12 outstanding citizens cited on Pampanga Day

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Twelve most outstanding citizens of this province, including a foreigner adopted as a “Kampampangan” by the local government, were given awards during the 440th Pampanga Day celebration recently.

Gov. Lilia G. Pineda led the awards night on Sunday with business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan as guest of honor and speaker.

The 2011 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards (MOKA) was the highlight of the Pampanga Day celebration held at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, here.

The awardees were led by Dr. Jean Christophe Gaillard, a geographer from France, who was named Outstanding Honorary Kapampangan for his untiring efforts to assist residents during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Gaillard, who is married to a Kapampangan, has done various things to help victims in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption and lahar flows that followed.
For Judicial Service, Atty. Cesar L. Villanueva, former Chairman of the Board of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) was feted for upholding chairmanship of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC), a position of Cabinet rank.

An ardent advocate of good governance and a prolific writer of books on commercial and corporate law, Villanueva recently authored the groundbreaking book “the Law and Practice on Philippine Corporate Governance,” published by Holy Angel University , which won the National Book Awards in 2010.

For government service Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” F. Lazatin has the distinct honor of being the first and only mayor of Angeles City to be elected for three consecutive terms.
Lazatin was cited for his public service and outstanding performance in the first district, particularly on supporting significant infrastructure projects.

For Mass Media, Alfredo M. dela Rosa, chairman of the Manila Times editorial board and veteran newsman, was awarded as one of the 2011-MOKA.

Former Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) Director, Senior Supt. Keith Ernald L. Singian, who hails from this city, is this year’s awardee for law enforcement.

Singian, cited for his effort in maintaining peace and order, led in the neutralization of at least 22 communist rebels and the arrest of Norberto C. Lumbang, a leader of a splinter group of the New People’s Army in Arayat, Pampanga.

Claudio S. Tayag of Angeles City, an accomplished painter, sculptor, furniture designer, chef, entrepreneur and author of three published books – “Food Tour,” “Kulinarya – A Guide Book,” and “Linamnam – Eating One’s Way Around the Philippines,” was awarded in the arts category.
For Agriculture, the MOKA awardee was Nestor M. Garcia who is at the forefront of integrated farming and innovative technologies. He pushed for the promotion of agriculture and cooperative development in his hometown of Guagua.

MOKA awardee for culture was Venacio Q. Samzon of Sta. Ana, who got his seminary training at the San Carlos Major Seminary in Makati City. Ordained as priest on March 22, 1958, Samzon translated to the Kapampangan dialect liturgical books, prayers, missals and a comprehensive English-Kapampangan dictionary.

For education, Dr. Imelda P. Macaspac was feted with the distinction for her accomplishments in the field of education and stints with the Pampanga High School (PHS), the biggest secondary school in the province.

In the Science and Technology category, the MOKA was given to Dr. Manuel M. Cunanan Sr., who hails from Barangay San Bartolome, Sta. Ana. He is the only foreign-trained dentist practicing in Rhode Island in the United States of America and staunch supporters of dentistry associations who dedicates his services to the low-income groups.

Teresita P. Dungao was this year’s MOKA Social Service awardee. A public school teacher turned entrepreneur and social worker, Dungao devotes her time to the service of less fortunate individuals.

In the sports category, the MOKA award was given to Diomari Ivan L. Tayag, 17, a world-class practical shooter from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, who holds the rare distinction of being the country’s youngest shooter to win a back-to-back international championships.