Four dynamic and passionate Cebuanos, and a well-respected and most admired institution, all of whom have relentlessly set and pursued lofty goals, which laid the framework for the economic and cultural development of the island, were recently recognized and honored by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the annual Garbo sa Sugbo (Pride of Cebu) awarding ceremony at the majestic ballroom of the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
This year’s awardees include:
• Antonio Oposa Jr., an environmentalist, who was praised for his pioneering practice of environmental law in the country. The head of the Visayan Sea Squadron and Law Nature Foundation, he made it to the United Nation’s Environmental Program Global 500 Roll of Honor for his dedicated efforts.
• Steve Benitez was awarded for bringing Cebuano ingenuity and entrepreneurial energy into the realm of the coffee drinking industry. Benitez, owner of Bo’s Coffee, started his business 11 years ago at the Ayala Center in Cebu, and today has expanded to 33 coffee shops nationwide.
• Nicolas Pacaña, acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical dancers, is today the only Filipino who has served as co-artistic director of the Atlanta Festival Ballet and the Festival Ballet School in Stockbridge, Georgia, USA.
• Patricio Primor for his unparalleled talent and skill as Cebu’s premier director and choreographer in the promotion of culture and heritage of Cebu. Today, he is the creative director of the Cebu Performing Arts.
• The University of the Philippine High School-Cebu Campus fourth year students were recognized for winning in the International Schools Cyberfair Competition held in San Diego, California, USA last year. Their design “Calles de Cebu; Gateway to a Nation’s History,” won second place and received the gold in the historical landmarks category.
The Governor’s special citation awards went to Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. for his unwavering belief in the strong and indomitable spirit of the Cebuano people and for spearheading the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, which was a resounding success, a sterling achievement.
The Cebu Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation (C Cimpel) was acknowledged for the courage of these volunteers in ensuring the inviolability of the ballots and upholding the integrity of the electoral process.
Lending support and assistance to the Governor’s event were government officials led by Vice Governor Greg Sanchez; board member Agnes Magpale; former Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia and his wife Esperanza; philanthropists Michel and Amparito Lhuillier; and Mariquita Yeung; Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Frank Benedicto and his wife Leontina, who is Honorary Consul of Turkey; Honorary Consul of Spain Jaime Picornell; and Honorary Consul of Belgium Enrique Benedicto.