Cebu leaders feted
The provincial government of Cebu culminated its 443rd founding anniversary celebration with the annual Governors Ball held at The Cebu International Convention Center.
As in years past, the dynamic and driven lady governor Gwendolyn Garcia, through the Garbo sa Sugbo, honored 17 individuals whose contributions of time, talent and leadership have enhanced the quality of life of Cebu and its neighboring islands. 
Robert Lim Joseph, Consul of Latvia, founder of the 888 News Forum in Cebu, and recently declared by the Provincial Board as an adopted son of Cebu province, was the recipient of the much-coveted Governors Medal of Merit.
This award is the second highest the province of Cebu gives, next to the order of Lapu-Lapu. The only recipient of the award is the much-loved Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
The other distinguished awardees included Consul Roberto Aboitiz, CEO of Aboitiz Land Inc. for social and community development; writer and composer Dr. Melquiadito Allego for Cebuano literature; Consul Enrique Benedicto, independent director of Cebu Holdings Inc. for international relations; Jose Eleazar Bersales for Cebuano culture and heritage; Dr. Milagros Espina for tourism; Consul General of Korea Augusto Go for education; Democrito Mendoza, president and founder of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines for the advocacy of workers’ rights; and Joseph Yap, president of Filinvest, for corporate leadership.
The Governors Citation recipients were youth leader Michael Francis Lopez, multi-awarded filmmaker Remton Siega Zuasola and talented composer and musician Dennis Gregory Sugarol.
Alma Bella Guiao is the recipient of this year’s Governor’s Commendation for her courage and bravery in single-handedly saving 30 fellow Overseas Filipino Workers in Syria by transporting them to the capital city of Damascus last December.
The Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Emilio “Maestro Mil” Villareal, composer and musical director; Domingo “Minggoy” Lopez, composer, stage and radio personality; Wenceslao “Ben” Zubiri, composer and actor; and Nenita Cortez Daluz, politician, government official and lawmaker.
