LA TRINIDAD, Benguet(PIA) -- The local government of La Trinidad  recognized  24 of its residents and  organizations   for their exemplary efforts and achievements  bringing honor to the municipality.

Mayor Romeo Salda and Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan led the awarding of the Special Kayabang Awards to the  24 awardees during the  72nd Foundation Anniversary  celebration of the municipality  last  June 17.

Awardees include Dr. Adamson Labi as an outstanding educator and a double awardee of the 2021 Global Leaders and Educators; Jones Inso as an outstanding athlete ( gold medalist  in Wushu during the recent Southeast Asian Games);  Ofelia Empian for excellence in journalism( Best Agriculture News Story – Regional category in the 13th Bright Leaf Journalism Awards); Atty. Mary Inglay Capuyan – Fokno for outstanding professional social service work of the Philippine Association of Social Workers; Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan for excellence on film(winner  of  the Short Film Grand  Jury Prize in the 38th Sundance Film Festival 2022),  and Jayson Osong for excellence in music and arts.
 

Awarded for academic excellence include Architecture Licensure Examination 2020 topnotcher Arch. Rhicel Sapasap, Christian Jake Palgue, a job order swabber who was  Top 3  in the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination 2022, Engr. Allister Marc Domilies, No. 3 in the  20221 Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination and Police Colonel Marvin Diplat,  topnotcher in the Police Executive Service Eligibility.
 
Awardees from the police and military schools include Police LT Joab Mar Macnas,  Philippine National Police Academy 2021 Top 2; 2LT Val Elijah Esguerra -  PMA Malasigan Class of 2021 graduate, ENS. Guerson Tomita of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Masakabayan Class of 2020 Top 7,  and siblings 2LT Valerie Mae Dicang Philippine Military Academy Malasigan Class of 2021 Top 3 and magna cum laude, 2LT Jovin Cline Dicang,  PMA graduate who also graduated in the Australian Defence Academy in 2019.
 
The Nurho Recording Studio was also recognized for outstanding community service, Benguet State University – Library and Information Services for outstanding government service and Cordillera Regional Science High School (CRSHS) - Chorale for excellence in music and arts.
    
“Although this year we do not have a Golden Kayabang awardee, we have a total of 24 awardees who best reflect our values, principles, and excellence,” Councilor Apolinario Bagano Jr. said who   chairs the Committee on Awards.
 
“May these people and groups of people serve as a mirror for our dreams and aspirations and encourage us to be better versions of ourselves in our daily dealings that the next generations may have people to emulate,” Bagano added.

Bagano said that a significant development in this year’s Kayabang Awards is having a blanket award for all those who continuously serve  during the pandemic.
 
He said the award is particularly for the medical frontliners, non-medical frontliners such as our police force, bureau of fire protection, barangay and SK officials, the academe who helped during the vaccination, and of course the farmers, traders, and businessmen who donated their resources during the difficult times.
 
The blanket award which was received by the local officials will be posted at the Rural Health Unit Building as a reminder of the goodness of the people of La Trinidad so our next generations may know and emulate their sacrifices. (JDP/RMC-PIA-CAR)