Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Parish awards MaPaPaLa awardees
FOR two years now, the Baptism of Our Lord Parish in Barangay Pasig in Candaba town has been steadily giving out awards to the outstanding parishioners who have contributed to the development of the parish, the town and the province in general.
Done on the eve of the feast day of this riverside village, the event serves as a yearly highlight that inspires locals to do their best in their chosen professions.
"The MaPaPaLa awards are a testament on the abundance of talent and skills of the people of this parish. Though we are just a small parish, the number of successful and model individuals here could not be ignored," Rev. Fr. Aris Dela Cruz said.
Established in 2008, the word MaPaPaLa is an acronym of the first syllables of the four riverside villages under the Baptism of Our Lord Parish. These villages are Mandasig, Pansinao, Pasig, and Lanang.
But for fourth district Board Member Ricardo Yabut, one of the founding members of the award body, the word MaPaPaLa could be roughly translated as someone who is blessed.
"Blessed in the sense that the Awardees of the MaPaPaLa have done well in their chosen careers and have affected the life of others in so many small and big ways," Yabut, one of the awardees this year, said.
Ten names representing 10 different fields have made it to this year's MaPaPaLa awards, which, according to Fiesta Committee president Redentor Gatus, have been scrutinized from standard selection procedures.
The awardees include Trinidad Sampang Turla (Religious Service), Africa Cayanan Licu (Social Service), Erlinda Maglangque (Government Service), Yabut (Public Service), Graciela Formaran Subala (Education), Melanio Salac (Agriculture), Janet Gatus (Medicine), and Aurora Lapuz (Business).
The category of MaPaPaLa overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was introduced this year to give due recognition to Filipino expatriates and laborers. The award was bagged by balikbayan Amante Sadie.
Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Severino Capulong were awarded this year's MaPaPaLa Model Family. The couple has been able to raise all their 10 children and make them finish college schooling though the family merely subsisted on farming.
"The award is like an on going advocacy to instill in the minds and hearts of the people here that even a small parish such as ours can actually produce so many talented and well accomplished personalities," said Gatus, who holds the post as regional director for the Department of Agriculture.
Other notable personalities from this parish include Undersecretary Pie Yabut of the Department of Public Works and Highways and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo.
Gatus said the awardees this year would serve as the benchmark for future MaPaPaLa awards in the coming years.
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