TOFIL: THE OUTSTANDING FILIPINO AWARD

The TOFIL 94’s is an award given by the Philippine Jaycee Senate and The Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd based on the several criteria found the TOFIL 94’s “Rules Governing Nomination which are:
a.    Dedication to Profession;
b.    Significant contributions to advancement of Profession;
c.    Significant contributions to public welfare;
d.    Significant contributions to national development;
e.    Service and benefit to Humanit; and
f.    Human personality as “earth’s greatest treasure”.

Upon recommendation of the Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) ’94 Committee and the Board of Judges, and the Philippine Jaycee Senate and the Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd’s, by unanimous vote of their respective Boards of Directors, awarded Jesus Nicanor P. Perlas, III, Agriculturist, Environmentalist and Ecologist, as The Outstanding Filipino for 1994 in the field of Agriculture on 01 December 1994.

Citation

For pioneering in environmentally friendly and socially just and meaningful agriculture or “sustainable agriculture;”

For being the first to successfully establish and operate a commercial biodynamic, pesticide-free and environmentally friendly farm in the Philippines, thereby becoming a source of inspiration to thousands of farmers and rural workers all over the country in the area of “sustainable agriculture,” which term he coined in 1983 together with two colleagues form the United States;

For being the first Asian agricultural journalist to alert the Philippines and Asian public about the environmental and social impacts of the “Green Revolution” in farming;

For refining the philosophical, scientific and intellectual understanding, and advancing the concept and practice, of “sustainable agriculture;” and

For focusing national attention and action to the hidden practice in the Philippines of using pesticides banned or restricted in other countries, which resulted in the banning of dozens of pesticide formulations,

For all of which he received, among others, the prestigious “Global 500 Award” from the UN Environmental Program.