Datu Bago awardees
Touching the lives of Dabawenyos
DATU Bago Awardees this year are true models of commitment and passion of their individual advocacies that made a significant mark to the lives of people.
Esteemed guests and family members came as witnesses to the conferment of Brother Carlito Gaspar, Norma T. Javellana, Belen C. Laud, Dr. Aland David Mizell, Ricardo N. Obenza Jr., Beethoven N. Sur, and Nietto L. Vitto as persons who embodied the qualities of Datu Bago, a chieftain who defended Davao City from Spanish conquerors.
Brother Carlito Gaspar was cited for championing indigenous people's cultural and resource rights; authoring 20 books that promoted deeper understanding of Davao and Mindanao indigenous cultures; doing extensive research on pre-colonial Davao significantly contributed to the study of Davao City and its history; and his grassroots activism and development work focused on serving those who are in the periphery of society.
Gaspar said what he has achieved is a product of his academic studies and his exposure to various social issues pertaining to indigenous peoples, which he did through visiting many of these communities.
He said these visits allowed him to see the sad reality of IPs, being poorest of the poor in the land they originally owned. This, as Gaspar described, as “ironic and tragic reality” of IPs and this fueled his advocacy throughout the years.
Javellana was cited for her advocacy in protecting the environment particularly her tireless effort for the protection of Shrine Hills and her advocacy on putting up green and open spaces, watershed protection, and other environmental concerns.
“It’s nice that an ordinary person like me was given that award, maybe because through my advocacy in the environment especially the Shrine Hills. This award is really a recognition of advocacy to fight for the good of the environment,” she said.
Laud, an accountant by profession was cited for her work as a leader, as a consultant, accredited mediator and conciliator, cooperative auditor, and formidable lecturer. Her work in cooperatives for more than four decades greatly contributed to the empowerment of marginalized sector.
Laud said she had been the director for three years at Santa Ana Multi-purpose Cooperative (SAMULCO) which had grown for years. She said in Samulco they tried to get the needs of the cooperative members; developed a culture of transparency; promoted the value of saving and continuous capital build up.
Sharing her expertise on financial management to cooperatives with, Samulco as the model, Laud helped communities build their own cooperatives which benefited many.
Mizell is an American social scientist who spent more than a decade in his life in Davao City serving the disadvantaged and the marginalized through scholarship he gave to poor students; alternative schooling to inmates in Maa City jail.
He also organized soccer games for children at Isla Verde. He also organizes foreign exchange programs for both faculty and student to study abroad for free.
Obenza was cited as an environmentalist, a teacher, and an artist. His untiring advocacy with art led to his collaboration with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Kinaiyahan Foundation, schools and other agencies. He initiated tree planting in Calinan and Marilog watersheds.
Obenza said with the award, he wishes to be heard and to be listened to by people in terms of his advocacies.
Sur was cited for his involvement in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, a non-government organization in counterpart of the organic Philippine Coast Guard. He served as a Commodore and District Director of the Southeastern Mindanao Command. His leadership as a district director with more than 20 squadrons and three thousand men and women under his command has paved way to promote environmental protection.
Vitto has been cited as the champion of special children or differently abled through his Special Education Program. He crafted the first Special Education Program for the Graduate School of the University of the Southeastern Philippines (USEP). He initiated the sports for the disabled, thus enabling special children to enjoy sports, promote healing and wellbeing.
The awardees were conferred by Davao City Mayor Sara Z. DuterteCarpio in partnership with Datu Bago Awardees Organization Inc.
Datu Bago is the highest award bestowed to a Dabawenyo who made a great contribution to the community .