BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The City Government of Baguio and the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) launched the 2023 Search for Outstanding Citizens of Baguio through a Kapihan sa Baguio, on Tuesday (Jan. 31).
The categories for this year’s search are Community Service, Culture and Arts, Business, and Professional Service.
Submission of nomination is from March 15 to June 16. Nomination forms can be obtained at the City Mayor’s Office at City Hall and soon at the Philippine Information Agency regional office.
Validation is from June 19 to 28, and judging is set from August 1 to 11. SOCOB past president Dr. Elma Donaal assured that the validation committee will comply with the Data Privacy Act and will only validate documents that are submitted.
Winners will be announced and awarded on September 1 as a highlight of the Baguio Day celebration.
2023 Search Committee chair Anthony de Leon encouraged the public to nominate deserving individuals for the annual search in the city.
“We can only select outstanding citizens of Baguio from those who are nominated. We cannot give an individual recognition coming from the SOCOB members, it has to be from the community. Nothing beats the heart of a volunteer,” De Leon said.
2022 Outstanding Citizen of Baguio Ricky Ducas stressed that age does not matter when it comes to giving service to the community as he encourages the public and the community to nominate someone deserving.
“It’s how you spent every day of your life and cherishing every moment and doing something in your community or for your community and your advocacy. That’s what matters most because at the end of the day, it’s not the material things that you’ve given to those people but it’s how you made them feel,” Ducas underlined.
Other kapihan panelists included SOCOB founder Dr. Reynaldo Bautista, SOCOB past president Dr. Priscilla Macansantos, and SOCOB president Joel Art Tibaldo. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)
