Congratulations! to Infanta's MLQ Awardees
By Rudy Arizala
As we celebrate the 127th birth anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon this month (19th August 2005), we commemorate his birthday as well as his qualities and virtues by bestowing the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award to persons in Quezon province who have outstanding achievement in special field of endeavor contributing to the promotion of the interest and welfare of the people. The fields of endeavor could be in law, medicine, diplomacy, education, military service, community service, public service, religious leadership, agriculture, arts and letters, etc.
Among the awardees this year (posthumous) is Dr. Amando A. Gurango of Infanta, Quezon in the field of Military Medical Service. The other awardees this year from Infanta, Quezon are Ms. Rita J. Ramirez in the field of Education and Rev. Fr. Charlito C. Colendres in the field of Spiritual Shepherding (Posthumous). Last year (2004), the awardee from Infanta, Quezon, was Ms. Mila Garcia Glodava in the field of Community Service. And previous to that year (in 2003), the awardee from our hometown was Atty. Jose Mario "Jojo" C. Buñag in the field of law practice. Incidentally, Atty. Buñag was recently promoted by the Philippine President to BIR Commissioner.
So far, since the institution of the Quezon Award in 1970, there are now eleven awardees from Infanta, Quezon, as follows:
1978 - Gen. Guillermo Nakar, Military Service (Posthumous)
1985 - Dr. Jose M. Pujalte, Medicine
1992 - Dr. Abelardo A. Mercado, Medicine
1994 - Bishop Julio X. Labayen, OCD, Christian Leadership
1995 - Amb. Rodolfo A. Arizala, Foreign Service
1998 - Fr. Francis B. Lucas, Community Development
1999 - Gen. Guillermo Nakar, Ginton Medalya ng Karangalan (Posthumous)
2003 - Atty. Jose Mario C. Buñag Law Practice
2004 - Ms. Mila Garcia Glodava Community Service
2005 - Dr. Amando A. Gurango, Military Medical Service (Posthumous)
Ms. Rita J. Ramírez, Education
Fr. Charlito C. Colendres, Spiritual Shepherding (Posthumous)
While there is every reason to rejoice because a number of our personalities (kababayans) from Infanta, Quezón has been honored and bestowed the Quezón Medalya ng Karangalan Award, nobody yet from Infanta, Quezón has been nominated and awarded for Life Achievement Award (Gintong Medalya).
The following are the requirements for the Life Achievement Award:
1. Must be either born and resided in Quezon province for at least 5 years as an adult. Or if not born in Quezon province, must be married to a Quezonian and must have resided in Quezon for at least ten years as an adult; or if not born in Quezon province and not married to a Quezonian, must have resided in Quezon for at least fifteen years as an adult.
2. Must have contributed to the promotion of the interest and welfare of Quezon province.
3. Must have manifested dedication to duty and dynamic leadership.
4. Must project the following qualities and virtues of Pres Manuel L. Quezon: concern for the common tao and promotion of social justice; championing of civil liberties; nationalism; civic consciousness; vision; integrity; innovativeness; love and concern for the family; and love for culture (music and art).
A person from Quezon province may be nominated by 1) an individual with endorsement of a social, civic, religious, government, non-government or people´s org., or group; and 2) by a social, civic, religious, government, non-government, or people´s org., or group.
The Metro Infanta Foundation as a civic organization or group is qualified to make the nomination mentioned above. It is hoped that in the near future somebody from Infanta, Quezon, would merit and deserve such Life Achievement Award (Gintong Medalya).
Needless to state here, the Metro Infanta Foundation could also nominate an individual from Quezon province for the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan. In said award, so far, we have already nine awardees from Infanta, Quezon. We should nominate more individuals from Infanta, Quezon. Also from Real and General Nakar, Quezon.