A FORMER senator, incumbent and previous local officials, police officers, environmental advocates, schools and civic groups were among this year’s awardees of the Cebu City Government.
The awardees received outstanding individual and outstanding institution awards and mayor’s special awards during the City’s 78th Charter Day celebration held at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu last Tuesday night.
The award serves as a tribute to the more than 50 individuals and institutions who contributed to the city’s growth.
Four centenarians were also awarded and given P100,000 cash assistance. They are Gerardo Cabalfin, Concepcion Velasco, Miguela Campos and Araceli Kiener.
Before recognizing them, Mayor Michael Rama challenged the awardees and the public to continue to do their part in further improving and developing the “Queen City of the Philippines.”
“All of us should do our part. This is not your city alone. This is not my city. This is our city, our Cebu City. I believe together we can make the best things happen for Cebu if we all are one,” he said.
For the outstanding individuals, one of the recipients is disability specialist Adela Avila Kono. She has been advocating for a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities in the city. She also helped with the passage of the Barrier-Free Tourism Ordinance authored by Councilor Alvin Dizon.
Another awardee is former senator Rene Espina for instituting road detours when the Mactan Bridge was constructed. Espina was named the “road building governor” of Cebu.
Also named outstanding individuals are Atty. Napoleon Rama for being a “defender of democracy” during Martial Law years and Supt. Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office for his anti-crime efforts.
Other awardees included Alvan Claude Evangelio (theater and arts), Luz Mancao vda. de San Diego (culture and arts), Hernando Streegan (scouting community), Dr. Suga Sotto Yuviengco (public health), Dr. Jose Gullas (culture and arts), and Dr. John Robinson Gokongwei.
For the outstanding institutions, the awardees are the Cebu Eastern College and the Cebu Normal University for the field in education, and Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Zonta Club I and Zonta Club II on the field of community service.
Special awards
As for the mayor’s special awards, a total of 31 individuals and institutions were named recipients. This included City Councilor Nida Cabrera (environment), Councilor Dave Tumulak (public service), former councilors Joy Pesquera and Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem (governance), and barangay captains Jose Navarro of Punta Princesa, Petronilo Fat Jr. of Hipodromo, Jerome Lim of Sta. Cruz and Carl Stephen Belarmino of Sambag II (public service and volunteeerism), as well as Oscar Tabada for having served the country’s weather bureau for 35 years as well as Kitakyushu and Yokohama City in Japan and Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi for environment protection.
Other awardees included Jack Rallos, Clarence Paul Oaminal, Antonio del Mar, Teresa Fernandez, Stella Domingo, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos-Visayas, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Atty. Emannual Gimarino, the City Legal Office, former CCPO chief Senior Supt. Noli Romana and Msgr. Roberto Alesna.
It also included journalists Rene Borromeo and Luis Arevalo as well as Wilton Uykintian, the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative, McDonalds, Vicente Ayllon of Insular Life and the Lhuillier family.
During the awarding ceremony, the City also gave posthumous awards to Estelita “Tetang” Diola, Alan Jayme Rabaya, Daisy Baad, vice mayor Renato Osmeña and Basak San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama.