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Hon. Antonio Martinez Bernardo First Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant Leader Awardee DBTC Mandaluyong HS 1971 Philippine
Customs Commissioner A project of the Don Bosco Alumni Philippine National Federation Inc. and the Salesians of Don Bosco-Philippines, the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant-Leader Award was named after a Salesian priest who became the third successor of St. John Bosco. Rinaldi is credited as the founder of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco. To qualify for the award, one must be an alumnus/past pupil of any Don Bosco school; be a practicing Catholic, of good moral character; have an outstanding achievement in a field of endeavor or specialization, verifiable through neutral sources/third party individuals or institutions; and have a record of service and concern for Don Bosco’s charism via membership/participation in the activities of a local chapter or of the Federation. While a student at the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong, Bernardo was the valedictorian of both his elementary and high school class. He was active in campus journalism, being the editor in chief of “The Spark”, the school organ. From 1993 to 1995, he was also the president of the Don Bosco Alumni Philippine National Federation. Commissioner Bernardo obtained his B.A. in Mathematics degree from the Ateneo, before proceeding to law school and graduating class valedictorian from the same university. He was a 2nd placer during the 1988 bar exams. His stint in public service as Customs Commissioner follows several other positions he occupied in government: as Secretary for the Commission on Appointments, Officer-In-Charge of the Social Security System, and the Undersecretary for both the Departments of Energy and Finance. He is also a member of the Ateneo College of Law Faculty. Introduction
of the First Recipient of the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant Leader
Award at the New World Hotel, January 16, 2003. At forty-eight, Atty. Bernardo can look back at a life of achievements that an average man would probably need a lifetime to accomplish. But then Tony, as he is fondly called by friends and associates, is no ordinary man. And for him life is just beginning... A life of sharing and of service to others. he eldest of nine children of lawyer Benigno Bernardo and religious lay leader Alegria Martinez, Tony grew up in a home that placed a high premium on caring and concern for one another, nurturing of personal resources and talents, duty and responsibility, and a firm faith and reliance in the Almighty. The seed of servanthood was sown in him very early in life. He believed that the good Lord has blessed him with many gifts which he had to nurture and develop to the best of his ability. Asked for his philosophy in life, he unhesitatingly quoted “To whom much is given, much more is expected.” This has led him to excel in whatever he does and to share with others whatever he gains. A man who doesn’t go for half measures, Tony’s quest for learning and for professional and public service is characterized by hard work, serious purpose, single-mindedness and firm leadership. His studies were marked by excellence all the way from Prep to college. He was Class Valedictorian of Elementary Class 1967 in Don Bosco Mandaluyong. And four years later, he repeated the feat by graduating at the top of High School Class 1971, in addition to garnering various awards like Campus Journalist of the Year Award, the Gerry Roxas Leadership Award and the Insular Life Gold Eagle Award. After eleven years in Don Bosco, Tony went to the Ateneo de Manila as an Ateneo College Scholar and as a National Science Development Board (NSDB) Scholar. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics four years later and graduated as one of only four members of College Class 1975 to finish that course. After working full-time for seven years with the Ayala Group of Companies (where he rose from Management Trainee to Senior Division Manager of Ayala Corporation), Tony went back to Ateneo as a working student, this time to pursue his law studies. He graduated Class Valedictorian of the Atenco Law Class of 1988. In the same year, he took the Bar Examinations and landed second out of a total of 2.824 examinees. One month after the bar results came out, Tony took another government examination, The Real Estate Broker’s examination in which he placed second nationwide. To this day, Tony continues to he an enthusiastic student, never passing up opportunities like seminars and conferences to add to his education and personal development. Tony has been a Senior Partner of VILLANEJEVA BERNARDO & OABTONZA Law Office which he co-founded. His field of practice includes corporate law, insurance law and real estate transactions. His journalistic skills honed up through many years of editorship of school organs, newsletters and annuals serve him a good stead as editor of professional journals, notably the business trade journal of the Bosconian Chamber of Commerce (which he founded), and the Association of Law Journal Editors of the Philippines (which elected him as its first National Chairman in 1985).
His professional commitments leave him very little time for himself. But true to his philosophy, he has prioritized family and community, particularly the needy. Despite a hectic schedule, he unselfishly shares himself with others n various church and civic activities and projects. Tony has served as the legal adviser of the Urban Poor Council of Mandaluyong (UPCM) and of the Mandaluyong Labor Alliance (MANDELA); as the corporate secretary of the War Against Poverty Foundation and as the secretary of the Citizens Traffic Action. He was also the presiding officer of the Constitutional Committee of the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (OLA) in Hulo, Mandaluyong, and was primarily responsible for drafting the Constitution and By-Laws of its Parish Pastoral Council. Fully convinced that education is the only lasting solution to poverty and enslavement of any kind, Tony has given scholarships to deserving students coming from poor families in his barangay. He has likewise initiated through civic organizations, the rendering of free dental and medical services to children of the public schools in his community. Not given to trumpeting his achievements, Tony quietly works for the improvement of the lot of others. But his works have not gone unnoticed by the community. Numerous service awards from public and private groups, including the Don Bosco Alumni Association of which he was president from 1987 to 1991, attest to this. One Award he treasures is the “Dugong Busko” Presidential citation given to him by the Almni Association in 1990. In 1997, his Alma Mater conferred on him the Pro Deo et Patria Award and the Natatanging Bosconian Award. Tony is grateful for his Bosconian education and makes no bones of the fact that a good deal of what he is today may he attributed to his Bosconian training and formation. For one. he has never failed to look up to his Maker through all the times in his life. Our awardee is presently the Commissioner of the Bureau
of Customs, tasked with restoring honesty and integrity in this government
entity. Prior to this, he served as Secretary of the Commission on Appointments,
undersecretary and chief of staff, 1)epartrn Bureau of Customs Commissioner
and former Department of Finance Undersecretary Antonio Bernardo has
been named as the first recipient of the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant
Leader Award. And every time it happens, the parishioners invariably look up in quiet admiration for a family that has remained an exemplar of simple faith and unity. The parents are Tony and his wife, Ma. Christina Conti. Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Alumni and friends, our Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant-Leader Awardee: Commissioner Antonio Martinez Bernardo. Tony is grateful for his Bosconian education and makes no bones of the fact that a good deal of what he is today may he attributed to his Bosconian training and formation. |
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