Chief Justice Davide, Wife Receive Family Values Award

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented the 2016 Family Values Award (FVA) to Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. and his wife, Mrs. Virginia Davide, in recognition of their advocacies that advance standards and values that strengthen the Filipino family.  Now on its 10th year, the FVA was held on November 24 in an intimate ceremony at Marco Polo Ortigas. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales co-presented the award together with Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the Philippines Area Presidency

The Family Values Award is given by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to recognize the honorable efforts of moral, upstanding community leaders who are striving to advance standards and values that are consistent with the Church’s position on the sanctity of the family.  In 2014 Atty. and author Alex Lacson and the Philippine Navy were honored and in 2013 Jollibee received the award.

"The Davides  have centered their lives around love of God, love for family, love for others and love for service. Their strong support for the Filipino family can be found in their work footprint in the judiciary, volunteer service and in lay leadership capacities in the Catholic Church,” said Haidi Fajardo, Public Affairs Manager of the Church in the Philippines.

“During his tenure in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Davide safeguarded the protection of the constitution particularly the Family Code which supports traditional marriage, and rejected agenda that threatened the right to life," she added.

In addition to his tenure in the Supreme Court, he served as head of the Commission on Elections, Chairman of the Truth Commission, and Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations.  He received the 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.

Chief Justice Davide responded by quoting from The Family: A Proclamation to the World. 

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." 

While supporting her husband’s endeavors and raising five children, Mrs. Davide, affectionately known as “GiGi,” was involved in volunteer work. She served as Director of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency under the National Economic and Development Authority which coordinates foreign and domestic volunteer programs in the Philippines. She has also acted as a member and advisor to international volunteer organizations and as a commissioner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Committee on Education. 

During Mrs. Davide’s response she recalled the song, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” a song with special meaning for her and her family.  One of her granddaughters came to the stage and the two women led the audience in singing the song. She also said her family’s strength came through “trusting unconditionally to God.” She said, “With God all things are possible."

Introduced by Elder Abenir Pajaro, Area Seventy, the keynote speaker was Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.  She lauded the honorees for their efforts to strengthen the Filipino family and protect the environment for future generations, and praised them for being great examples of a strong marriage. “Mark Twain once quipped that no man or woman knows what perfect love is until they have been married more than a quarter of a century. Having been married more than fifty years, CJ and Mrs. Davide surely know what perfect love is twice over.”  

Elder Shayne M. Bowen, Philippines Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave the concluding message. He explained that the Church honors exemplary people like the Davides because maintaining strong families is important to the communities and to the world. “Families are eternal. Through ordinances performed in the temples of the Church, families can be sealed together forever.”                     
      

“Now Brother Davide you have accomplished, with your sweetheart, many wonderful things but the most wonderful thing you’ve accomplished is this beautiful family. They are your crown jewels,” he emphasized.