Opposition included: 80 persons, institutions honored by Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - At least 80 individuals and institutions, including opposition members, have been recognized by Cebu City government Wednesday during its 79th Charter Day Anniversary for contributing to the growth of the city.

Mayor Michael Rama said Charter Day celebration is about recognizing the “amazing men and women” who have dedicated their lives and have contributed their gifts and talents in making the city as what it is today.

“Under the mayor’s special award, who although some of them are not Cebuanos but they are doing quite well deserving to be called Cebuano by choice, for having invested, putting a milestone, an icon before our site, and in effect generating employment and added the landscape of what Cebu is today,” Rama said, adding that the awardees have shown excellence in public service in judiciary, culture and arts, humanitarian work, education, trade and industry, medicine, sports and culture and arts.

Rama said there should be no family who should claim what Cebu City is now, saying all Cebuanos have contributed to what the city is today.

“Instead we must be challenging everyone to view success as not moving upward but rather stepping forward towards excellence. For together we must always be mindful that no one should be left behind. No one. Otherwise, what are we claiming to be Christians if we only go up and rest will be left behind,” he said.

Rama is the grandson of Don Vicente Rama who pushed for the approval of the Commonwealth No. 58, which declares the then municipality of Cebu as a city.

“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. And as soon as the sun will rise as it sets, if we are together, together we can make the best things happen in Cebu City,” he said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella welcomed the attendees in a testimonial dinner.

“Today, just like the double headed jams, we look back and we look forward. Look back with overflowing gratitude to Don Vicente Rama because of his efforts. He paved the way for development progress of Cebu City. Which has become one of the bigger cities not only in Asian but also in the world,” he said.

Labella said the city government recognized the individuals and institutions that made mark in their respective fields of endeavors, who adopted moral values of good governance and who cared for others in times of disasters.

“As we now award awardees, it is our fervent hope that as we continue to strive for good governance. That all of us will bond together. Work as one. This is our only city, Cebu city. So that the day will come that we will be proud to tell our children that we have made their lives better here in the City of Cebu,” he added.

All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO) President Dr. Jesselito Simporios, on behalf of all the awardees, thanked the city government for recognizing their efforts in serving the public.

“We did not reach this achievement alone. Numerous people have supported us in their own ways. Their guidance, encouragement and dedication to our cause have made our organization on what it is today,” he said.

The award, Simporios said, would encourage the organization more to continue undertaking their mission to provide relief to those who are affected by calamities in remote areas that cannot be easily reached by other rescue teams.

The individual awardees: Justice Gabriel  Ingles (Judiciary); Furne One’ (Fashion Industry); Mary Joy Tabal (Sports); Vito Angelo Selma (Furniture Design); Carmelo Tamayo (Visual Arts); Pilar “Pilita” Corales (Entertainment); and Maria Teresa “Dulce“ Cruzata  (Entertainment).

Awarded as Outstanding Institution were Cebu Institute Of Medicine (Medical Education); All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (Humanitarian Aid); Gasa Sa Gugma (Religious Charitable); Kiwanis Club Of Cebu (Civic Organization); Cebu Chamber Of Commerce and Industries (Trade And Investments); and Cebu Contractors Association (Infrastructure Support).

The six centenarian awardees were Mercedes Franco; Filomina Tariman; Leodegaria Tabal; Genara Bacolod; Graciana Adlawan; and Nicanor Labao.

Seven individuals were also given posthumous award which were received by their family members and relatives. The awardees were Juanito Jabat; Pablo Tinga; Ernesto Herrera; Democrito Mendoza; Napoleon Rama; Judge Esperanza Garcia; and Ciriaco ‘Cacoy’ Cañete.

Rama also conferred the Mayor’s Special Award to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma; Napoleon Nazareno; Hon. Reynald Lauron; Rapid Philippines; Fr. Domingo De Los Angeles; Dr. Librado Macaraya, Jr.; Kimberly Sue Chiu; Richard Edison Yap; Evelyn Del Rosario; Rodolfo Estella; Mega Cebu; Ronald Diola; Rafaelito Barino; Norman Navarro; United Multisectoral Coordinating Council (Umc4) of Cebu City; Cebu Doctors University; Atty. Delfin Nacua; Hans Sy; Frederick Go; Roberto Aboitiz; GSG6 (Ground Security Group) and SEE CEBU in Carousel.

Other Mayor’s Special awardees were former congressman Antonio Cuenco; Association of Barangay Council and some barangays in the city such as Kamagayan, Apas, San Nicolas, Ermita, Guadalupe, Hipodromo, Inayawan, Labangon, Lorega, Bo. Luz, Mabolo, Pasil, Punta Princesa, Cogon Pardo, Poblacion Pardo, Quiot Pardo, Sambag 2, Sawang Calero, Sta. Cruz, Sto. Niño, Suba, Tejero, and Barangay Tisa.

Personalities of the media industry were among the Mayor’s Special awardees such as THE FREEMAN Publisher Jerry Tundag, ABS-CBN’s anchor Leo Lastimosa; Sun Star Cebu’s Pachico A. Seares and Oscar Pineda.

In an interview, Tundag expressed his gratitude to the city government for the award.

“It is always an honor to be recognized by the city of your birth, especially for doing the very thing you love the most, which in my case is journalism, a profession I have dedicated my life to for the past 33 years,” he said.   (FREEMAN)