Humbling honor

When I opened my email the other day, I received a congratulations letter from UP Cebu Chancellor Liza Corro that I am the recipient of the award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Arts for the 2018 Gawad Chancellor for Outstanding Performance and Achievement of a faculty. Awarding ceremony is today, May 3 at 7:00 in the evening at the Joggers Path, UP Cebu Grounds.

The award is a pleasant revelation as through the years I have been doing what to me is for the proliferation of the local arts. For the past two decades that local artistic initiatives have in one way or the other impacted lives and communities. And at least in the last few years, this column serves as my avenue to amplify my views on the plight of the local arts.

As we celebrate UP Cebu's Centennial, this recognition, personally, is remarkably meaningful. From the start, gaining the respect from the local artists is more than enough for these are the people who generally do not trumpet what they have done to the community. But to receive recognition from the institution that I have devoted my life for the past 34 years is more than what I expected.

And every time recognition is being given, there is undoubtedly a lot of pressure that comes with it, which can be a good thing and bad thing all at the same time. But to stay focused and never lose sight of what I am doing and who I am, I can rise above it.

There are groups and individuals that serve as my strength and inspiration: the longest-running theatre arts group in UP Cebu, the UP Students and Arts Guild for Education, whose alumni around the world are appreciative and they attribute part of their success to UPSTAGE. My home college, the College of Communication, Art, and Design, which is a conglomeration of artists whose diverse views and persuasions have given me such wide understanding and appreciation of individuality and diversity.

My family: my mother and my late father who supported my academic and artistic undertakings especially during the times when I have to choose which one to prioritize among conflicting concerns. My brothers and sisters who are always present, even without a word, but I know such tremendous support and appreciation, I feel from the start.

Time and again I have to constantly remind myself that we all have goals. We want to matter and continue to be relevant to others and the community. And so doing we want freedom and power to pursue our creative work. We want respect from our peers and recognition for our accomplishments, not out of vanity or selfishness, but of an earnest desire to fulfill our personal potential.

Thank you UP Cebu for this recognition. And to the men and women in the arts and culture, our marginalized cultural workers in the communities, I share and offer this recognition to all of you.

‘But to receive recognition

from the institution that I have devoted my life for the past 34 years is more than

what I expected.’