Saturday, September 06, 2008 Tiya Dely to get presidential medal of merit
PRESIDENTIAL adviser on culture and arts Cecil Guidote-Alvarez has recommended the Presidential Medal of Merit to be conferred to the late broadcaster icon Fidela "Tiya Dely" Magpayo following her 68 years of service in the broadcast industry, among others.
This developed as Magpayo, who died last September 1 after succumbing to a stroke, is being vetted for the national artist award in 2009.
Alvarez, who is also the executive director of National Commission on the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said Magpayo had been nominated for the national artist award, which is being given every three years, for the category of broadcasting as early as 2006.
She said the results of the national artist nomination would be known by June 2009.
She added that while awaiting the results of the “tedious and long process” of the national artist nominations, the NCCA had recommended conferring of the Presidential Medal of Merit to Magpayo which is decided more quickly and easily.
Executive Order (EO) 236 states that the Presidential Medal of Merit is only given to individuals - Filipino or foreign - for their “outstanding service to the President, the administration or Cabinet members.”
It can also be given to those who gained “prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence.”
It is also given to “retiring cultural worker or artist, after serving the government in an official or advisory capacity, or a foreign artist who has promoted Philippine culture;” or for those who committed “acts of merit that enhance the prestige of the country, including heading the Philippine delegation or having contributed materially to the success of a major international conference or event that has brought prestige and honor to the country, including presidential visits overseas and major international events held in the Philippines.”
Alvarez said Magpayo who is a “well-respected and distinguish pillar in broadcasting” deserves the award.
She added that if the President approves their recommendation, the medal could be conferred by September or October this year.
Alvarez accompanied the President in visiting the wake and paying their last respect to Magpayo at the Loyola Memorial Chapel in Marikina City Friday morning.
The President stayed for 30 minutes at the wake where she was greeted by Magpayo's daughter Delia "Didi" Belonio and her husband Raul Belonio.
After condoling with Magpayo's relatives, she visited the grave of Don Ignacio Arroyo, the father of the First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, at the Loyola Memorial Park and offered flowers.
Aside from Alvarez, Education Undersecretary and NCCA chairperson Vilma Labrador, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Percida Rueda Acosta and Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino commissioner Joelad Santos were also with the President during the wake of Magpayo.
Magpayo was working in the radio booth of dzRH when she suffered a stroke on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. She was then hosting the program “Serenata Kolektibista” – a program which features kundiman and rondalla music.
Magapayo, who hosts the weeknight program, “Ang Inyong Tiya Dely,” started her career in the broadcasting industry when she was 18 years old. She then joined the group of radio comedians Andoy Balunbalunan and Dely Atay-atayan as a singer.
Her first counseling program started at DzRH in October 1953 before she moved to DzMM. She later returned to DzRH. (JMR/Sunnex)
