The Bacolod City government honored its outstanding citizens and taxpayers for their invaluable contribution to the community during the 71 st Charter Day program at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as keynote speaker.
The Banwahanon awardees are Francisco Cruz, Maria Dolores Ramos and Milagros Ong.
Cruz was cited for his selfless and free legal service extended to the poor and his vigilance and devotion to the practice of law for over 40 years, while Ong was cited for her generosity of time, talent and treasure that benefit the poor and the community, especially the disadvantage and the abandoned.
Ramos was cited for her dedication in the field of education that touched the lives of young people in various institutions of learning in Bacolod and her research that contributed to the development of the communities in the city.
The Hall of Fame taxpayers are Bacolod businessman Luis Ong and Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, who have been given the recognition for three consecutive years.
The top ten real estate taxpayers, for corporation, are San Miguel Brewery Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc., Petron Corporation, Shogun Management and Development Corp., and Vallacar Transit, and, for individual – Belina Ong, Stephanie Ong, Alfonso Cu, Catherine Ong and Joaquin Gochangco Jr., and the top business taxpayers (corporation) are Teleperformance, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., Neo Food Corp. (Jollibee), Schuurmans and Van Ginneken Philippines Inc., and GLP Food Corp. (Jollibee), and (individual) Jose Ma. Cajili, Araceli Regalado, Belina Ong, Wilson Chong and Rosendo dela Rama.
The most outstanding employees of Bacolod City are Bernardo Cordero, Quirino Asong , Victoria Villalva and Luz Malata, while the most outstanding executive is Belly Aguillon.
The Dungganon awardees are former Mayor Jose “Digoy” Montalvo and Msgr. Noli Que.
Posthumous recognitions were given to former Councilor Romeo Geocadin, former Mayor Amado “Remache” Parreño, and MassKara dance and chorography artist Donna Porter.
Lifetime appreciation award was given to the late Fernando Gonzaga, grandfather of the donors of the 50,000-square meter property for the government center.
The Gonzaga family turned over the title of the property to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday while the unveiling of the Gonzaga Marker was held at the lobby of the government center before the program started.
The first City Mayor’s special citations were given to Fr. Ernie Larida of the Lady of Fatima Parish, Bacolod Tay Tung High School , Bacolod City College Faculty-Teacher Education Department, Jason Asuelo – 14 th placer in the Teacher’s Licensure Examination; and the Young Voices of the Philippines led by Maestro Art Madrigal, Aissa Mateos, Joann, Ma Ana, and Kristopherson Madrigal.
Also given the City Mayor’s special citations were the top donors for Typhoon Ondoy victims namely, AMSTAFF Services Inc., Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Negros Occidental Chapter, Council of Lions Club Presidents, Rotary International District 3850, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center , M4S, and Negros Occidental Filipino-Chinese Foundation Inc.
The Banwahanon Committee is composed of Modesto Sa-onoy, Leonito Lopue, Nelia Nemenzo and Ma. Johanna Rabago-Bayoneta.*CGS