Honors set for 12 city senior citizen achievers

BAGUIO CITY -- A dedicated core of 12 city elders will be conferred the prestigious Gintong Tala Achievers Award to highlight the grand opening day rites of the 10^th Annual Octoberfest Golden Years Festival set at the Baguio Convention Center on Oct. 6.

The special event is jointly sponsored by the Baguio Elderly Assembly, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Office for Senior Citizens Affairs and the city government of Baguio.

Octoberbest  is the city’s lolos and lolas Filipino elderly program pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 470, series 1994, Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio Resolution No. 052 and the BEA Covenant of Unity crafted by the heads of various Senior Citizens association in the city namely BARP Foundation, FBASECA, FGREA, VFP-CAR and the VFP Baguio District on October 4, 2003.

Signatories to the historic document included former Senator Rodolfo Biazon, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Rep. Bernardo Vergara, Councilor Galo Weygan and OCSWDO head Betty Fangasan.

Former City Councilor Nars Padilla, BEA executive program officer and chairman of the awards committee said the awardees are Rev. Fr. Andres Cosalan, Jr., Spiritual Director, Ecumenical Inter-faith and Inter-Religious Dialogue for religious and spiritual services; former secretary of the city mayor Joe Taguba, former City Councilor Lilia Yaranon and Regional Trial Court Judge Edilberto Claraval representing the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government and retired General Rogelio Aguana for military-PNP  service.

The other honorees, Padilla said, are former school Superintendent Pedring Cagas for education; businessman Roy Tabanda for business and trade; Dr. Manuel Quirino for medical services; Eliral Refuerzo for journalism; Victorino Agcaoile for tourism and special events; Adorado de Guzman for community service and international athlete Erlinda Lavanddia for sports.

Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay from DIWA Party  List, house of Congress will grace the “parangal” ceremonies as guest of honor and speaker while City Mayor Domogan and Congressman Vergara  head the award presentors entourage.

Padilla added that the awardees were cited for their leadership excellence, unblemished faith, loyalty and devotion to God, country and fellowmen. They were recognized for their exemplary achievement and highly meritorious deeds made possible through their chosen profession or vacation which contributed in distinct manners toward the sustained vision , growth and development of the community at large and in nation building for a stronger Philippine Republic.