Security guard, educator lead cast of outstanding Baguio City citizens

BAGUIO CITY – A teacher, security guard and eight others were named as outstanding citizens of this city, which is marking its 109th charter day anniversary.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan made the announcement in a late afternoon press conference on Wednesday.

This year’s awardees are security guard Guillermo Battad Cortes for community service, Dr. Ester Litilit for education, Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña for professional distinction, Jose Bugayong Jr. for community service, Rosalynd Camat for education, Generosa Boado for community service, Jane Cosalan for community service, Teresita Marcelo for culture and arts, Jose Ong Tajan for community service and Rolando Villanueva for business. Honesty, integrity for security guard Cortes is a security guard nominated by the owner of a food chain where he works, for his honesty and dedication to service.

He was cited for, among others, returning a bag containing R1 million misplaced by a customer in Maharlika center, where he used to work.

He said that even if he is just a security guard, he wants the other people to respect him, which he cannot get if he does show respect to others.

Educator Litilit worked as a domestic helper for five years in Hong Kong when she was still a new teacher after realizing the low salary she was in a private school.

When she returned to the country, she joined the Department of Education where she currently worls as a supervisor.

Her notable accomplishment is her exerting extra effort to bring in support in every school where she is assigned, to benefit the students as well as the teachers.

SOCOB search The annual search is conducted by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) for the city government with members of the nominations, search and judging committees being appointed to the task through an Administrative Order.

It was learned from SOCOB that “the security guard was chosen for his exemplary behavior in the exercise of his profession. He returned a bag containing R1 million which was left in Maharlika when he was still a guard there. It was not the only one, he was consistent in returning items left by the public in his workplace,” shared a member.

The process of choosing the awardees is tedious and rigorous, going through different levels and stages before one is finally announced as an awardee.