BEST Healthcare Rankings has officially opened its
nationwide call for nominations for the 2026 Nurse of the Year Awards, honoring
exceptional Filipino nurses practicing in the Philippines. The program
recognizes two distinctions: Frontline Nurse of the Year and Servant Leader
Nurse of the Year.
Founded and chaired by Guam-based Filipino nurse leader Job
Marconi Mascardo, the initiative is a community-driven effort led by Overseas
Filipinos to provide meaningful, no-cost recognition to nurses who embody
excellence, integrity, and trust in healthcare.
Nominations are open to colleagues, patients, families,
community members, and self-nominees across the Philippines — advancing the
organization’s mission of Building Excellence through Service and Trust.
Guam — February 2026 — In hospitals and
healthcare settings across the Philippines, some of the most
profound acts of excellence unfold quietly. A nurse offering reassurance during
a frightening diagnosis. A calm yet decisive voice leading a code blue team as
they work to restart a patient’s heart. A steadfast advocate speaking up for
patient safety when silence would be easier.
These everyday acts of dedication define the spirit of
nursing — and they are the inspiration behind the 2026 Nurse of the Year
Awards, now open for nationwide nominations through BEST Healthcare
Rankings.
Founded on the principle of Building Excellence through Service and Trust, the initiative recognizes two distinct but equally vital dimensions of nursing excellence: the frontline caregiver and the servant leader.
Two Awards. Two Dimensions of Excellence.
Frontline Nurse of the Year
The Frontline Nurse of the Year award honors exceptional
direct patient care. It recognizes nurses working in hospitals, emergency
departments, community clinics, and rural health settings who consistently
deliver safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
This distinction celebrates clinical competence,
accountability, resilience under pressure, and unwavering patient advocacy.
Frontline nurses are often the first to respond in moments of crisis — and
their vigilance directly shapes patient outcomes.
Servant Leader Nurse of the Year
The Servant Leader Nurse of the Year award honors leadership
rooted in humility, integrity, and service.
This category recognizes nurses who mentor colleagues,
strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, uphold ethical standards, and
cultivate cultures of trust within healthcare teams and communities. Inspired
by the enduring legacy of Florence Nightingale, the award affirms that true
leadership in nursing prioritizes stewardship over status.
Servant leadership is measured not merely by position, but by influence used to uplift others and strengthen healthcare systems.
Recognition Without Barriers
Participation is entirely free. There are no nomination
fees, participation costs, or award acceptance charges — reinforcing the
organization’s commitment to accessible, merit-based recognition.
Each honoree will receive:
1. PHP 10,000 (pre-tax)
2. An Official Award Certificate
3. Letter of Recommendation
4. Recognition during a Virtual Award Ceremony
Nomination Deadline: October 1, 2026
Virtual Award Ceremony: December 5, 2026
Nominations are open nationwide. Colleagues, patients,
families, and community members are encouraged to participate — including
self-nominations.
Submissions are evaluated through a blinded, holistic, and evidence-based scoring process that prioritizes excellence in care, integrity in practice, trustworthiness within teams, and commitment to professional growth. Nomination forms are available through BEST Healthcare Rankings’ official Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Leadership Behind the Initiative
The awards are the vision of Guam-based Filipino nurse
leader Job Marconi Mascardo, MBA, MAN, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ, CMGT-BC.
Mascardo began his professional journey as a volunteer nurse
with the Red Cross Cebu Chapter before gaining frontline clinical experience in
the United States, including service in long-term care settings in Montana.
These early roles exposed him to the physical demands, emotional challenges,
and ethical responsibilities of bedside nursing — experiences that continue to
shape his leadership philosophy.
He later advanced into roles in case management and
healthcare quality focusing on process and system improvement. He earned his
nursing degree from Silliman University and later completed graduate studies in
Business Administration (MBA) and Nursing (MAN) at other institutions. He also
holds multiple U.S. board certifications in nurse executive leadership (NE-BC),
healthcare quality (CPHQ), and case management (CMGT-BC).
Mascardo has received community recognitions for his
leadership, including Distinct and Empowered Filipino in Nursing Leadership by
the Philippines Distinct Men and Women of Excellence in Metro Manila, as well
as a scholarship award from the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA)
in New York. He was also nominated as an Emerging Global Filipino Icon by The
Global Filipino Magazine and featured in The Summit Express news.
Through his clinical and leadership experiences — including
service during the COVID-19 pandemic — Mascardo observed that many of the most
impactful nurses work quietly, without meaningful recognition.
“I’ve seen nurses carry patient loads through difficult
seasons,” Mascardo said. “Recognition strengthens morale. It reinforces
integrity. And it reminds nurses that their service truly matters.”
As an Overseas Filipino professional, he describes the
initiative as a way of giving back to the nursing community in the Philippines
— honoring those whose excellence and trustworthiness form the backbone of
healthcare.
Excellence in nursing may unfold quietly — but its impact is
profound. And it deserves to be recognized.
About BEST Healthcare Rankings
BEST Healthcare Rankings—Building Excellent Service &
Trust—is an independent, community-based analytics and recognition platform
committed to honoring excellence in healthcare delivery. It is not affiliated
with any government or regulatory body.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES
