Director Zig Dulay and street artist Venazir Martinez, graduates of the University of the Philippines Baguio, are this year’s recipients of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for their work and valuable contributions to arts and culture. 

The TOYM award, formerly known as the “The Outstanding Young Filipinos (TOYF)” from 1996 to 1999, is an annual national recognition awarded to Filipinos between 18 and 40 years of age who have made significant contributions to their field or community. It is organized by JCI Philippines with the support of TOYM Foundation.  

According to JCI Philippines, “By recognizing outstanding young Filipinos, the TOYM hopes to highlight inspiring examples that will motivate the younger generations to attain greater heights of personal achievement and professional accomplishment, in the spirit of selfless service to humanity,” 

The award was presented initially to young men until 1984 when women were also included.  The JCI contends that the word “men” does not “distinguish the difference in gender.”

Dulay, a graduate of the BA Communication program of the College of Arts and Communication (CAC) in 2002, is a recipient of multiple international and national awards for his work as a director for film and television. His humble beginnings and his family in Isabela are often reflected in themes and portrayals of the characters in his craft. 

Martinez, a graduate of the BA Fine Arts program of CAC in 2018, is a street artist/visual anthropreneur who has given renewed attention to street murals and the work of young visual artists. Many of her initial paintings have livened up previously unnoticed areas of Baguio City. She is now based in the US having conducted recent exhibits in New York and California. By Leia Castro-Margate