Jejomar Binay
Jejomar Binay | |
---|---|
13th Vice President of the Philippines | |
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016 | |
President | Benigno Aquino |
Preceded by | Noli de Castro |
Succeeded by | Leni Robredo |
Mayor of Makati | |
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010 | |
Deputy | Ernesto Mercado |
Preceded by | Elenita Binay |
Succeeded by | Jejomar Binay, Jr. |
In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1998 | |
Preceded by | Sergio Santos (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Elenita Binay |
In office February 27, 1986 – December 31, 1987 | |
Preceded by | Nemesio Yabut |
Succeeded by | Sergio Santos (Acting) |
Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority | |
In office June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Prospero Oreta |
Succeeded by | Benjamin Abalos |
In office 1990–1991 | |
Preceded by | Imelda Marcos (Governor) |
Succeeded by | Ignacio Bunye |
Chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council | |
In office June 30, 2010 – June 25, 2015 | |
President | Benigno Aquino |
Preceded by | Noli de Castro |
Succeeded by | Leni Robredo |
Personal details | |
Born | Jesús Jose Cabauatan Binay November 11, 1942 Manila, Philippine Commonwealth |
Political party | PDP-Laban (Before 2014) United Nationalist Alliance (2014–present) |
Other political affiliations | United Opposition (2005–2010) United Nationalist Alliance (2012–2014) |
Spouse | Elenita Sombillo |
Children | Maria Lourdes Nancy Mar-Len Abigail Jejomar Erwin Jr. Marita Angeline Joanna Marie Blanca |
Alma mater | University of the Philippines, Diliman (BA, BL) University of Santo Tomas (MA) National Defense College of the Philippines Philippine Christian University (MA) University of the Philippines Open University |
Website | Government website |
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Vice President of the Philippines Mayor of Makati City MMDA Chairman |
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Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay, Sr.[1]^[A] (born November 11, 1942)^[B] served as the 13th Vice President of the Philippines, serving under President Benigno Aquino III. He was a presidential candidate in the 2016 Philippine presidential election.
He was appointed by former President Corazon Aquino as officer-in-charge of Makati from 1986-1987. After his assignment, he was elected as Makati City mayor from 1988-1998.[2] During this term, he acted as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman from 1990 to 1991. In 2001, he was reelected as mayor until the end of his term in 2010.[2] He resigned as Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers on June 22, 2015.[3]
Binay is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which is a coalition between the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan. It was founded as an electoral alliance in 2012, and later became an official political party in 2014.
Early life
Jejomar Binay was born in Paco, Manila. The name "Jejomar" is a portmanteau of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. He is the younger of two children of Diego "Jego" Medrano Binay, a librarian from Bauan, Batangas, a school teacher from Cabagan, Isabela. He had an older sibling who died before he was born making him the only one who survived childhood.[1] After being orphaned at the age of nine, he was adopted by his uncle, Ponciano Binay.[4][5]
Education
Binay finished basic education at the Philippine Normal College[2] Training Department and graduated from the University of the Philippines Preparatory School.
He went to the University of the Philippines Diliman for college and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Political Science.[2] He continued on to the UP College of Law and graduated in 1967 then passed the bar examinations in 1968. He got a master's degree from the University of Sto. Tomas in 1980 and a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines. He took up Strategic Economic Program in the Center for Research and Communication. He enrolled in a Non-Resident and General Staff Course at the Command and General Staff College, AFP and joined the seniors executive fellow program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. He earned a doctorate in Public Administration (Honoris Causa) from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) from the Laguna State Polytechnic University. In 1993, he received a diploma in Land Use Program from the University of the Philippines. In 1996, he finished the Top Management Program at the Asian Institute of Management in Bali, Indonesia. He also took up the Joint Services and Command Staff course in the AFP. He also has a master's degree in Management at the Philippine Christian University and a diploma in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from the University of the Philippines Open University.[2]
Legal career
Upon passing the bar examination to be a lawyer, Binay took up human rights law. During the Martial Law period, he represented political prisoners in the 1970s for no charge.[6] After some time, he himself was detained.
It was also during the Marcos regime that Binay and other human rights lawyers created the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity, and Nationalism (MABINI)[7]
Political career
Makati mayor
First term
On February 27, 1986, Binay became one of President Corazon Aquino’s first appointed local officials after Mayor Nemesio I. Yabut died while in office during the EDSA Revolution.[8] He was elected in his own right on January 18, 1988 and was reelected on May 11, 1992 and on May 8, 1995.
He joined pro-democracy forces in preventing the mutinies against the Aquino administration from being successful. His active role in the defense of the Constitution earned him the nickname "Rambotito" (or little Rambo, after the screen hero), the Outstanding Achievement Medal and a special commendation from Aquino.
Second term
On May 14, 2001, Binay reclaimed his post as mayor of Makati, winning over actor, TV host, and then-vice mayor Edu Manzano in a landslide victory and became a critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He won his second term on May 10, 2004 by a large margin against 1st district Councilor Oscar Ibay. He ran for his third and last term as mayor May 14, 2007 and won again by a significant margin beating incumbent Senator and actor Lito Lapid. His margin over Lapid has been considered as the largest margin in a local election in Makati City.[9]
In October 2006, the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued a suspension order against then Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, and all members of the City Council following an accusation of 'ghost employees' on the city payroll by former Vice Mayor Roberto Brillante, a political rival.[10] Refusing to cooperate with the suspension order, he barricaded himself inside the Makati City Hall. Among those who expressed support were former President Corazon Aquino, actress Susan Roces - the widow of the late movie star and 2004 opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. - and several Catholic bishops.[11][12] After a three-day stand-off, the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order. Before it lapsed, the court issued an injunction order, thereby preventing the Office of the President from enforcing its suspension order until the case was resolved.[13]
Binay - together with his wife, Elenita, and nine others - was vindicated by the courts in a graft case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over allegations of overpricing in the purchase of office furniture. Allegedly, he had irregular purchases worth ₱232 million from the years 1991-2006. The case was also filed by Brillante, who at that time was leading in Makati a Palace-supported signature campaign to amend the Constitution. The Sandiganbayan Third Division dismissed the graft case filed against him and his six co-accused for lack of factual basis even prior to Binay's arraignment.[14] Critics claim the suspension order was intended to distract attention from the government's own scandals.[15]
On May 2, 2007 the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) froze all the bank accounts of the city government of Makati and the personal accounts of then Mayor Binay and then Vice Mayor Mercado.
The BIR issued the order after it said the city still owed the BIR ₱1.1 billion in withholding taxes of city employees from 1999 to 2002. BIR revenue officer Roberto Baquiran signed and issued the warrant of garnishment against the bank accounts that belonged to Binay, Mercado, the city government and the city’s treasurer and accountant.
The city government protested the garnishment order, saying the city had already paid ₱200 million to the BIR as part of a settlement agreement agreed to by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and former BIR chief Jose Buñag. The city also said the order was flawed, since Baquiran had no authority to issue writs of garnishment and freezing the personal accounts of Binay and Mercado were also unlawful.[16][17]
Ordered by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Binay was made to pay the deficiency in taxes amounting to more than ₱1.1 billion to the BIR, in December 2009.
The garnishment orders were eventually lifted by Malacañang Palace, but not until after Binay slammed the move as politically motivated and patently illegal.[18][19]
Binay's camp claimed and accused former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of political harassment. Because of this, as per the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a suspension order was served against Binay over alleged corruption. The latter said that the tax obligations were already settled between the BIR and the Makati City government.
And again, barely a week before the local elections, the Ombudsman suspended him based on allegations made by a local candidate allied with Malacañan. It would be revealed that the charges were supported by falsified statements. In a repeat of the October 2006 incident, heavily armed policemen barged into the City Hall after office hours, forcibly opening the offices and occupying the building. He confronted police officials and representatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government, while hundreds of supporters once again swarmed the city hall quadrangle to show their support.[20]
The suspension order generated national media attention, and prompted even administration senatorial candidates to protest publicly, saying the action further undermined their chances in the elections.[21] Despite the controversy of this tax liability issue, Binay still won the position of vice president in 2010 by a landslide victory[22]
A photo of then Vice Presidential candidate and former Makati City Mayor Binay, with his rumored mistress, was leaked online.
Though he admitted to having an extramarital affair, he said that the leaked photo was part of "black propaganda" against him, because of his high ratings in the Vice Presidential survey conducted prior to the leaking of the photo.
The alleged "black propaganda" device had little to no effect on the campaign of Binay, who closed the gap of votes between him and leading vice presidential candidate Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in a formerly conducted survey. Despite the issue, Binay's landslide victory landed him the position of vice president.[23]
Vice Presidency
Binay initially announced his bid for the presidency for the 2010 elections during his 66th birthday celebration at the Makati City Hall on November 11, 2008 but abandoned his bid in order to give way to the reelection bid of former President Estrada. He eventually became Estrada’s running mate and ran under the banner of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN).
He initially showed a relatively poor performance in the public opinion polls, trailing behind Senators Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas, who was heavily favored to win the race, but his standings improved as the elections approached, overtaking Legarda and tying with Roxas in the final survey conducted.[24][25] He went on to narrowly defeat Roxas in the election by 700,000 votes.
Roxas filed an election protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal of the Supreme Court, which is still currently pending.
Binay took his oath as vice president on June 30, 2010, becoming the first local government official to do so.
He was appointed as chairman of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) by President Noynoy Aquino, the same position held by his predecessor, Vice-President Noli de Castro and Presidential Adviser for OFW Concerns. He also heads the Task Force OFW which helps Overseas Filipino Workers who were maltreated by their employers to return to the Philippines with the assistance of the government.
There are numerous corruption allegations against Binay dating from 2014 to the present time:
Issue | Location | ₱ amount | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
400-hectare farm[26] | Rosario, Batangas | ||
40-hectare farm[27] | Bauan, Batangas | ||
10-hectare mango orchard[28] | |||
Two condominium units[29] | Rockwell, Makati City | 30 million | Not mentioned in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) |
Three story mansion with elevator[30][31] | Banuyo Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City | Not mentioned in his SALN | |
House and lot[31][32] | Orbit Street, Bel-Air II Village, Makati City | Not mentioned in his SALN | |
House and lot[31][32] | Palm Village, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City | Not mentioned in his SALN | |
Rest House[31] | Tali Beach, Batangas | ||
Rest House[31] | Puerto Azul, Cavite | ||
Rest House[31] | Tagaytay Highlands | ||
Rest House[31] | Alfonso, Cavite | ||
Rest House[31] | Zambales | ||
Rest House[31] | Pangasinan | ||
More houses[31] | Parañaque, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Muntinlupa Cities | ||
600 ghost employees[31][33] | 3 million/ month | Authorized by wife, Elenita Binay and Amigas | |
Wife Elenita's link to alleged deception in the public bidding for a supply contract[31] | 72.06 million | The supply contract was awarded to the Makati City government back in 2001. | |
Bogus charity project for sister city[31] | 40 million | ||
Bogus charity project for calamity fund for other provinces[31] | 27 million | ||
Bogus charity project for Project Aral Package[31] | 22 million | ||
Bogus charity project to send ambulances to other cities[31] | 20 million | ||
Infomercial being shown from 2009–present[31] | 230 million | Used funds of Makati Foundation Day | |
Komiks for Vice President Campaign[31] | 15 million | ||
Illegal canteen businesses[31] | University of Makati and the Makati City Hall | ||
Contract with Triforce Security Agency for the Makati City Hall[31] | The security agency is owned by one of Binay's sons-in-law. | ||
Contract with Red Hammer Construction and Services[31] | The maintenance service is owned by another one of Binay's sons-in-laws. |
Investigations regarding all these allegations of corruption are being conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine Senate, and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Binay is currently facing accusations by former vice president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Ernesto Mercado, of accepting and misappropriating money received from a deal between the BSP and Alphaland Corporation back in 2008.[34][35] Initially accused of receiving ₱200 million in kickback from the deal and using it to fund his 2010 campaign for vice president,[36] Mercado has amended his statement to reflect the possibility that if Binay has sold the shares he received, he could have made anywhere between ₱233 million and ₱651 million.[34]
Mercado has also stated that although the Boy Scouts of the Philippines were supposed to have received ₱600 million for their end of the deal, the organization has yet to be compensated. This is seconded by the current vice president of the BSP, Atty. Wendell Avisado who further added that he believes that they will only be paid when construction of the podium in Alphaland Makati Tower is completed.[35] Avisado adds, however, that Alphaland has been consistently paying the BSP ₱530,000 monthly for the use of a BSP podium that is currently being used by Alphaland as a showroom.[36]
Sen. Trillanes believes that if Binay becomes president, he will release former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the 3 Senators allegedly involved in the Pork barrel scam, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile from detention. The subcommittee concluded the hearings on January 25, 2016.
Currently, Binay's camp is denying these allegations.[37]
Presidential bid
Initially he polled highly among expected presidential candidates for the Philippine general election, 2016.[38][39][40] However, in the September 2015 Pulse Asia he placed third after Senator Grace Poe and Mar Roxas, the ruling Liberal Party presidential candidate. His trust rating had also dropped 18%.
Speculation as to who his running mate will be come 2016 have seen fingers pointed in many directions, including the likes of PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan,[41] Senator Jinggoy Estrada,[42] Rep. Manny Pacquiao,[43] Nacionalista Party President Manny Villar,[44] and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos.[45] But later revealed to be Gringo Honasan.
Platform
Vice President Binay disclosed his platform for his 2016 Presidential bid during his speech in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu City on March 20, 2015.[46]
He aims to improve the situation in the state colleges and universities, public health hospitals and clinics, police stations, and mass housing. An increase in both salaries and benefits of public school teachers and health workers, members of the police force, and other public servants was also promised. In his plans include a redesigning and re-engineering of the transportation system of the country, as well as prioritizing the building of more infrastructures and the creation of more jobs. He proposes to change the constitution to boost the economy, and speed up the country's development.[46]
In early July of the same year, Binay expressed UNA's (his party list) platform for 2016 in a speech:
Ang sigaw ng UNA at ng taumbayan sawa na tayo sa kahirapan, sawa na tayo sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay, sawa na tayo sa kriminalidad at ilegal na droga. Sawa na tayo sa kakulangan ng basic services... hirap na tayo sa manhid at palpak na pamahalaan,
What UNA and the citizens are expressing is that we're tired of poverty, we're tired of unemployment, we're tired of criminals and illegal drugs. We're tired of the lack of basic services...we're struggling under a numb and failed government,
Personal life
He is married to Dr. Elenita Sombilo Binay, who also served as mayor of Makati from 1998 to 2001. They have 5 children:[47]
- Maria Lourdes "Nancy" Binay
- Mar-Len Abigail Binay
- Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay
- Marita Angeline "Stike" Binay
- Joanna Marie Blanca "Liongo" Binay
In addition to his five children, Binay is also the grandfather to thirteen grandchildren.[48]
Recognition
1992
- Outstanding Award, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
- Award on the Luzon Campaign Medal
2002
- Special Presidential Award for Service
- Leadership Award, Presidential Citation
2003
- Most Outstanding City Mayor of Makati and Consumers Advocate Award
2004
- University of the Philippines Oblation Run Award Best in Sports Wear
2005
- Centennial Medal of Honor
- Outstanding Public Official and Great Achiever
2006
- World Mayor Award granted by London-based City Mayors[49]
Notes
- [Note 1]His birth name was supposed to be Jesús Jose Maria Cabauatan Binay, but Maria was not added in his birth certificate.
- [Note 2]According to his birth certificate, he was born on November 10, 1942.[1] However, according to other official documents, he was born on November 11, 1942, which is the date he personally prefers.
References
- ^ a b c "Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899-1984; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-15547-33641-18 — FamilySearch.org". Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Profile of Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay | ABS-CBN News". www.abs-cbnnews.com. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
- ^ "LOOK: VP Binay's one-sentence resignation letter". Retrieved 2015-07-03.
- ^ "Biography of Hon. Jejomar C. Binay, City Mayor". City of Makati. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ "Vice President Jejomar "Jojo" C. Binay". Office of the Vice President of the Phil. Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ Ager, Maila. "Binay presses martial law human rights victims to claim compensation". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
- ^ ABS-CBNnews.com, By. "'Martial law' in Senate disturbs Joker, Saguisag". Retrieved 2015-07-04.
- ^ "Jejomar C Binay". World Mayor. City Mayors Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ Makati City Government official website, Biography of Hon. Jejomar C. Binay,
- ^ Michael Punongbayan Binay suspended for 60 days. Philstar.com. October 18, 2006
- ^ Maila Ager, Veronica Uy, Thea Alberto Allies rush to embattled Binay’s side. Inquirer.net. 10/17/2006
- ^ Erap to Palace: Stop harassing opposition. Philstar.com. October 18, 2006
- ^ CA stops Binay’s suspension. Philstar.com. Updated October 20, 2006
- ^ Norman Bordadora Sandigan Bayan clears Binay of graft charge. Inquirer.net. 10/31/2006
- ^ Binay’s suspension a political vendetta. Inquirer.net. 10/19/2006
- ^ DJ Yap Assets seizure could hurt City Hall – Binay. Inquirer.net. 05/04/2007
- ^ Michael Punongbayan and Jose Rodel Clapano Suspension for Binay. Philstar.com. May 05, 2007
- ^ DJ Yap and Fe Zamora Palace retreats on Binay. Inquirer.net. 05/07/2007
- ^ Daxim Lucas BIR unfreezes Makati funds. Inquirer.net. 05/06/2007
- ^ Julie M. Aurelio, Tarra Quismundo Binay questions suspension order. Inquirer.net. May 5, 2007
- ^ Sandy Araneta Binay questions suspension. Philstar.com. May 09, 2007
- ^ "Congress proclaims Aquino, Binay as new President, Vice-President" abs-cbnnews.com. June 9, 2010
- ^ "BIR to probe Makati City gov't". Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- ^ Binay overtakes Legarda in VP race. ABS-CBNNews.com. April 29, 2010
- ^ Christian Esguerra and Philip Tubeza Binay ties Roxas; Aquino pulls away. Inquirer.net. 05/07/2010
- ^ Ager, Maila. "Mercado: 'Hacienda Binays' bigger than Luneta, Araneta Center". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ Dizon, David (October 8, 2014). "Binay owns mansions in Tagaytay, Batangas: Mercado". ABS-CBN News.
- ^ "The Unexplained Wealth of Jejomar Binay – Vice-President | Global Balita". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ "Contractor of 'overpriced' Makati building also building condo Rep. Binay won in raffle". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ "Binay son asked to explain P50-million Makati house". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Binay needs to resolve his image - The Standard". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ a b Go, Miriam Grace (October 8, 2014). "The Lord of Makati: Can Binay explain his wealth?". Rappler.
- ^ "Binay foes: Witnesses to expose 'ghost' workers". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ a b Cruz, RG (2015-02-18). "Binay got over P500M in kickbacks, Mercado claims". ABSCBNnews.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ a b Calonzo, Andreo (2015-02-18). "Alphaland president may have committed tax fraud in Boy Scouts land deal – senator". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ a b "Boy Scouts: No anomaly in property deal with Alphaland". GMA News Online. 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ "ABSCBN News". 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ "Binay runaway winner in presidential poll". Rappler. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Trefor Moss. "In Philippines, Vice President Stands Out for 2016 Race". WSJ. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Binay tops poll on presidential bets; Grace 2nd". philstar.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Binay: I'm considering MVP for VP. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ Binay-Roxas tandem in 2016? Don't count Jinggoy Estrada out--Joseph Estrada. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ "VP Binay open to Manny Pacquiao as 2016 running mate, but..." GMA News Online. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ BT: VP Binay, marami umanong kinokonsiderang maging running mate sa Eleksyon 2016. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ VP Binay announces his possible running mate in 2016. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Binay: Lawyer should lead Phl in 2016". Retrieved 2015-07-09.
- ^ "Vice President's Corner". Office of the Vice President of the Philippines. Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ Binay family, children & grandchildren
- ^ Singcol, Anna Katrina (May 13, 2009). "Profile of Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay". ABS-CBN News.
External links
- 1942 births
- Vice Presidents of the Philippines
- Advisers to the President of the Philippines
- Binay family
- Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
- Chairpersons of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council of the Philippines
- Filipino Roman Catholics
- John F. Kennedy School of Government alumni
- Living people
- Mayors of Makati
- PDP–Laban politicians
- People from Makati
- People from Paco, Manila
- Philippine presidential candidates, 2016
- Philippine vice-presidential candidates, 2010
- Recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Medal
- Scouting in the Philippines
- United Opposition (Philippines) politicians
- University of the Philippines alumni
- Benigno Aquino III Administration cabinet members
- Estrada Administration personnel
- Corazon Aquino Administration personnel
- University of Santo Tomas alumni
- Philippine Christian University alumni
- University of the Philippines Open University alumni
- Recipients of the Silver World Award