The Bayaning Pilipino Awards was launched in 1994 in partnership with the Ugnayan at Tulong Para sa Maralitang Pamilya (UGAT) Foundation, Inc. headed by Fr. Nilo Tanalega, SJ. The main focus of the award is to give recognition to struggling Filipinos who in spite of their own difficulties and shortcomings still manage to rise and emerge as role models in their communities. UGAT Foundation with its many network groups takes care of the promotions and screening while the ABS-CBN manages the funds and media production.

The entire screening process could painstakingly take at least a year and half including the initial promotions up to the post productions. But there is never a dearth for unsung heroes year after year. In 2000, its name was aptly by-lined as the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr., after Don Eugenio “ Geny’ Lopez Jr. who has passed away then and whose legacy of simplicity and heroism still lives on in the hearts of many people. Thus, the vision lives on. At present, it continues to search nationwide for these noble ones with the following categories: Individual, Family, Teacher, Institution and Youth. It also reaches out to individuals abroad like the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the USA.

Now on its eighth event of giving recognition to our heroes nationwide and beyond, the Bayaning Pilipino Awards- Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. continues to search far and wide for living heroes and the project has not failed.