QC to honor Danding, other outstanding city residents

The Quezon City government will honor in special ceremonies tonight this year’s most outstanding citizens who have contributed to the growth of the city, which is celebrating its 69th founding anniversary.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., assisted by top city officials, will hand a citation to former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., described as an icon and a model of a truly successful Filipino mega-industrialist, who leads this year’s roster of outstanding citizens.

Other awardees are retired Supreme Court Justice Carolina Grino Aquino, retailer Teresita Sy-Coson, national artist for film and broadcast arts Eddie Romero, national artist for literature Bienvenido Lumbera, multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, Central Bank governor Amando Tetangco Jr., civic and community welfare leader Manuel Morato, national scientist Jaime Bulatao, and micro-entrepreneur Dolores Cabral.

The city government will also honor the National Book Store and the Quezon City Parks Development Foundation, Inc. as the year’s outstanding organization and institution. The award is on its sixth year.

Belmonte will award a special citation to the Kilyawan Boys Choir, which won the gold medal in the recently concluded 5th International World Choir Games in Graz, Austria.

Special citations will also be presented to Antonio Fabella, president and artistic consultant of the Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc.; Metrobank Foundation’s outstanding teacher for 2007 Norma Pacaigue of Novaliches High School; and Superintendent Alex Sintin, chief of the District Police Intelligence and Operation Unit of the Quezon City Police District, who has been awarded as one of the country’s outstanding policemen for the year by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of New East.

During the occasion, the mayor is expected to rally city residents to emulate what the awardees had accomplished, not only in the task of nation-building but also in the important role they play in the city’s continuing quest for sustainable development.          

City treasurer Victor Endiga chairs the Quezon City Foundation steering committee while the 2008 Gawad Parangal search committee is chaired by senior adviser Dr. Manuel Alba.

Members of the selection board are Dean Virgilio Almario of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters, print and broadcast journalist Jullie Yap Daza, Quezon City Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen Inc. vice president Benjamin Co, medical practitioner Hernando Delizo and Integrated Bar of the Philippines executive vice president Rogelio Vinluan. – Perseus Echeminada