BAGUIO CITY – Five outstanding citizens of
Baguio from different fields were honored during the 107th charter anniversary
morning of Sept. 1, here at the Baguio Convention Center.
Lawyer Augustin Laban
III and Dr. John Tinoyan, were cited for public service, lawyer Richard Stone
Pooten for business, Architect Gloria Asprec-Vergara for community development
and Melanie Rulla-Saro for professional service.
Laban III, now the
officer-in-charge of the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS), Assistant SDS,
Legal and Office of the Accountant; Department of Education (Dep-Ed), Baguio,
was one of awardees for public service.
He acquired his
Masters in Development Management, as a scholar, with the highest honors and a
leadership awardee, at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in
October 2014.
With the support of
his colleagues and superiors, he initiated DepEd employee programs for
continuing development, social enhancement and physical fitness; including a
document tracking system for incoming communications.
He also finds time to
trek to far-flung Benguet schools with gift-giving activities.
An alumnus of the Bila Elementary School in
Bauko, Mt. Province, San Jose High School, La Trinidad, Benguet, Saint Louis
University and University of the Cordilleras; the 37-year old accountant-lawyer
manages Dep-Ed Baguio “with a deep sense of commitment, leadership and
competence.”
Atty. Pooten received
his award in the Business and Service to Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW); who,
after staying in the United Kingdom, retired here in Baguio with wife Conchita
to oversee several business options.
Their more than 30
years in the United Kingdom were considered difficult, juggling two to three
jobs at a time while raising two daughters.
He experienced
business failures due to economic recession; but with persistence, ventured
into a forwarding business which now thrives; sending balikbayan boxes from the
UK to the Philippines.
They initiate and support charitable drives,
giving toys, books and useful items to schools and needy families, not only in
the Cordilleras but also to other regions in the country.
Architect Vergara is
an active socio-civic leader and a business woman in the city and suburbs.
She, together with former congressman
Bernardo Vergara, raised six children; and for 26 years were active host
parents to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets.
Through her
leadership, the beautification and landscaping of main thoroughfares and city
hall park were accomplished, five classrooms at Lucban Elementary School were
built, livelihood projects for women and senior citizens were granted, free
consultations conducted and medicines distributed to needy patients of Baguio
General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) and adjacent Benguet areas.
She initiated
technical education scholarship programs for needy youth, and helped establish
through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office, a haven for
abused or abandoned children and wives.
Empowerment programs
were conducted for said recipients. The lady architect received the award
for community development.
Community/public service awardee Dr. Tinoyan,
was much referred to as the “multi-tasking doctor with a big heart.”
A product of local
schools; with secondary and college education hurdled as athletic and academic
scholar, Dr. Tinoyan graduated Doctor of Medicine from Saint Louis University
(SLU) in 1980, pursued and finished Masters in Public Health at the University of
the Philippines Manila in 1994-95 as a college scholar.
Dr. John started as a
rural health physician in Benguet province in 1982 to January 1989; and from
June 1989 as Medical Officer at the Health Services Office (HSO), Baguio. H
is skills as physician are varied:
medico-legal investigation, radiography, crisis and emergency management,
pediatric and adult tuberculosis, alternative, agro-medical and occupational
medicine, and post-graduate courses; his trainings here and other parts of the
country are innumerable, all put into good use.
With the HSO-attached
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) group he formed with other concerned
individuals, he guides volunteers through emergency and calamitous situations,
and also trains potential leaders in the field. EMS responders are on
round-the-clock call for medical incidents, accidents, and also patient
transport to hospitals, within the Baguio-La Trinidad area.
Dean Saro, School of
International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM) of the University of
Baguio (UB) receives the professional service award.
She was instrumental
in promoting bonds with tourism-oriented establishments and organization here
and abroad, through the academe.
The awardees were
chosen from 12 nominees; with stringent screening and a separate judging
committee, within the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB),
chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan. --- Julie G. Fianza
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