Tuguegarao City—Nine outstanding Cagayanos were awarded with the most esteemed honors for achievers known as the “Dangal ng Lahing Cagayano” at the Valley Hotel here.
The awards night, held on June 29, coincided with the province’s 435th founding anniversary
The awards have two categories: The Natatanging Cagayano Award and the Gintong Medalya Award.
The Natatanging Cagayano 2019 is Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, who hails from Tuguegarao. He was represented by Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan.
Gintong Medalya awardees were Richard B. Biraguit in the field of Agriculture, Engr. Florencio A. Balagso for Agriculture, Maj. Gen. Ramiro Manuel A. Rey on Peace and Order, John Mauro Q. Manuel in Community and Development, Joeffrey M. Calimag, Ph. D for Higher Education, Justice Perpetua T. Atal-Pano in Law and Women Empowerment, Dr. Raymond E. Narag, Ph.D for Justice System and Penology, and Lerma Elmira M. Bulauitan in Sports.
Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba said the Dangal awards embody the greatness of a Cagayano, “whose perseverance, dedication, service and noble values are his pride to the whole nation and to the whole world.”
The award “aims to recognize outstanding, exemplary and distinguished Cagayanos who have made a name not only in the province, but also in the national and international arena, contributing to the progress and development of communities and in nation-building,” he said.
Mamba said the Dangal awards also aim to inspire the youth of the province.
Atty. Mabel Villarica-Mamba, the first lady of the province and the architect and proponent of the Dangal awards, said it recognizes the lifetime achievement of Cagayanos whose exemplary achievements in various fields of endeavor contribute to the enhancement of the province’s growth, honor and glory.
“Honor, excellence and the values of genuine goodness. These are the important criteria that make a Cagayano worthy of the Dangal ng Lahing Cagayano award,” she said.
“The Cagayano is not dishonest, he is not abusive, and definitely he is not corrupt. It is unfair that when asked where we are from, the Cagayano is associated to what caused Cagayan to lag behind its neighbors,” Governor Mamba stressed during the ceremony.
“We launched the Dangal ng Lahing Cagayano Award in 2017 because I felt that we need to inspire our people, especially the younger generation, that there is so much to be proud of about our people and our province. I believe we need to have modern day heroes who we can look up to because of their achievements and moral uprightness,” he added.
During its first year, various individuals were given the Gintong Medalya Award, including: Jun Epifanio Pagalilauan (Arts), Robert Samoy Sac (Science, Technology and Engineering), Dr. Ronald P. Guzman (Education and Public Service), Maj. Gen. Paul Talay Atal (Military Service) Leomar Aday (Agriculture and Fisheries), and Miguel B. Decena (Business and Entrepreneurship).
Three prominent individuals were chosen as “Natatanging Cagayano” awardees in 2017. They were Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan; Engr. Danilo D. Tamayo, President and CEO of DDT Konstract, Inc.; and Secretary Arthur Planta Tugade of the Department of Transportation.
Last year, the awardees for the Gintong Medalya were: Atty. Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa (Law), Prof. Pedro R. Abraham (Music, Culture and Arts), Dr. Gerly Tong Zulueta (Science and Agriculture), Gina Luna Bermudo (Education), Angel Balisi Encarnacion, DMSC (Fisheries and Agriculture), Arsenio Lumin Dela Pena, (Fisheries and Agriculture), Jimmy Jurado (Music, Culture and Arts), Dean Julius T. Capili, RMT, PhD (Medicine, Science and Technology), and VADM Robert Arugay Empedrad (Government Service).
The “Natatanging Cagayano” awardees for 2018 were Justice Jose C. Mendoza (Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Philippines), Chairman Maria Gracia M. Pulido-Tan (Former COA Chair), Engr. Diosdado P. Banatao (International Businessman and Philanthropist), and President Cecilia Cayosa-Borromeo (DBP President and CEO).
The awardees of the “Dangal ng Lahing Cagayano 2017,” in both “Natatanging Cagayano” and “Gintong Medalya Award” are adjudged and chosen through a rigid screening by an esteemed board of judges.