Gintong Tala award rites for Baguio’s most outstanding senior citizens set

THE 2017 Gintong Tala Award program honouring the city’s 12 Most Outstanding Senior Citizens will be held at the Baguio Convention Center on October 25, this month. The special episode is the climax feature of the ongoing month long Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA) OCTOBERBEST Celebration, sponsored jointly with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) headed by Betty Fangasan, the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) under Forestor Isaias Barongan and the City Government of Baguio led by City Mayor Mauricio Domogan. Yours truly is the president of BEA, the intiator and the OCTOBERBEST program arm which started in Year 2003.

On the centerstage of the Gintong Tala Awards ceremony this year are retired and present government officials and professional and career leading personalities in the community. The awardees are recognized and cited for their exemplary leadership and proficiency in their respective individual profession or career and for their extra-ordinary involvement or active participation in various civicsocial and environmental conservation activities for a better Baguio.

The awardees are retired City General Services Officer Romeo D. Concio, City Councilor Elaine Zembrano and Judge Mia O. Kawid of the Regional Trial Court in Baguio, representing the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Department in the city government. The Roll of Honor includes Dean Raymund Salvosa, President of the University of Cordilleras in the field of Education; Dr. Renaldo Paraan for Medicine; Betty Fangasan for Fraternal, Civic and Social Services; Ret. Gen. Villamor A. Bumanlag for Philippine National Police (PNP) Service; Stela De Guia for Tourism, Culture and Special Events; Nancy Alabanza for Commerce, Business and Trade; Former City Councilor and Sportsman Rufino Panagan for Sports and retired Radyo ng Bayan Baguio, Director Roger Mercado, in the field of Journal- ism. The OCTOBERBEST Award and Recognition Committee is still waiting for the name of the honoree from the Muslim ReligiousSpiritual sector. City Councilor Benny Bomogao, a Muslim by faith is helping us coordinate in the selection process. We hope to hear from him the soonest. Thank you sir.

In passing, may I just say that the OCTOBERBEST Celeration in our beautiful mountain resort city is pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation by former President Fidel V. Ramos. It is in adherence to a series of City Council Resolutions passed and approved honouring Lolos and Lolas. The celebration is further strengthen by the BEA Covenant of Unity forged by BEA member association 15 years ago. The City Executive will be invited to grace the Gintong Tala Awards program and the “Loos Lolas Pista sa Nayon” as the guest of honor and speaker, come Oct. 25. The curtains go up at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon. On this score, our elderlies from the various Senior Citizens Associations are requested to use their respective traditional provincial attire special the lolos.

The enterpiece of the Pista sa Nayon will be the presentation and coronation ceremonies for the BARP Foundation, Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Associations Philippine Government Retirees Association, Baguio Chapter; Veterans Federation of the Philippine, Baguio District and the USAFIP Northern Luzon Chapter Ginang Lakambinis and Ginoong Lakans. The core of “potongan” guests include Madame, Solidad Go, the charming better hald of Congressman Mark Go, Madame Rebecca Domogan, the partner in life of Mayor Domogan; City Councilors Lilia Farinas and Bomogao and Director Helen Tibaldo of the Philippine Information Agency- Cordillera Administrative Region (PIACAR).

A cultural presentation by the elderly associations will include provincial folk and traditional highland tribal dances and songs and a “harana” to add color and prestige to the red letter day celebration.

I understand from OSCA authorities that the winners in the Oct. 12 OCTOBERBEST Poem Writing Contest will also recite their winning English or Pilipino literary pieces. They will also recite their cash incentive awards for topping the contest during the “palabas”.

Again, my co-lolos and lolas, let us enjoy in unison the OCTOBERBEST program which was crytalized from a dream to a reality! The joy of caring and sharing is the bloodline of our fraternal links and brotherhood relationship that is proudly and truly Baguio! God bless us and all our loved ones, wherever they are and what ever they are doing, rain or shine, winter summer or fall!