LUBAO, Pampanga -- Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab was among the recipients of the 5th Apung Dadong Awards for Outstanding Lubenians held here on Saturday, May 4, at the Pradera Verde in Barangay Prado Siongco.
Other awardees included Silvestre Liwanag for patriotism (posthumous), Lourdes Makirandam-Icban for education, Garry Pangan for public service, and Pineda-Cayabyab also for public service with Councilors Romulo Paule, Carlos Carlos, Marlon Belleza and Gonzalo Tungul.
Outgoing Vice Mayor Robertito Diaz was also awarded for his deeds in public service.
The Diosdado Macapagal or Apung Dadong Awards has been conferring recognitions to outstanding residents of Lubao since 2015. The award was named after Macapagal, dubbed as the “Poor Boy from Lubao,” who overcame poverty to be elected Philippine vice president in 1957 and president in 1961.
Macapagal won the presidency in 1961 over then incumbent president Carlos Garcia.
He ran for re-election in 1965 but lost to then Senator Ferdinand Marcos.
It took nearly four decades for another Macapagal to occupy Malacanang, in the person of his daughter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in January 2001.
Lubao Mayor Cayabyab thanked the awardees for giving Lubao pride and honor in different fields.
She said she was surprised that she was included in the awardees this year, adding that the award will cap her term as mayor of Lubao town.