Outstanding citizens to be feted in Baguio Day rites

BAGUIO CITY – Five outstanding citizens of Baguio from different fields shall be honored during the 107^th charter anniversary morning of Sept. 1, at the Baguio Convention Center.

Lawyer Augustin Laban III and Dr. John Tinoyan, are honored 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, is one of the 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 receives his award in the Business and Service to Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW); who, after staying in the United Kingdom, retires 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 are 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 receives the award for community development.

Community/Public service awardee Dr. Tinoyan,  is 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. His 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 is 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