Saturday, September 08, 2007 Belmonte leads old-time Baguio folks as great elderly
QUEZON City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. would lead 12 old-timers as Gintong Tala awardees on October 2 as the city kicks off the month-long Baguio Elderly Filipino Octoberfest 2007.
Belmonte, who spent his formative years in the city when his father Feliciano Sr. was a judge in one of the local courts here, would get the government service-executive branch award and would be one of the 12 awardees that include a civil right lawyer, a politician, a judge, a bishop, an artist, a doctor and a businesswoman, among others.
Belmonte, also a former House Speaker, finished elementary in Baguio before moving to Manila for his high school at San Beda and law at Lyceum. He, incidentally, would turn 71 the same day.
Other winners of the annual search are Bishop Francis Daoey (religious and spiritual service), lawyer Edilberto Tenefrancia (government service-legislative branch), Judge Fernando Cabato (government service-judiciary), Dr. Virgilio Bautista (education), Dr. Antonio Adorable (medicine), Betty del Rosario (business and trade), Benhur Villanueva (arts and culture), Commander Robert Villase (military service), Dr. Ricardo Balajadia (civic and social services), lawyer Pablito Sanidad (journalism) and retired colonel Antonio Alviar (sports).
The event, organized by the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA), a conglomeration of various elderly associations in the city, is part of the month-long festival for the elderly as October is also a celebration for the senior citizens under Presidential Proclamation 470.
In conferring the award, the BEA recognized the awardees' efforts and "exemplary achievement and highly meritorious deeds..."
That each of the awardee, in his or her chosen profession, has "contributed in distinct manners toward the sustained vision, growth and development to the community-at-large and in nation building for a stronger Philippine Republic."
It would be the second batch of awardees after the launching of the Octoberfest last year, said BEA chairman Narciso Padilla, who added the first week of October is the "Linggo ng Katandaan".
On October 2, the grand opening ceremony would be done with the opening program at the Baguio Convention Center and where Belmonte and his 11 co-awardees would receive the Gintong Tala trophies. From there, a parade would ensue.
Other activities include the BEA Palaro on October 13, which would be a competition in various games like sungka, Chinese checkers and domino for the women while games for men include dama, chess, tupa, bowling, billiards and table tennis.
The BEA would also hold a photo exhibit from October 16-20 and the "Pista ng Nayon" on October 28.
