436TH founding anniversary: Province pays tribute to 23 past governors

Giving tribute to past governors and handing out awards to individuals that have given honor and pride to Cebu are the highlights of this year's 436th founding anniversary celebration of the province.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who led the opening of the week-long celebration in a flag-raising ceremony with municipal colors at the Capitol grounds yesterday morning, said she has decided to make this year's 436th founding anniversary celebration a tribute to the past 23 governors.

A recognition of the contribution that past governors have done to Cebu that made Cebu a premier destination in the country with P2 billion in surplus and zero liability will take place this Friday in lieu of the traditional governor's night.

The governor said there would be a brief video presentation of the past 23 governors of Cebu and a special tribute to the governors who are still around today. Among the past governors to be honored on Friday are Vicente de la Serna, Lito Osmeña, Rene Espina, Eduardo Gullas, and Pablo Garcia.

She said it would be the first time that the province will recognize past governors on its founding anniversary celebration.

'Where we are today, dako sila og natampo," Garcia said.

Aside from giving tribute to the past governors of Cebu, the province will also honor on Friday the ten individuals and two institution-recipients of the "Garbo sa Sugbo Award" this year.

The awardees include Tessie Fernandez, founder of Lihok-Filipina, a women's organization involved in social work, for having been nominated into the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize; Romulo Galicano, grand prize winner of the 2005 international portrait competition held in America last May 14; Kenneth Cobonpue - Golden shell awardee for design excellence; Dr. Romulo Davide - Concepcion Dadufalza awardee for his distinguished achievement in scientific research and extension work; Monique Lhuillier, an international couturier who placed Cebu in the prestigious global designing scene;

Juan Mercado, who won honorable mention for best opinion writing in the Society of Publishers in Asia and editorial excellence awards in Hong Kong; Alnoe Paller, a deaf-mute photographer who garnered 8th place in the World Health Organization's images of health and disability 2005 competition;

Rhodee Antoinette Saavedra, gold medalist in karatedo held in Italy and silver medalist in the 7th Asian Karatedo Championship held in Macau, China last May; Mika Santos, holder of new Philippine record in pole vault and gold medalist in the Hong Kong inter-city athletics challenge; and Leah Rose Cuambot, grand prize winner in the Asian Children's Art contest held in Tokyo, Japan.

The "Garbo sa Sugbo" award is now on its second year.