The Junior Chamber International, Manila (Manila Jaycees) and the Alfonso Yuchengo (AY) Foundation on Thursday launched the 2009 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award (BTCA). The honor, which is now in its 22^nd year, seeks to recognize individuals whose commitment to serve the Filipino poor carries on the legacy of the celebrated humanitarian, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

The Manila Jaycees and the AY Foundation said, “The award is intended to focus public attention and confer recognition to those who, like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, have dedicated a significant portion of their lives in the service of the ‘poorest of the poor’ and have served, and shall continue to serve, as an inspirational, living example to the world.“

At the formal launch at the RCBC Plaza in Makati, 2009 BTCA Chairman Christopher C. Ty looked forward to a wider search for this year’s awardee. “It is our hope that the award search will attract more lay individuals who are equally deserving of the award,” said Ty.

The Manila Jaycees initiated the award, which was then called the Mother Teresa Award, in 1983. It later invited the AY Foundation as a project partner. From a humble grant of P50,000, the AY Foundation now gives P1 million to the awardees. Half of the grant goes to a charitable institution of the honoree’s choice.

Last year’s awardee, Dr. Fe del Mundo used the grant to put up the Mobile Blessed Mother Teresa Little Clinic, which goes on medical missions to depressed areas, such as Tatalon and Payatas in Quezon City.

Alfonso Yuchengco, in a speech to close the event, emphasized the significance of the award. “The importance of this award was underscored by the late Mother Teresa who flew in from Calcutta to personally attend the first awarding ceremony in Tayuman, Manila.”

The first BTCA was given to the late Fr. Anthony Hoffste, O.P. who devoted 35 years of his life to taking care of Hansenites.

Other past recipients include Sr. Carmen Locsin, who helps overseas Filipina workers in Japan; Fr. Graetian Murray, who took special care of orphaned and abandoned children for 40 years; Sr. Maggiorina Arenas, who dedicated several years of her life to help ethnic Mangyans in Mindoro; and Dr. Aleli Guzman Quirino, founder of the St. Martin de Porres Charity Hospital in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Any living individual who has dedicated a significant part of their lives to humanitarian work among the poor, the orphans, the dying, the handicapped, the unwanted, the oppressed, the aged, and the other less privileged Filipinos are eligible for the award. Any individual, institution, association or organization may submit a nominee. For more information please contact the BTCA Committee through phone numbers: 525-2631, 525-6792; fax number: 525-6814 or e-mail: clubhouse@jcimanila.org.

Christopher Ty