THE AY FOUNDATION NATIONAL DISCIPLINE AWARD

Guidelines for the SY 2020-2021

About the AY Foundation and the Yuchengco Group of Companies.

The Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) believes that being responsive to the needs of the
community is a social responsibility of a good corporate citizen. It is realized when a company
invests private capital for the public good, the benefits of which impact on the poor and translate
into better health, higher incomes, access to education, better housing and cohesive community
organizations, among others. This is what Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco calls a “social return
on investment” or SROI.

Guided by this SROI philosophy, Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, Founder of the YGC,
established the AY Foundation, Inc. (AYF) in 1970, a non-profit, service-oriented organization
that was to be funded with contributions from the YGC.

Backed by the synergy of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, the AY Foundation fuels the cycle
of giving – empowering the less privileged so that, they, too, may extend their helping hand to
others. Using synergized means, the AYF works to uplift the quality of life – through scholarship
grants, medical missions, and the promotion of moral values.

The Yuchengco Group of Companies – even in its diversity – is bound by a common goal: that of
providing integrated financial services for the communities it serves and enhancing core values
that strengthen the foundation of the Filipino nation.

About the National Discipline Award.

In response to Ambassador Yuchengco’s call to instill national discipline in the country’s youth,
the AY Foundation established the National Discipline Award in 1990. The award aims to give
recognition to graduating high school students who consistently exemplify the virtue of discipline
in school and in the community. Since its inception, the award has been conferred to more than
to 13,000 high school graduates from more than 1,200 high schools nationwide. Although not a
scholarship program, the National Discipline Award encourages its recipients to pursue their
studies. Aside from a gold medal, awardees receive a cash award of Php 7,500.00 to help defray
their college tuition.

The National Discipline Award is an affirmation of AY Foundation’s commitment towards the

advancement of our nation, as we believe that “the youth are the hope of our fatherland.”
 SEARCH GUIDELINES

A. SCREENING PROCEDURES

Participating schools are urged to conduct a proactive search for possible nominees by making all students
and teachers aware of the search through announcement in student council meetings and faculty
meetings. Every school must follow a two-level selection process in conducting the search.

The first level selection involves all 12th grade students and all subject teachers. The President of the
Student Council calls all 12th grade students to cast their nominees for the award through secret balloting.
The Head of the Faculty also conducts a similar nomination process involving all subject teachers. The top
nominees will then be submitted to the Final Screening Committee for further deliberation.

On the second level, a higher screening body will deliberate on the merits of the top nominees submitted
by the preliminary screening committee. It is recommended that the Final Screening Committee be
composed of the following individuals:

• Principal / School Director (as the Head of the Committee)

• Guidance Counselor
• Prefect of Discipline / Grievance Committee Head
• Class Adviser / Values Teacher
• Curriculum Chairman / Academic Coordinator

The Final Screening Committee must verify the background of each nominee and may subject the
nominees to a panel interview, on the spot home visit and/or interview of family and peers.

The final choice of the school must then be communicated to AY Foundation for confirmation.

B. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Each participating senior high school is allowed to select only one official nominee for the year. The
school’s official nominee must be a graduating Grade 12 student who, on the judgment of the Screening
Committee, best exemplifies the following traits:

1. Self-sacrifice
• Gives rather than takes
• Reaches out to others and sacrifices personal advantages for the good of those who are in need
• Labors for the good of the family, classmates and friends, for the good of the school and for the good
of the country.
• The student is generous with his time, talent and possessions, sharing those things with others

2. Courage
• The student has determination and will power to overcome hardships
– The student may be poor but works to get through school
– The student may be handicapped but is persevering
• Could be the last, lowest and least on the team, but never stops trying
• Stands for his own convictions, even when these convictions are not popular

3. Integrity
• Honest in the classroom, campus and at home
• Does assignments consistently, does not cheat in examinations and earns marks that are received
• Does not sacrifice principles for personal gains
• Stands for what is just and right
• Outstanding in sportsmanship and fair play

4. Discipline
• Works hard to develop his God-given talents
• Respects the laws of the country, the school regulations, club rules and expectations of his friend
• Never resorts to drugs, alcohol, or to any immoral behavior
• Stabilizing factor for peace and harmony in the classroom, in the campus and at home.
It is the prerogative of the Screening Committee to adopt its own “point system” with respect to the
above-mentioned basic criteria for the selection process.

C. REQUIREMENTS FOR NOMINATION

The Principal, as the Screening Committee Head, must submit all the following requirements to the AYF
office on or before February 26, 2021:

1. Nominee’s Information Sheet (form sent by AY Foundation to participating schools) duly

accomplished by the nominee and signed by the principal / screening committee head.

2. A brief write-up or essay on the school’s official nominee, to be done by the principal or the
head of the screening committee, describing the nominee’s outstanding qualifications, citing
specific situations where nominee demonstrates the traits of discipline, courage, integrity,
self-sacrifice, and of being a responsible citizen of our country. This serves as the “Basis for
Selection of the Nominee” and must be duly signed / certified by the head and all the
members of the final Screening Committee.

3. Two (2) identical copies of the nominee’s ID picture, size 2” X 2”, with white background and
his full name, signature, school and region printed legibly at the back of the pictures.

4. A brief (one-page) essay with no more than 300 words written by the nominee with the title,
“As A National Discipline Awardee, What Can I Do to Make This Country a Better Place to
Live In?”

5. Photocopies of valid school ID of the nominee, the head and all the members of the Final
Screening Committee.

D. CONFIRMATION OF THE AWARD

All nominations from participating schools are subject to AY Foundation’s confirmation. Only complete
and properly accomplished documents received by AYF on or before February 26, 2021 will be
processed for confirmation. Facsimile or email transmittals, unsigned documents, incomplete
requirements and late submissions will not be honored.

The AY Foundation will confirm the school’s nominee through a confirmation letter mailed to the Principal
together with the San Lorenzo Ruiz gold medal and the cash award to be given to the awardee on
graduation day. Without AY Foundation’s confirmation, the school’s nomination will be considered
invalid.

E. ACTIVITIES FOR NATIONAL DISCIPLINE AWARDEES

The AY Foundation encourages the participation of awardees in activities specifically designed to develop
their talents, skills, and potentials and to promote camaraderie and networking among awardees.

1. Musical workshop – a 3 to 4-week singing, dancing, and acting workshop where selected
awardees rehearse special musical numbers that they get to perform during the annual
gathering of awardees.

2. Championing the Youth for Community Leadership (CYCLE) – a multi-level leadership-

training program to encourage awardees to lead civic-minded lives.

3. Volunteer Program – exposure to community-based projects in various areas.

Announcements/invitations/information regarding these activities will be sent through the schools or

directly to the awardees’ home address.