Cabbie-turned-mayor 1 of 9 awardees in Philippines of NY group

MANILA, Philippines—A New York-based group that seeks to educate the world about Asia has selected a Philippine taxi driver-turned-mayor as one of its nine outstanding Filipino leaders this year.

The Asia Society, a nonprofit organization, picked Calapan City Mayor Paulino Leachon as one of the nine awardees. A statement from the mayor’s office said Leachon was chosen for his management style and policies in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Asia Society chose the awardees based on leadership experience, achievements in their fields and service to country. The nine will take part in the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit where Asia Society will gather 200 leaders from the Asia Pacific Region in November in New Delhi.

Calapan, under Leachon, was recognized by the Asian Institute of Management in 2008 as one of the Most Competitive Cities of the Philippines.

Asia Society in the Philippines screened more than 100 nominations before picking the nine awardees.

Leachon, according to the statement from his office, was a former taxi driver in Manila, service crew and branch manager of a fast food chain before he took up law and got his degree in 1997. He became a lawyer in 2000 after passing the bar and landing No. 16 on the list of successful examinees.