Aspiring teacher gets Cabahug Medal of Academic Excellence
A Bachelor of Secondary EducationMajor in Biology graduate from the Cebu Normal University is this year's recipient of the Justice Sotero B. Cabahug Medal for Academic Excellence award.
Mary Joy Colarte Datoy, who graduated Magna Cum Laude, received the 18-karat gold medal from the Cabahug family.
Datoy, a resident of Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City, also received P25,000 cash from the Mandaue Cultural, Historical, Education, Sports and Tourism Foundation Inc., which is spearheading the celebration in coordination with the city government.
"God's plans at work. Thank you Lord! My plan right now is to focus on my review for the Licensure Exam for Teachers on September 24," Datoy said, adding that she is processing her requirements for her mandatory Department of Education service because of a two-year scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology.
Datoy said she is happy to be this year's recipient of the award also because this was the first time that the recipient is given a cash award aside from the gold medal.
For this run of the award, the foundation also changed the selection criteria. Aside from academic achievement, 15 percent of the total score was allotted for leadership and 15 percent for community service.
"As of now, I am busy in the preparations for our sitio fiesta because I am the president of the youth organization here aside from my LET review," she added.
The awarding ceremony was done in front of the statue of Sotero B. Cabahug at the Mandaue City Hall last Friday night as one of the highlights of the 126th celebration of Justice Sotero B. Cabahug Day.
The Justice Sotero B. Cabahug Medal for Academic Excellence was first given in 1923. It aims to encourage all Mandauehanons to take their studies seriously, to attain excellence as well as prominence to contribute to the honor of the city of Mandaue as well as the Province of Cebu and the Republic of the Philippines.
Cabahug was a statesman who served in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of the government. He was born on April 22, 1891 in Mandaue, Cebu to farmers Narciso Cabahug and Cirila Barte.
He started his public career as a justice of the peace in Surigao in 1917, then served as deputy provincial fiscal in Cebu the following year and municipal councilor in Mandaue in 1920.
Cabahug also served in Congress representing Cebu's Second District from 1928 to 1931. He also served as a Supreme Court Chief Justice and as Defense Secretary.
Cabahug was also responsible for the construction of several landmark structures in Cebu such as the Mandaue City Hall, the Rizal Library and the Capitol building.