Ten honored at SMX Aura

On Thursday, 4 December 2025, ten members of the Bureau of Fire Protection were honored at SMX Aura in Taguig City as the 2025 Ten Outstanding Firefighters of the Philippines. It was the second year of the search that SM Prime Holdings and the BFP launched in 2024.

The ten came from a Top 20 announced on 28 November, after evaluation and panel interviews. Five are commissioned officers and five are non-commissioned officers. A Board of Judges chaired by DILG Undersecretary Rolando C. Puno made the final choice, looking at socio-civic involvement, ingenuity and innovation, professional achievements and overall performance.

• 8 + NHQregions, plus National Headquarters
• 20 → 10finalists to honorees
• 5 + 5commissioned and non-commissioned

The commissioned officers

FCINSP Zardoz V. Abela, RN, MPA, Acting Provincial Fire Marshal of Biliran (Region VIII), began as an emergency medical responder, including during Typhoon Yolanda, and helped establish the Biliran Fire Safety Education Center and Training Camp.

FSUPT Josephus Franco F. Alburo, Las Piñas City Fire Marshal (NCR), developed FIREWATCH, a 24/7 CCTV-based smoke-detection system, and an NFC-based automated check-in system.

FSSUPT Bartolome O. Beliran, DSC, Iloilo Provincial Fire Marshal and Assistant Regional Director for Operations of Region VI, created TIKAL, a program on professionalism and community responsibility, and founded Bumbyahero, a biking and environmental movement cited for 10,300 trees and 6,300 mangroves planted.

FSINSP Julius Roque Mangrubang, Municipal Fire Marshal of Talavera and Nueva Ecija provincial chief of the Special Rescue Force (Region III), oversaw the installation of CCTV and solar lighting, converted vehicles into emergency response vehicles, and secured donated CPR mannequins and a HAZMAT suit.

FSINSP Karl Aerole M. Rojales, RN, Chief of the Doctrine Development Section at BFP National Headquarters, launched the BFP Training Database System, coordinated Fire Square roadshows, and gave medical care to nearly 800 patients, resuscitating six.

The non-commissioned officers

SFO1 Jan Vincent R. Alba of the Lucena City Fire Station (Region IV-A) founded the Kiddie Fire Marshal, Junior Fire Marshal and School First Responder programs and developed a GIS-based decision support system.

SFO2 Donn C. Anloague of the Davao City Fire District's Special Rescue Force (Region XI) led unified rope-rescue training across the Davao Region and spearheaded water-safety training in calamity-prone areas.

FO3 Dianne Daphne P. Bruno of the City of Santiago Fire Station in Isabela (Region II) lobbied for the city's Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan ordinance, which the organizers link to a 54% drop in fire incidents, and writes for Sentinel of the Valley and The Blazing North.

SFO2 Lloyd C. Francisco of the Botolan Fire Station in Zambales (Region III) co-founded Hands Across the Border, which supports Aeta students, and started a goat-raising livelihood project.

FO2 Bernard P. Sureta of the Daet Fire Station's Special Rescue Force (Region V) served as a K9 handler on the BFP mission after the 2025 Myanmar earthquake, and started free training for pet owners in Camarines Norte.

What they received

Each of the ten received a plaque, a ₱250,000 cash prize from SM Prime and the BFP's Medalya ng Natatanging Gawa. All finalists received citations.

Who was there

Usec. Puno led the ceremony and gave the keynote on behalf of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla. BFP Chief Jesus P. Fernandez and SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim also attended.

What comes next

The third search is under way. Twenty finalists were chosen from 58 nominees in October 2026, and final interviews are set for 8–9 November at SM Prime headquarters in Pasay City. Follow the 2026 search.