LUBAO -- A bigtime contractor and a chocolate maker were among the recipients of the fourth "Cong Dadong" Awards for Outstanding Lubenians held here on Saturday.
This year's Cong Dadong Awards recognized known businessman Ferdinand Lopez Beltran from San Antonio this town. A father of three and owner of Ferdstar Builders Construction, Beltran is an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Because of his perseverance and hard work, he was able to construct King’s Royale Hotel and Resort, Starbox Trading, Lubao Market Market, Skewers Grill, Promenade Events Place, Ceasar Fareways of Beverly Golf and a locator of SBMA Powerking Star International Trading Co.
Beltran was one of the top 500 individual tax payers in 2009, 2010, 2014 of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), contributing a lot in the economy of Pampanga. Aside from his business, Beltran also gave scholarships to deserving indigent students, conducted regular medical missions, feeding and outreach programs to Aetas in the province.
In his speech, Beltran narrated how his family faced the ups and downs in the construction business but never gave up and continued his quest in the construction business.
"I am very happy of this award which I am proud as I retire next year because it symbolizes my contribution to Lubao and Pampang," Beltran stressed.
Meantime, another awardee in the field of Business is Raul Matias, a physical therapist from Florida, USA who later established Rehab Access Inc., a physical therapist provider in West Central Florida. In 1997, Matias sold his company and went home in the country because of the will of his mother. In 2002, Matias discovered his passion in chocolate making and was also known as a master chocolatier and chocolate business entrepreneur.
Last October 2005, he opened his own company, Machiavelli Chocolatier in Worcester, New York. Matias’ chocolate is named as Manila Chocolatier.
Matias said his chocolate variants are focused on Filipino recipes like pili, ube, and langka which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) approved.
"Wherever I go, I always bring with me my Filipino culture and being a Kapampangan who I am proud of," Matias furthered.
Other awardees were Police Senior Insp. Ohmor Bognot for Police Service; Mark Joseph Ocampo (Sports); Fr. Adrian Paule (Religion); Robert Reye (Agriculture); Dennis De Dios (Culture and Arts); and Agnes Trillana (Civic LEader).
Posthumous awards were given to Fr. Rodolfo "Rudy" De Guzman for religion and Virgilio Vitug for media.
In her speech, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab thanked the awardees for giving Lubao pride and honor in different fields. Cayabyab also gave honor to the first president of the Republic, Apung Dadong Macapagal, who gave inspiration to fellow Kapampangans particularly to Lubenians.
"I congratulate the awardees of Cong Dadong Awards for their contribution in different fields. Thank you for being the pride and honor of Lubao," the mayor furthered.