Provl Govt. Hands Over Plaques Of Recognition To Former Provl Officials/Awards MOSL

July 20,2010
Provl Govt. Hands Over Plaques Of Recognition To Former Provincial Officials/Awards MOSL
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The provincial government with the assistance of the private sector has handed over recently 16 plaques of recognition to former Provincial Governors and Vice-Governors and 17(plaques) Rajah Kolambu Awards to most outstanding Southern Leyteños in 5 different fields of endeavors and a posthumous award during the 50th golden year anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte.
The eligibility requirements for the nominees of the most outstanding Southern Leyteños are that he/she must be a bona fide Southern Leyteño whether residing in the province or outside the province. This means that he or she was a natural born Southern Leyteño, said Provincial Planning Development Office head Virginia Lim-Cruz whose office is in-charged of the project. And that one or both parents were born in Southern Leyte.
The PPDO head informed that the nomination plan was first announced during the April 2010 Provincial Development Council meeting held at the Ruperto Kangleon Function House. In that said meeting, nomination forms were distributed to all municipal Mayors who were part of the attendees, she said, and it was also announced in the local radio station DYDM for additional information to the listeners.
She said that Lilies Mercado Kapili, a US citizen, also informed UCCP members to recommend well-known Southern Leyteños whom they know in various field of specialization. Kapili also contacted all Southern Leyteños she know who were residing in different states of the USA to send their entries of Southern Leyteños they have come to know who are well-known in their field of specializations.
There were 5 categories of specializations among the Rajah Kolambu awardees and one posthumous award to the most outstanding Southern Leyteños. 1) Agriculture (Research and Development):Dr. Julieta Rodas-Roa-Director,Philippines Rootcrops Research & Training Center,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte.
2)Culture and Arts: A)Salvador Compendio Abiera-present-Artist and Architect,Curator,Abiera Museum of Arts,Maasin City;B)Nemesio Vasquez Betanio-present-Curator Anthropological Museum Center, Mindanao University,Bukidnon; C)Wilfredo Olayvar Justimbaste-present-Dramatist,Scripwriter,writer,Public Relation Officer 4,City Hall,Maasin City; D)Sal’my Neo Dadap Malaki-represented by his College of Maasin teacher Beverly Espina Navarette-member,Los Angles Opera Company,USA,Concert artist,flutist,world-class tenor, educator; E)Sherwin Mole Casepe-present-(young achiever category)dance choreographer,G4-Force dance company, ABS-CBN’s ASAP.
3)Education: A)Maro Blauta-present-retired School Division Superintendent,Lucena City; B)Margarita Germo Gabriel-present-Teacher 3,DepEd,Sindangan Elementary School,Macrohon,leading her co-teachers in coaching schoolchildren to be the number one in National Achievement Test nationwide in 2009; C)Dr. Juanito Acero Lao-present-President,Fr. Saturnino Urius University,Butuan City.
4)Government Service: A)Commissioner Violeta Ortiz-Bantug-present-Presiding Commissioner 4th Division of the National Labor Relation Commission, Cebu City(highest Career executive position currently occupied by a Southern Leyteño); B)Wilfredo LIgtas Madrona-present-Doctor of Medicine, municipal councilor, environmentalist; C)Engr.Rito Lopez Monte de Ramos-present-Assistant Regional Director,DPWH,Region 7,Cebu Province; D)Engr.Daisy B. Toledo-present-DPWH-Cebu District Engineer, Second District Engineering Office.
5)Science and Technology: A)Dr. Rico Obligado Cruz-present-President and Consultant, co-Energy international-Idaho,USA-a leading international expert in biofuels research,development,production,evaluation and characterization; Terrestrial Ecologist Manager,Oregon,USA.Office-Dept of Science and Engineering,Pendleton,Oregon,USA; B)Dr. Roberto Cariño Guarte-present-Professor 3,Visayas State University,Baybay,Leyte,Inventor.His inventions: biodiesel processor, portable solar dyer for Abaca, biomass furnace, automated laboratory dryer, greenhouse-type solar dryer. His food products: virgin oil, maccapuno strips, maccapuno macaroons,macapuno sweet potato jam. He has 29 publications and 26 technical papers prepared and presented during conventions, lectures and seminars; C)Dr. Prisco Duarte Nilo-represented by a cousin-Professorial Lecturer,Dept. of Meteorology and Oceanography,UP,Quezon City(1997-2003)Deputy Administrator for Operation and Services,PAG-ASA(2004-07); Technical Advisor for EWS,Maldives Tsunami Recovery Program,UNDP-funded project; D)Dr. Lyndon Duarte Segales-represented by his mother-Naval Officer, US Navy Submarines(1990-95)Teaching Assistant, University of Hawaii,Dept. of Physics and Astronomy(January 1997-98);Research Assistant, University of Hawaii(Jan. 1998-Dec. 2000);Lead author of the publication “Stressed Induced Electrical Noise in Stainless Steel” Applied physics, October 2000;Lab Instructor for modern physics,E&M and Mechanics Lab.
6) Posthumous Award-Leon K.Markines-represented by his daughter Gloria Markines Reyes, Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) President.
Former Provincial Governors: 1)Alfredo K. Bantug(July 1,1960-Dec. 31,1967); 2)Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez(Jan. 1,1968-Aprsil 20,1986); 3)Gaspar V. Tagalo-(April 21,1986-Nov. 25,1986,Jan. 1,1987-Feb. 19.1987); 4)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Nov.26,1986-Dec. 3,1986); 5)Agustin L.Climaco-(Dec. 1,1987-Jan.31,1988); 6)Oscar K. Tan,M.D.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov. 30,1987,Feb. 1,1988-June 30,1998); 7)Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias-July 1,1998-June 30,2007).
Former Vice-Governors: 1)Graciano H. Capili-(1960-1963); 2)Alberto Napuli-(1964-1967); 3)Isabelo D. Kaindoy-(1968-1971); 4)Valeriano P. Tomol,Jr.-(1972-1975); 5)Oscar K.Tan,M.D.-Mar. 1,1980-Feb. 15,1987); 6)Ernesto D. Labastida,Sr.-(Feb. 20,1987-Nov.30,1987); 7)Cesar Piedad,Sr.-Dec. 1,1987-Jan. 31,1988); 8)Asisclo G. Munda,Sr.-(Feb.1, 1988-June 30,1995); 9)Eva L.Tomol-(July 1,1995-June 30,2004).
During the anniversary program, Governor Damian Mercado assisted by his older brother Congressman Roger Mercado handed over the plaques to the awardees .It was received either by the recipients themselves or their representatives. Each awardees individually posed for a souvenir photo flanked by the Mercado brothers and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11 before exiting(leaving) the stage.
Educator Juanito Acero Lao, speaking in behalf of the awardees delivered his acceptance response. Thankful of the recognition and the Rajah Kolambu awards by the provincial government, he stressed the importance of every individual to get a good quality education. That every family head should send their children to school up to college until they can finish a course or courses. He also confirmed with the statement of former Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz that education is the only solution to poverty.Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)