Rotary names 12 Golden Wheel awardees

MANILA, Philippines — Several top government officials, local executives, leaders of industry, and media personalities will be cited in the 2019-2020 Rotary Golden Wheel Awards to be held today at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City.

Presented by the Quezon City government and the Rotary Club of Rotary International District 3780, the Golden Wheel Awards recognizes outstanding non-Rotarians who best exemplify the Rotary spirit of “Service above Self” and the guiding principles of its Four-Way Test.

Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, who serves as governor of Rotary International District 3780 and ex-officio chairperson of the award’s search committee, noted how this year’s awardees are “all distinguished personalities who have contributed in their own way to the service of the nation and the overall improvement of the lives of Filipinos.”

“The 2019-2020 Golden Wheel awardees are all recognized in their respective fields for their work in the fields of peace and conflict; government service; sports; agriculture; trade and industry; corporate social responsibility; media practice; arts and culture; tourism development; good governance and health. They are among the best in what they do and have contributed to the overall development of the nation,” Herrera said.

The 12 awardees are Jorge Leon-Araneta, chief executive officer and chairman of The Araneta Group; Greco Belgica, commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III; Luz Annalee Escudero-Catibog, executive vice president of GMA Kapuso Foundation; Rosamy “Jing” Castañeda-Velasco, broadcast journalist of ABS-CBN and dzMM; Romulo Galicano, painter; Sen. Christopher Go; Jamie Lim, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in karatedo; Henry Lim Bon Liong, chairman and chief executive officer of SL Agritech Corp.; Dr. Ma. Lourdes Marquez, wellness specialist and dzMM Teleradyo host; Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will also receive a special Golden Wheel award, being a Rotarian from another district, but whose contributions over his long career in the public health sector merit recognition.

Apart from the Golden Wheel Awards, the Mario R. Nery Vocational Excellence Awards will be given to Rotarians who, through their respective fields, have demonstrated the spirit and principles of the Rotary Club, including Quezon City Councilor Jorge Banal; Greg Buhain, tax lawyer; Dulce Coyukiat of Pioneer Insurance; Rene Cuerpo, president of E.M. Cuerpo Inc.; Danilo Fausto, president of DVF Dairy Farm; Eui Bong Jung of Dr. Bong Acupuncture Clinic; Sarah Deloraya-Mateo, president of SP Deloraya Job Contracting and Consultancy Services Inc.; Xavier Marlon Rivera, veterinarian; Emmanuel Santos, president and chief executive officer Jade Bros. Intl. Logistics; John Simon, president of Pertua; Nestor Tecson, architect; and Grace Vinarao, sales leader executive.

A special award will be given to Mildred Vitangcol, chairman of the board, St. Peter Life Plan.