The Pamulinawen Award as Outstanding Laoagueño

Some friends from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Ilocos Norte-Laoag City chapter heard the news that I will be receiving an award from Northwestern University for my achievements in the field of culture and the arts and for my charity projects, they suggested to nominate me for the Pamulinawen Award as Outstanding Laoagueño. 

PCCI chapter president Ricardo Tolentino, a former awardee himself and board director Dr. Esmeralda Baldonado worked out my nomination at the city government office. I complied with all the requirements and documents needed for my nomination and submitted to the Community Affairs Office. Luckily I was selected to be one of the recipients of this prestigious award during the celebration of the Pamulinawen Festival. Here’s the complete list of the 2013 Outstanding Laoagueños:

Judge Ramon Blanco – Judicial Services 

Dr. Mary Ann Luis – Medicine & Opthalmology 

Dr. Jennifer Ang – Medicine & Surgery 

Dr. Bienvenido Romero – Medicine & Opthalmology 

Dr. Lily Ann Pedro – Education & International Research 

Mrs. Teresita Edu – Education & SPED Implementer 

Ptr. Brian Shah – Religion 

Mr. Jorge Richard Guerrero -Broadcasting 

Dr. Edwin Antonio – Culture and the Arts 

Mrs. Juana Pancho – Entrepreneurship-SME 

Vice Mayor Edward Domingo – Public Service (Posthumous) 

This is a recognition that validates all my efforts in helping the underprivileged people, and my advocacy on heritage conservation and arts promotion as well as my passion for indigenous people’s cultures and traditions. I share this award to all cultural workers and my colleagues at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. I dedicate this award to the Kids on Project Photography and to all indigenous peoples. 

This is such a big recognition for me that I have to invite my Nanay Loreta and cousin Josephine to come to witness the awarding ceremonies together with my godson Jelmar to share the joy with them. 

We were feted with a sumptuous dinner and a memorable program. The awardees were introduced one by one with their respective audio-visual presentation, a documentary of the reason why we were chosen for the award. Truly a fabulous ceremony! Thanks to PCCI-Ilocos and the City Government of Laoag.(Photos courtesy of Bryan Rapadas)

Winning in the ASEAN Photo Competition

It was last year when after learning from the internet that there was an ongoing photo contest at the Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, I tried to scout for prospective entries from my recent photo collections. 

This photo competition was held in conjunction with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of ASEAN on 8 August 2012. The Culture and Information Division of the ASEAN Secretariat was the one in charge organizing the said photo competition with the theme: ASEAN Unity in Cultural Diversity. 

The objective of the competition was to raise ASEAN awareness among ASEAN citizens and to encourage their participation in the celebration of ASEAN’s 45th anniversary. They opened the competition to nationals of all ten ASEAN Member States, from 8 July until 31 August 2012. There will be three main winners and five favorite winners who will receive prizes. 

I had difficulty of looking for images since they require a recent photograph. However, it was timely that we came from a meeting in South Cotabato and attended the T’nalak Festival which gave me some best shots to consider. I have submitted the photograph entitled Tnalak Festival Queens where each muse coming from different groups like the indigenous, Christian & Muslim donned a colorful tnalak gowns and costumes. It truly depicted the theme unity in cultural diversity. 

They declared the top 15 Finalists on the ASEAN-COCI facebook page and I was informed that my photo was one of them. Actually, I was in Zamboanga transit that time bound for Tawi-tawi when I got exhilarated when I came to know about it. It was actually my first time to participate in an international photography competition. 

There were around 70 photography enthusiasts who joined the competition. One by one, the three main winners were announced on facebook. After the 3rd and 2nd then came the ten favorite winners and lastly the 1st place winner came from the Philippines in the person of James Singlador. We were being awarded with our cash prizes and certificates through the office of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) with Chairman Felipe De Leon.

The Pillar of Excellence Award

I am so very fortunate to have been recognized by my Alma mater Northwestern University of Laoag City for my achievements in the field of culture and the arts.

The Pillar of Excellence Award was given to me during the Northwestern University Night 81st Foundation Anniversary where I was accompanied by my godson Jelmar.

They conferred on me the said award for my advocacy on heritage conservation, passion for indigenous people’s traditional arts and culture and for championing the cause of the underprivileged children through the Kids on Project Photography. 

This award is dedicated to all the parcitipants of the Kids on Project Photography and to all indigenous peoples. I am grateful to the administration of Northwestern University for this recognition. Northwestern University once became our home and we will always consider it a home. Grateful for the wisdom and knowledge she has given us and for making us responsible citizens of the world. 

Other alumni champions or awardees were Ma. Cristina Arzadon for Journalism, Atty. Amibell Corpuz & Noralyn Hernandez-Espejo for government service and Rogelio Labayan for banking industry.