QC honors outstanding citizens, institutions

"Quezon City is one big, united family. We owe its success to everyone in that family and we are lucky to have so many good people serving in various capacities."

This was the message of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. when he led the city government in honoring 10 outstanding citizens and two institutional organizations for having rendered significant accomplishments that have benefited the city, its residents and the country.

The awardees received plaques of recognition from Belmonte at the 2006 Gawad Parangal ceremonies held at the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Galleria on the eve of the celebration of the city’s 67th founding anniversary the other day.

Of the 10 outstanding citizens, five receive citations for achievements of special merit and the other five were honored with lifetime achievement awards.

Cited for achievements of special merit were environmentalist-writer Odette Alcantara, anti-crime crusader Teresita Ang See, forensic pathologist and scientist-writer Raquel del Rosario-Fortun, community worker Adela Gaton and entrepreneur Grace Galindez-Gupana.

The lifetime achievement awardees were pianist Cecile Licad, literary writer Gilda Cordero-Fernando, visual arts Mauro "Malang" Santos, former Prime Minister and Finance Secretary Cesar Virata and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Reynato Puno.

Tobacco and beer magnate Dr. Lucio Tan was honored as outstanding businessman of the year for his "significant contributions to the economic progress of the country and Quezon City through his many enterprises and investments in various sectors of the economy."

The local government described Tan as "a taipan with a heart, having contributed to social causes and spearheaded a number of social responsibility projects in education, environmental promotion, disaster relief operations and community assistance, among others."

Tan, whose big enterprises employ more than 20,000 Filipinos, expressed his gratitude to the city government for bestowing in him such great honor. "There is no greater measure of success than to be recognized for many years of hard work," he said.

The annual Gawad Parangal is now on its fourth year of observance.

For this year, two institutions — the Tzu-Chi Foundation and the Novaliches Development Cooperative (NOVADECI) — were conferred the outstanding city organization award.

Puno was the awards night guest of honor. Speaking on behalf of the awardees, he congratulated the city government for having made Quezon City "the best administered city in the Philippines."

He said officials should always strive for the best things for the city "because you are made for more than just good enough accomplishments."

The search and awards committee of the Gawad Parangal 2006 was chaired by former Education Secretary Jaime Laya, in close coordination with City Treasurer Victor Endriga Jr., and the Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office, which served as its secretariat.

Other members of the committee are Dr. Avelino Aventura, Dr. Edna Azurin, Narzalina Lim, lawyer Jose Sison and Dr. Manuel Alba.