Missing Felimon band, 8 others among Charter awardees

CEBU, Philippines — Homegrown band Missing Felimon is among the institutions and individuals to be awarded today as Cebu City marks its 83rd Charter Day anniversary.

Founded in 2002, the band will be recognized for its contribution to the development of the Bisrock (Bisaya rock) genre of music, which rose to popularity not only locally but also nationally.

According to Councilor Joel Garganera, who proposed the award, Missing Felimon started the Bisrock scene in the early 2000s, which then influenced local artists to write their music in Cebuano, thus contributing in the promotion and preservation of Cebuano arts.

Crisologo Caparoso and Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III will also be awarded for bringing “great honor for Cebu in general and for himself/herself in particular virtue”.

Caparoso is the executive director of the Young Men’s Christian Association while Larrazabal made history as first Filipino marathoner to conquer World Marathon Challenge, a punishing challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days.

Among the posthumous awardees this year are Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Julian “Teban” Daan, Genaro Baisac Jr., John Gokongwei, and Henry Sy Sr.

The Order of Rajah Humabon award will be conferred on the family of Dr. Resil Mojares. This is the highest award given by the city government under Ordinance No. 1502 approved on Feb. 23, 1994.

It was the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC), under Resolution No. 001 Series of 2020, that identified the awardees, while Garganera and Councilor Renato Osmeña Jr. proposed to approve CHAC’s recommendation in a recent regular council session.

The giving of award is pursuant to City Ordinance 1487 which gives annual citations and awards to outstanding individuals, organizations, companies, firms, or corporations who have contributed to the growth and development of Cebu City.

The city was granted its own charter on February 24, 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 58 authored by Senator Vicente Rama, who was then representative of Cebu’s third district.

Under Section 1 of Republic Act no. 7287, February 24 of every year is declared the Cebu City Charter Day,  a special nonworking holiday in the city. (FREEMAN)