By The Ilocos Times Editorial Board
Unlike last
year's inaugural list dominated by politicians, this year's selection is a more
interesting mix of personas who have made a significant dent in their
respective spheres of influence. The youngest is 21 while the most senior,
actually the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award which we are
introducing this year, is seventy something. Among the Top Ten, there are more
male awardees, eight. Nine are based in Ilocos while one is a US migrant.
From the list of nominees
coming from readers, the honorees were picked by the Editorial Board of The Ilocos Times, the oldest and most
read newspaper in the North. It was also decided awardees in the previous year
could not be selected in the next year. As such, a lot of notable Ilocanos
selected last year were—sadly—disqualified for this year’s selection.
The Top Ten Ilocanos are (in alphabetical order):
1. Aurelio Solver
Agcaoili of Laoag City/Waipahu, Hawaii
For being at the forefront in
the linguistic and cultural struggle for freedom, for autonomy, and for
authenticity.
As president of Nakem
Conferences International and coordinator of the University of Hawaii at Manoa
Ilokano Language, Culture, and Literature Program, this literary genius has
contributed immensely to the reclaiming of the Ilokano identity through his
body of work—including award-winning prose and poetry, Ilokano dictionaries,
and conference proceedings—and, more significantly, by actively taking the
cudgels for the Ilokano in crisis.
When the Saviour’s Christian
Academy controversy broke out in August, he swiftly organized an international
committee to protect the fundamental rights of three children dismissed from
the school for speaking Ilokano inside the campus. The campaign he led resulted
to investigations by national government agencies and the coverage of national
and international media organizations, prompting the SCA president to reverse
his decision and issue a public apology.
2. Pamela Palma Aragoza
of Laoag City
For setting the highest
benchmark in the Ilocano food industry, and for her significant efforts in
civic leadership, especially as president of the Bakeries and Restaurants
Association of Ilocos Norte (BRAIN).
Her restaurant, La Preciosa,
has itself become a culinary mecca for Ilocos tourists. Described by people she
does business with as “extremely professional and well-loved,” she has expanded
her business operations by opening Arabella, an events place.
3. Jesson Ramil Cid of Dingras
For bringing honor to the
country by winning the Gold Medal in decathlon at the 27th Southeast
Asian Games held recently in Myanmar, and for setting a new Philippine record
in the sport, thus earning him the distinction as Southeast Asia’s new ironman.
In high school, Cid was a star
at Ilocos Region Athletic Association meets, where he was spotted by recruiters
from Manila universities. He played for Far Eastern University and reigned over
athletic events at the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines
(UAAP) for five years. This 21-year old son of a high school principal and a school
staff obtained an education degree in April.
4. Joven Cuanang of Batac
For his sterling achievements
in neurology, and for his patronage of Philippine contemporary art.
Having served as chief medical
officer of St. Luke’s Medical Center, the country’s top medical institution, he
lends his expertise not only to hospitals up north, but also in the
establishment of a medical school expected to open in Ilocos Norte next year.
In the 1990’s, Boston Gallery
(located in his Cubao home) provided a haven for struggling artists who were
then unappreciated and unseen but whose works today art collectors scramble
for. His Pinto Art Gallery in Antipolo and Sitio Remedios in Currimao are
meccas for the cultural literati.
5. Christian Espiritu of
Laoag
For training the youth to dance
their way to success, and for helping shape an otherwise meaningless and
confused festival.
In 2010, this high school
physical education teacher steered a group of kids to the championship of
Showtime, a nationwide talent showdown on ABS-CBN. Today, those young gymnasts
are stellar members of pep squads of UAAP-member schools, particularly the
University of Santo Tomas and National University, champion of this year’s UAAP
Cheerdance Competition.
By his persistence and creativity,
he has helped define Laoag City’s Pamulinawen Festival which, owing to its
glaring lack of historical and cultural roots, was one of the biggest losers in
the inaugural Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals in 2011. It was a
complete turnaround when Espiritu took charge as head choreographer the
following year: Laoag won as grand champion, a feat they proudly repeated this
year.
6. Michael V. Fariñas of
Laoag
For reaping a host of awards
for Laoag City during his three terms as mayor.
His nine-year reign, which is
now being carried on by his wife Chevylle, was not without major controversy,
but Laoag has been constantly evaluated by various bodies as one of the best
governed LGUs in the country. Under his leadership, the city’s commercial
landscape dramatically changed, with big business, mostly retail giants, coming
in. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry hailed Laoag as Most
Business-friendly City for 2013.
7. Aldrin R. Garvida of Nueva Era
For his belief in the potential
of celebrating his people’s traditional tribal culture.
More than just preservation,
the Nueva Era mayor has ushered a renewed pride for the Tinguian culture and
has made it relevant for both natives and tourists. The Tadek Eco and Tribal
Village, which has soft-opened and will be formally inaugurated on January 8,
is home to a vibrant and joyful dialogue among peoples and cultures. And this
pioneering initiative, which is the highlight of a new eco-cultural tourism
trail in the little-explored Eastern part of Ilocos Norte, is expected to
generate income, too.
8. Jorge Richard “Jopo” P.
Guerrero of Laoag
City
For raising the bar of
excellence in local television news.
As supervising producer and
anchor of GMA Ilocos’ Balitang Ilokano, he has shown novel ways on how
information can be delivered in an engaging manner while adhering to the
highest standards of broadcast journalism. As his well-driven team steps up the
competition, and their rival network leveling up their game as well, the
Ilocano viewer emerges as viewer.
Off cam, this philosophy
graduate has taken the cudgels for marginalized sectors and for the environment
through various running events and outreach programs.
9. Tina Tan of Laoag
For her unparalleled blogging
on anything and everything Ilocos and Ilocano, and for her contributions to eco-adventure
tourism.
Hers is the blog most visited
by tourists planning to visit Ilocos or wanting to know more about our place
and people. Her clear and perky writing style aptly matched by insightful
photos attract a loyal following. As a blogger, this nurse by training and
businesswoman by experience is diligent, professional, and, generous with her
talent. Most importantly, she has the right amount of 'craziness' any
noteworthy lifestyle writer should have.
The Laoag Eco-Adventure
Development Movement (LEAD), a group she co-pioneered, introduced sandboarding
in Ilocos Norte. That sandsport at the La Paz Sand Dunes has been featured in
various international publications and has been shown on NBC Today.
10. Ricardo “Carding” Tolentino of Piddig and Laoag City
For showing Ilocanos and the
nation that hope is in agriculture.
The poor boy—an illegitimate
child raised by his grandfather—dreamed of becoming a seaman and went on to
finish a degree in marine transportation. That dream never came true. But he is
not complaining… he is now Ilocos Norte’s Mango King! From a loaned capital of
P50,000, he started his own export business and was able to put up at least
nine mango plantations. His secret to success: no shortcuts. It took him a lot
of work to make his farms GAP-compliant (good agricultural practices). With the
help of government and agriculture experts, he applies appropriate technologies
to obtain optimum results.
2013 Lifetime
Achievement Award
Zacarias "Zac"
Sarian of Batac
For his unparalleled
contributions to development journalism in the Philippines through a career
that spans over half a century.
In 1972, he became the first
Filipino to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature
and Creative Communication Arts. Considered as Asian equivalent of the Nobel
Prize, the Magsaysay award which was followed by a long roster of many other honors
and recognitions, recognized his "standards of editing and publishing
interesting, accurate and constructive farm news.
Philosophically, the Magsaysay
noted, Sarian believes that "for a farmer to progress in his chosen
profession, he should always be provided with fresh farm techniques." He
also holds on to the idea that there should be a continuing dialogue between
policymakers and the farmer. Through decades, he has sought, and with most
fruitful results, to serve as medium for acquainting the farmer with the latest
agricultural techniques and ideas, and to offer a vehicle for the continuing
dialogue between the government and its rural citizenry.
The next-generation development
journalists, many of whom he dutifully trained and nurtured, look up to him as
icon and inspiration.
To this day, he is agriculture
editor of Manila Bulletin, editor of Agriculture Magazine, and blogger at
AgriZACcess Ideas.
Congratulations to all our
honorees. Agbiag ni Ilocano!
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