PHINMA expands recognition of service beyond tenure to community impact
While years of dedication remain an important measure of service, PHINMA is championing a broader perspective—one that places equal value on the impact individuals create within their communities. Grounded in its belief that uplifting lives goes beyond formal roles, PHINMA recognizes that service is reflected in everyday actions that help others grow. Meaningful impact comes from individuals who choose to make a difference—through both quiet, consistent efforts and transformative initiatives.
As PHINMA Corp. Chairman and CEO Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. emphasized during the organization’s Service Awards, “being a force for good is not only defined by strategy or direction, but by people—by members of our PHINMA family who go beyond what is expected of them in service of others.” This perspective comes to life through four individuals whose work reflects PHINMA’s mission: Grazieleanne Sellabe, Karina Angela Albert, Ronald Kim Agbay, and Adele Traspe. Each, in their own way, contributes to uplifting underserved communities, especially young people and marginalized families.
Nurturing the Next Generation
For Grazieleanne Sellabe, giving back is closely tied to her own journey. A former PHINMA scholar, she now works to expand access to learning in underserved communities, drawing from personal experience to connect with the youth she serves. Having faced challenges growing up, she understands many of the realities her students navigate and uses that understanding to encourage and support them.
Sellabe recently placed Top 4 in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (Elementary Level), an achievement that highlights both academic excellence and commitment to service. For her, professional success carries greater meaning when it creates opportunities for others to learn, grow, and thrive.
In Pangasinan, Adele Traspe advances education as a pathway to service and second chances. As Director for Student Development and Leadership at PHINMA University of Pangasinan, he leads initiatives that shape students beyond academics. He also supports education access for female Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) through the College Education Behind Bars program, in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Through his work across education, civic, and social organizations, Traspe continues to champion programs that expand opportunity and strengthen communities.
Service Through Personal Connection
Impact is not always measured by the size of an initiative. Often, it takes shape in the everyday work of building stronger communities.
For Ronald Kim Agbay, this work happens close to home. As the president of the homeowners’ association Grand Strikeville, a socialized housing community, he draws from his experience as a project engineer to work with the residents to address concerns and improve living conditions. But beyond solving problems, he creates spaces for conversation, trust, and shared understanding, demonstrating—understanding that strong communities are built not only through solutions, but through connection.
Karina Albert shows how service is built through sustained connection. As a mentor in PHINMA’s Big Brother Big Sister Program, she has provided guidance and support to PHINMA scholars, remaining a steady presence in their academic journeys. During the pandemic, she helped her little sister navigate disruptions to keep her education on track.
For Albert, mentoring is a two-way process. She sees service not only as giving support, but also as an opportunity for shared learning, growth, and meaningful relationships.
A Broader View of Service
While their journeys differ, the four share a common foundation: compassion, consistency, and a commitment to making a difference. Their stories reflect PHINMA’s evolving approach to recognition—one that honors both dedication over time and the depth of impact created along the way.
By highlighting service that extends beyond the workplace, PHINMA underscores a simple but powerful idea: meaningful contributions are not defined solely by years, but by the lives touched and communities strengthened.
As PHINMA leaders emphasize, being a force for good starts with the willingness to act. And when one act of service inspires another, impact grows—far beyond what can be measured in years.