PNS scholar, mentor among outstanding individuals recognized in 2025 PHINMA Service Awards
Two members of the PHINMA National Scholarship (PNS) family were honored in the 2025 PHINMA Service Awards for their stellar commitment to making lives better and creating a lasting, positive impact within their respective communities.
John Michael “JM” Kawamura and Airalyn “Aira” Gara were awarded for the PNS Scholar and PNS Mentor categories, respectively, during the ceremony last March 13 at The Loft at Manansala. John Michael and Airalyn are both PNS alumni who also became educators, effectively paying forward the education they earned with support from PHINMA Foundation, Inc. (PFI).
JM, currently a science teacher for junior high school students at St. Mary of the Woods School in Makati, was chosen for his passion for empowering others within and beyond the classroom. JM held various leadership posts such as founder and president of San Jose del Monte (SJDM), Bulacan-based youth organizations AGAPAY-CSJDM and GUNITA-CSJDM from 2020 to 2022 and vice chairperson of the SJDM Local Youth Development Council’s Economic Empowerment Committee from 2022 to 2023. He was also the finance committee head of the Philippine National University (PNU) Balingsasayaw from 2021 to 2022 when he was a science education student specializing in biology.
“Napaka-helpful ng mga binigay ng PHINMA, andaming events like workshops and seminars na tutulong sayo on how to become professional and become better,” said JM, recounting how his learnings as a PNS scholar inspired him to lead other aspiring youth leaders in working towards making a meaningful impact in their community.
Meanwhile, Aira has mentored five PNS scholars as a Big Sister for the past six years. That’s on top of her current job as an educator at the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School. A Filipino education alumna of PNU, Aira graduated cum laude and also received the Making Lives Better award in 2019 for her unwavering dedication to teaching and serving her community.
“Mentoring our scholars is not just giving back to PHINMA but also going back to my meaningful stories, experiences that shaped my core values, and remembering those people who helped me get here,” Aira expressed in her acceptance speech.
PFI President Nicole “Nikki” del Rosario-Serafica, who was also part of this year’s panel of judges, expressed pride and joy for JM, Aira, and the PNS’s scholars and graduates for excellently embodying the PHINMA Group’s core values of integrity, competence, professionalism and love of country.
“Our awardees serve as living proof that one ordinary person can indeed make an extraordinary contribution to making lives better for the people and the community around them. My wish for you both is that you are always surrounded by people who support and encourage you to be the best version of yourself that you can be,” said Ms. Serafica during the ceremony.
JM and Aira join two other Service Awardees under the PHINMA Employee categories: Franklin “Kleng” De Guzman, College of Arts and Sciences Dean at PHINMA University of Pangasinan, and Dr. Ma. Paciencia “Paz” Belarmino, College of Dentistry Chief of Clinics at Southwestern University PHINMA.
A seasoned educator, Kleng was recognized under the Community Service Beyond Role at Work subcategory for his volunteer work which has provided essential support and personal development opportunities to underprivileged youth. Meanwhile, Dr. Paz won in the Profession in Action subcategory for bringing dental care to far-flung communities for the past four decades while also helping secure scholarships and resources to sustain outreach initiatives.
“At PHINMA, our work goes beyond our usual business operations. We seek to make a difference in our communities by directly helping those in need and uplifting their lives. It is by going beyond our daily responsibilities and serving the underserved in our own unique ways that we become a force for good,” said PHINMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. during the event.