Molitas, Lawangen bags Benguet Leadership Award
THE PROVINCE of Benguet, home of half a million people have strived to raise its name in the local, national and international arena.
Doctor Ryan Guinaran, a former Benguet Leadership Awardee called on other awardees to reflect and strive while reaping honors for Benguet and the Cordillera.
“We want Benguet and Cordillera on the map and it is a collective mission and responsibility. We have underrepresented but not under blessed with potentials,” added Guinaran
Guinaran stressed individual pursuit and efforts backed by local leaders with an enabling family, community, a very supportive province and loving Igorots reflect this year’s leadership awardees.
Among the awardees this year include Police Chief Inspector Kimberly Esteban Molitas, the chief public information officer and spokesperson of the National Capital Regional Office.
Her advocacy started with a scholarship program in her hometown in Kibungan by helping educate and mold the youth for a brighter future which has become one of her personal passions.
“It really takes a village to raise a child, and I am one of those who was raised by a village from the mountains of Kibungan to the City of Baguio to the 13 municipalities of Benguet,” said Molitas.
“The life of nothingness is the most beautiful that you could ever have. We may not have the material things that others do but we have the best of values in life that was given to us by our parents, and that to enjoy the love, the life, the respect and the attention from the people Kibungan, we enjoy the love that they give us,” added Molitas, daughter of Kibungan Mayor Cesar.
Molitas is the first policewoman to have secured a Fullbright Scholarship in the United States and one of the Ambassadors for Peace and Goodwill for the United Nations.
Since becoming a police officer, Molitas continues to organize fund raising activities for livelihood assistance programs and charity works providing education and health services in the country.
“It has given us the
reality of what is life all about and it has led me and my siblings to continue doing what our parents has started with public service,” added the lady police officer
At present, she also travels to South Kor e a , Mongolia,Columbia, United States, and Spain to promote the role of women police in the campaign regarding violence against women and children.
Another awardee is Abner Omaging Lawangen, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Officer of Tublay who has been in front lines in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) and a recipient of Dangal ng Bayan Award 2016.
“We are among the chosen few, the chosen few who dreamed of change, dream and move beyond ordinary. Receiving this award however adds another challenge as we now become a light post of public service and we need to strive further and move straight as there are other people who are looking at out back,” said Lawangen.
A combination of passion for public service and technical expertise in environmental management and community relations, he engaged to participate and contribute to the cause. After his recognition, the Benguet achiever was recognized with the DRRM commitment award this year.
Lawangen was also a Centennial Awardee on resiliency management by Benguet State University last month, commending his work which successfully gained financial support from the United Nations World Fo o d Programme and AEION Japan Foundation.
The Tublay DDRM officer also acknowledges the strong support system for his family, friends, workforce, and leaders.
“This award is an emblem of commitment and leadership that we need to sustain and improve. We are leaders in our categories, but these did not happen solely to our determination rather due to the strength we draw from the different life circle from our family, friends and professional and environment and the community,” added Lawangen.
“My personal principle in public service is that productive and efficient leadership is like fire, it needs basic elements to raise them we have heat oxygen and fuel,” said Lawangen.
Both Molitas and Lawangen are one of the few young leaders the province has produced, although both claimed true essence of leadership comes with great responsibility serving its people.
Molitas added leaders has unique combination of fears, resolve and humility that true leaders have to posses to be able to provide and tell people change is possible.
“We can achieve so many things if we do it together, if we put our heart into it. But leaders has come with humility that our positions does not give us more of privilege but a responsibility towards other people,” she added.
On the other hand, Lawangen said to be a productive leader there should be a constant desire to make change with enabling supportive environment that encourages leaders to grow.
“Incentives rewards, promotions and others are valuable fuels that can move leaders further. We have all the characteristics of leaders but without the enabling environment we cannot grow,” Lawangen further said.