CITY OF MALOLOS — In celebration of National Heroes Day, SM City Marilao hosted “A Day in the Mall,” a tribute to the outstanding Bulakenyo, Ronald Gadayan, recently recognized as “Asia’s Most Trustworthy, Outstanding Janitor, and Humanitarian Hero” at the 9th Asia Pacific Luminare Awards.
Anchored in SM’s Honesty Campaign, the “A Day in the Mall” event aims to reward deserving community members who have demonstrated exemplary honesty by returning lost valuables or money.
This year, SM City Marilao honored Ronald Gadayan, a NAIA janitor from Norzagaray, Bulacan. Gadayan made headlines in 2012 for returning items left by passengers on different occasions and areas at the airport, including money amounting to P2.4 million, a wad of cash worth $5,000, and a bag left behind by a Cebu-bound passenger containing over P600,000 in cash and valuables. Up to this day, Gadayan continuously practice good deeds. Earlier this month, he returned cash worth P17,000 and other valuables left by a Chinese businessman at the airport.
To celebrate this legacy, SM City Marilao invited Ronald Gadayan and his family, including his wife Rosalie, and their children Harold, Hazel Anne, Hannah Marie, as well as mother in law Rosita Agustin for a meaningful day at the mall, providing gift certificates for shopping, dining, movies, and amusement.
Recognizing Gadayan’s remarkable honesty, “A Day in the Mall” is a heartwarming event celebrating an unsung hero whose values continue to inspire many.
Among the other citations received by Gadayan are “Asia’s Man of Exceptional Community Service, Honest Filipino, and Inspiring Hero of the Year” at Asia’s Humanitarian Hero Awards 2024; “A Man of Compassion and Most Trusted Employee of the Year” at the Dakilang Filipino Awards 2024; and the “Bagong Bayani Award” by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019.
The province of Bulacan also passed a resolution recognizing his honesty in 2013 and granted him the “Gawad Katapatan” award. In 2012, he was named Outstanding Citizen by no less than Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.
This year, Gadayan is set to receive recognition as “Most Honest Filipino Janitor and Inspiring Hero of the Year” at the Gawad Bayaning Pilipino 2024. (UnliNews Online)
