About TAYO

The Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations was initiated in 2002 by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who noted that, while there are numerous awards given for individual accomplishment, there were very few that acknowledged the contribution and the efforts of groups and organizations.

 Sen. Kiko believes recognition for collective work promotes unity and teamwork – necessary components in the important task of nation building. Rising above divisiveness and apathy, today’s Filipino youth are examples of nation-builders, and it is only fitting that their perseverance, vision, and dynamism are given due recognition. Sen. Kiko has complete faith that the Filipino youth working together can and will build a stronger, brighter future for the nation.

Together with the National Youth Commission, under the leadership of Chairman Mabel Villarica-Mamba and later Chairman Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, TAYO has emerged to be the country’s foremost award for youth organizations. It is given to ten outstanding Filipino youth clubs that have undertaken a recent project or program that has benefited a local community to which they belong. The search is open to youth organizations whose majority of members are aged 15 to 30 years. TAYO involves in-school, out-of-school, working youth, and young professionals. It is a search that is open to any barkada that believes it can make a difference in the lives of others!

The winning project entries of the TAYO winners show that however simple or modest the contribution, it creates and promotes positive change. To overcome problems of local communities, the youth employ innovative solutions, fresh approaches and new techniques. This is a key component of the TAYO award, because the organizers believe the youth, with their talent and imagination, should be a source of best practices that can be shared across the country. The TAYO award ensures that the new paths these youth chart are used to educate and help other youth facing similar problems.