“Banaag Award” Caps Excellence and Leadership for Philippine
Cultural Foundation Inc.
Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (front center) and other
govenment officials including former President Fidel Ramos (second from left)
with Roland and ClemLazaro and Drs. Ben and Patsy Abinales (back row, left to
right)
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo (at Left) presented the BANAAG
AWARD to the Philippine Cultural
Foundation, Inc. of Tampa, Florida.
Receiving the award for the PCFI were
Drs. Ben and Patsy Abinales, Roland and
Clem Lazaro at the Presidential Awards
ceremony and testimonial dinner held the
Rizal Hall of the Malacanan Palace, last
Dec. 7th, 2006.
The PCFI and PAPAG sponsored and held Dual Citizenship
swearing in ceremonies at the Bayanihan Arts and Events
Center in 2006.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Confers Award; Lazaros and
Abinaleses Receive Award for PCFI
TAMPA, Fla.-- The Philippine Cultural Foundation Inc. (PCFI) was recently
honored with the "Banaag Award" for its contributions that significantly
benefited its community and advanced the cause of overseas Filipinos.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo conferred the 2006 Presidential Awards
to the PCFI with 47 other Filipinos and Associations in a ceremony and
testimonial dinner at the Rizal Hall of the Malacanan Palace, last Dec.
7th, 2006.
PCFI was represented by past and present officers and members of its
board, Mr. and Mrs. Roland and Clem Lazaro and Drs. Ben and Patsy
Abinales, who together received the award from the Philippine President
herself.
Instituted in 1991, the Presidential Awards, is given bi-annually to a
select group of individuals and organizations rigorously screened from
hundreds of nominations from all over the world. The awardees are
selected for their excellence in work, untiring service to the Filipino
people, dedicated leadership in community initiatives that promote the
common good, enduring advocacy for the promotion and protection of the
rights of others, and significant role in uplifting the lives of
Filipinos in marginalized sectors.
Today, Filipinos overseas are being given recognition at home because
despite the distance, they are considered a significant part of the
Philippines. This is exemplified by laws that facilitate their
participation in Philippine affairs like the Dual Citizenship Law.
In Tampa, Florida, home to the PCFI, excitement brewed as the
announcement of the winners was made last Nov. 14, 2006. A week prior to
the announcement, Joy Quintana from the Office of the Ambassador in
Washington D.C. informed the PCFI about its standing as one of the seven
contenders out of more than 150 nominees in the United States.
“I was already proud that our foundation was nominated and then made the
best seven, said Rudy Bautista, PCFI Chairman. “But getting the Banaag
Award was the ultimate as we know there are a lot of individuals and
organizations that are setting good examples of what Filipinos and
organizations are overseas.”
Executive Director Jose Molano Jr. sent PCFI the letter of
congratulations. The Florida-based Filipino American Newspaper, Basta
Pinoy News officially nominated PCFI because of its accomplishments, and
what it has done for the community and what it stands for culturally as
a Filipino Foundation overseas.
The PCFI is standing tall because of the people behind it -- the
community, the board members, the past and present officers, the
committee chairs of PCFI who unselfishly volunteered and has been
volunteering their time, efforts, energy, talents and financial
assistance to keep it going.
"The Presidential award recognized PCFI for its successful
existence -- so it must go on no matter what hurdles, challenges and
successes that may lay across its path,” said Rudy Bautista.
PCFI is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 to further interests
in Philippine culture and the arts. (With
PIA/PCFI reports)
Related story: uPresidential Banaag Awardees
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