UST Nursing Alumni Association Inc. President Carlito “Carl” Balita has been named one of the 2024 The Outstanding Filipino (Tofil) awardees in recognition of his contributions to the field of education.
Balita obtained his nursing degree from UST in 1991 and made a name for himself through his review centers. He pursued his master’s degree in nursing and doctorate degree in education at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).
“This highest award that anyone can dream of is such an honor. [Ang] mapa-linya sa mga taong iniidolo ko ay tunay na hamon para sa pagpapatuloy ng kung anuman ang aking ginagawa,” he said in a Facebook post.
Balita has held various roles in education, healthcare, and business.
He served as a faculty member at PLM’s Graduate School and College of Nursing and held academic and administrative positions at the Manila school from 1993 to 1997.
From 2004 to 2008, he was dean of Dominican College in San Juan.
He also worked as a clinical instructor in institutions like the Philippine General Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, San Lazaro Hospital, and the National Orthopedic Center.
Balita is the president and chief executive officer of the Dr. Carl E. Balita Review Center, one of the leading review centers for licensure examinations, which has nearly 200 branches nationwide and offers 40 specialized review programs.
He has received multiple awards such as the Asia CEO Entrepreneur of the Year and The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award in Entrepreneurship.
Beyond education and business, Balita has also ventured into broadcasting, hosting the radio program “Radyo Negosyo” for nearly 20 years. He is a columnist for BusinessMirror and The Manila Times.
Balita is also chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Quezon City and the president of the Philippine Franchise Association.
Since its inception in 1988, the Tofil award has been regarded as one of the highest honors for Filipinos, often likened to the Nobel Prize.
It is given by the Junior Chamber International Philippines to those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, excellence, and service to the nation.
Other awardees include Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Emilio Aquino (government and public service), Seagull Philippines Inc. founder Maria Rosa Carrion (peace advocacy), University of the Philippines Los Baños professor Juan Pulhin (geographical sciences and social forestry), and neurosurgeon Lynne Lucena (medicine).
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission undersecretary Gilberto Cruz (law enforcement) and Commission on Higher Education Chair Prospero de Vera III were also recognized.
The awarding ceremony took place on Dec. 5 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. Amador Denzel M. Teston
