1. DISTRICT JUDGING:
Each district will select only one (1) winner from the list of
qualified nominees. The judging panel at the district level will include three
(3) coordinators from RC Makati, the District Coordinator and the Chairman
of the Council of Governors in their district or his designate.
2. NATIONAL JUDGING:
The top three winners will be chosen from the ten district
finalists. The national judging panel will include Chairperson President Eddie
Galvez, PP Raissa Hechanova Posadas, an academic member, an NGO or
Social Welfare organization head, and a prominent business leader.
ABOUT: The Paing Hechanova Youth Leadership Awards (PHYLA) is a flagship initiative of the Rotary Club of Makati, first launched during Rotary Year 2023-24. These awards honor the memory and legacy of the late Past Rotary International Director Rafael “Paing” Hechanova, a revered RC Makati member recognized for his outstanding contributions to both Rotary and Philippine sports. PHYLA celebrates exceptional young leaders across the Philippines who demonstrate remarkable leadership and a strong commitment to service. In its inaugural year, PHYLA received nominations from over 50 young leaders from across the country, with support from all 10 Rotary districts in the Philippines.
For the 2025 edition, the awards will continue to recognize youth leaders who have shown extraordinary leadership in one or more of Rotary International’s Seven Areas of Focus as well as Sports Development Advocacy:
• Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Water and Sanitation
• Basic Education and Literacy
• Disease Prevention and Treatment
• Economic and Community Development
• Maternal and Child Care
• Environment Protection
• Sports Development Advocacy
Special award will be given for a Youth Sports Personality for the year to be determined by the RC Makati board of directors for RY2025-26.
Prize for the Youth Sports Personality for the year: ₱100,000
Additional Prizes for District Winners:
• The top three winners at the district level will receive: ₱50,000 (1st place), ₱30,000 (2nd place), ₱20,000 (3rd place).
• The 1st Place winner at the district level will advance to the national competition.
• Districts have the discretion to increase the cash prizes by adding their own funds if they wish to further encourage
participation.
Honoring PRID Rafael "Paing" Hechanova
The awards carry on the legacy of PRID Rafael "Paing" Hechanova, a distinguished member of RC Makati. Joining the Club in 1967, he served as Club President in RY 1972-73, as District Governor in RY 1979-80, and as Rotary International Director from RY 1996-98. Along with his wife Mely, PRID Paing became a member of the esteemed Arch Klumph Society. Beyond Rotary, PRID Paing was an accomplished athlete who represented the Philippines in basketball at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and was later inducted into the Philippine National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. PHYLA embodies his enduring spirit of leadership and excellence.
The Past PHYLA Winners (2024)
Amina Halil (2nd Runner Up) from RI D3850
Samuel Madriaga (1st Runner Up) from RI D3820
and Joachim Ridulme (Grand Winner) from RI D3790
PHYLA 2025 NOMINATION GUIDELINES
2. Eligible Nominees:
The award is open to youth leaders who meet the specified criteria, including Rotaract members.
3. Nominating Club:
Rotary clubs and Rotaract clubs are both eligible to nominate youth leaders within their district. However, only a Rotary club can nominate a Rotaractor, and a Rotaract club can only nominate a nonRotaract youth leader.
4. Exclusions:
Nominees must not be related, up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity, to any judges at the district or national levels, or to any active member of the Rotary Club of Makati or Rotaract Club of Makati. Additionally, the top 10 finalists from PHYLA 2024 are ineligible for nomination.
5. Age Requirement:
Nominees must not be younger than 18 years old, and not more than 30 years old, on December 31, 2025.
6. Residency:
The nominees must either reside in or their project must be situated within the territorial jurisdiction of the district they represent.
7. Service Commitment:
Nominees must have been involved in their community service for at least two years at the time of nomination, within one of Rotary International’s Seven Areas of Focus or Sports Development Advocacy. Additionally, they must commit to continuing their project or advocacy for two more years immediately following the award. The organizing committee shall request a progress report on the ongoing project or advocacy at any time after the award is given. The organizing committee reserves the right to revoke a winner’s title and demand the return of all prizes if this commitment is not fulfilled.
8. Role Model:
The nominees must demonstrate behavior that makes them worthy role models for the youth.
9. Leadership Skills
The nominees must have consistently displayed strong leadership abilities.
10.No Criminal Record:
Nominees must not have been convicted of any criminal offense by final judgment. If a winner is later found to have committed a crime or delict for which they are criminally convicted, the organizing committee reserves the right to revoke their award and reclaim all prizes.
11.Multiple Entries:
Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in the Philippines may nominate as many individuals as they deem fit.
12.Participation Requirement:
Finalists from each district must be willing to attend the boot camp, the final judging session, the awarding ceremony in Metro Manila, and any other required activities in November 2025.
13.Submission Process:
Nomination forms, along with all required documents, photos, and videos, must be submitted online via the designated submission portal. Only online submissions through this portal will be accepted.
1. Eligibility for Nominations:
Nominations must come from a functioning* Rotary Club or Rotaract Club within any of the ten Rotary districts in the Philippines.
TWO-LEVEL JUDGING
• Grand Winner: ₱500,000
• 1st Runner-Up: ₱250,000
• 2nd Runner-Up: ₱150,000
PRIZES
CLUB AND DISTRICT COORDINATORS
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TIMELINES
Feb 25, 2025, 2PM| Coordinator’s Meeting and a photo shoot for the PHYLA Promotions Video at the Peninsula Manila
April 5, 2025, 9AM | Official launch of the PHYLA 2025 at the District Conference of D3830 at SMX Convention Center, MoA, Pasay
April 5 – September 26, 2025 | Nomination period
September 29 – October 17, 2025 | District Judging period
October 20, 2025 | Announcement of 10 winners (district level)
November 18, 2025 | Arrival and Welcome Dinner for the PHYLA Top 10 Nominees
November 19-20, 2025 | RC Makati Clubhouse | Boot camp for the 10 winners
November 20, 2025 | Interview and Final Judging at RCM Clubhouse
November 21, 2025 | PHYLA Gala Night
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PHYLA 2025 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
PE Eddie Galvez, Conveyor
PDG Sid Garcia, Overall Chairman
PDG Pepz Bengzon, Overall Vice-Chairman and Chair, Nominations Committee
Sec. Regi Ponferrada, Secretary and Chairman – Secretariat and Stewardships
PDG Tony Quila, Chairman – Judging Committee
PP JunJun Dayrit, Deputy Chairman – Judging Committee
PP Louie Aseoche, Deputy Chairman – Nominations Committee
IPP Bing Matoto, Chairman – Promotions Committee
Leo de Leon, Chairman – Ways and Means Committee
Howie Calleja, Chairman – Gala Night
Pres Keith Harrison, Chairman- Boot Camp
Dir. Rodrigo Segura, Deputy Chairman – Boot Camp
Dir. Chris Ferareza, Chairman – Audit
