015.

Pantawid Pamilya, the country’s conditional cash transfer program, has become an instrument in bringing positive changes in the lives of over 3.9 million household beneficiaries nationwide. The program will continue its support to underprivileged families with the expansion of its age coverage to up to 18 years old to ensure that children beneficiaries could finish high school.