Dipolog pays tribute to outstanding public servants, private individuals

By Franklin P. Gumapon

Thursday 5th of July 2012

DIPOLOG CITY, July 5 (PIA) --The city government presented special awards to government workers, private individuals and organizations that brought honor to the city and contributed to its development.

Sixteen individuals and an organization have been recognized for their respective achievements and contributions that put the city in the limelight.

The city government took pride of the achievements of the following individuals: Engr. Winston L. Damarillo, who was named as one of the Global Young Leaders of 2010 by the World Economic Forum, one of Asia Top 100 Innovators and one of the Top 20 Open Source Innovators cited by “Red Herring,” a US Tech Magazine; Engineer Xavier Lim for placing first place in the May 2012 Civil Engineers’ licensure examinations; Katrina Marie R. Lopez, the grand prize winner of the first KBP pop music festival for 2010-2012; Ma. Bianca N. Cañoneo, national champion of the “on-the-spot essay writing contest,” during the National Festival of Talents held in Iloilo City last April; Adcil Vic B. Tagolo, Sci-Dama-pupil category national champion during the 9th National Science Quest in Baguio City; Maedy R. Tepacia, Grade VI Science Quiz national champion during the National Science Quest in Baguio City; Luz B. Cabogrin, who garnered third place in the 2012 search for outstanding teacher handling children with learning disability; Ma. Theresa F. Dayrit, national finalist for the 2011 Search for Outstanding SPED Teacher for Children with Intellectual Disability; Theresa Rachel C. Venegas, national finalist for the 2011 Search for Outstanding SPED Teacher for Children with Visual Impairment; and Arsenia C. Zamoras, who was recognized for her invariable support to SPED teachers.

Special awards were also given to Hiroshi B. Ikeda, OISCA-Mindanao director, for facilitating the acquisition of an ambulance, a fire truck and garbage trucks for the city from various Japanese entities; Metro Dipolog Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Ben L. Lim for his school building donations, Engr. Rey Salvador A. Villanueva for his donation of P370,000 in the acquisition of an ambulance and a motorcycle for the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)-Dipolog Office; Ram Sitaldas for spearheading “Mission Eye Camps” that distributed free eyeglasses and conducted free cataract operations, Dr. Gevi C. Tamparong for giving free and continuous eye checkup to senior citizens in the city, and Ivabelle Icao-Bernabe for sponsoring a bi-annual arts competition dubbed “Ivabelle Awards.”

The Gerry Roxas Foundation was also recognized for its contribution to the city’s sustainable peace and development programs through its Barangay Justice for Peace Project (BJPP), which has been implemented in all barangays.

The conferment of awards was held on the eve of Dipolog’s foundation day and it was one of the activities lined up for the event.

Dipolog turned 99 last July 1. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)