T Four Boholanos who have excelled in their different fields of endeavor and have manifested the traits and character of Bohol’s most illustrious son found recognition during the 115 th birth anniversary of President Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) last Friday. Recipients of the prestigious CPG Awards are Monsignor Margarito R. Gonzaga in the filed of public service, businessman Argeo J. Melissimo for music, poet and literary artist Marjorie Evasco in literature and cultural worker Reinaldo P. Monreal for culture. These awardees have also been adjudged as having successfully exemplified the notable character and traits of the late CPG, who, in his lifetime had shown a high degree of statesmanship, artistry and love of culture, which has catapulted his simple life to the country’s corridors of power.

According to awards organizers, CPG Awards is in recognition of the Boholanos who have manifested exemplary accomplishments that significantly contributed to culture and heritage in the fields of living traditions, cultural advocacy, arts and literature, poetry, music, dance, visual or culinary arts, statesmanship, sports or public service. Every Boholano who have manifested accomplishments, which redound to the well being of the community and the country in general are qualified.

The awards which is handed as one is nominated and screened goes to Boholanos within and outside the province, who have helped in the attainment of the well being of Boholanos and the world in general, provide positive role models for emulation by the youth and promote awareness and understanding on the life and principles guiding the life of the Boholano who made it to the country’s top seat, said organizers. The awards, is also set up as an institution to formally recognize the manifested accomplishments of Boholanos in their chosen endeavors.

FOUR AWARDEES PUBLIC SERVICE

Mons. Margarito R. Gonzaga, who just turned 90 last November 1 has ably shown to be just a perfect example of CPG’s commitment to government service and the church, said Governor Edgar Chatto. Born in Alburquerque and was raised to become an ordained priest, Gonzaga later realized his full mission as shepherd in his hometown which beckoned for a leader. But beset with the stereotype of church and state separation of powers, Gonzaga was however lit with the imperative to break the divides to emerge as the first celebrated case of a priest who served as a town mayor. His government service was capped with an ascent to the province’s highest legislative body, Chatto aired.

MUSIC

Argeo J. Melissimo is better known in Bohol as a banker, businessman and civil society empowerment advocate. His latest attempt to realize the Loboc Music Project which ha been a dream for most Lobocanan has bore fruit. Melissimo help organize the Loboc and its youth ambassador band, provide technical support and set up a network for funding mechanism to launch a mainstreamed musical group than is competitive and approximates global music standard earned him the recognition. In his acceptance speech, Melissimo admitted he is not a musician by heart but said he was humbled by his share of the responsibility in perpetuating an old music tradition in the town. From the trained members of the band, around 142 youth musicians are now enjoying full scholarships in the city’s major colleges and universities, an accomplishment huge enough to get him into the CPG act of being a public school teacher after graduation in college. Melissimo also sits as the Regional Development Council vice Chairman, Chatto revealed.

LITERATURE AND POETRY

Marjorie Evasco was born to conservative Christian parents in Maribojoc town and was raised under the guidance of strict German and Belgian nuns. Later in her life, she took a different path when she pursued a passion for creative writing enough to get her a seat at the De La Salle University faculty. An internationally acclaimed and award winning Filipino poet, Evasco soon focused more of her creative energies into writing for women’s rights and led her to be hailed as one of the country’s most respected feminist poets. Evasco still continues to perpetuate the advocacy for literature and poetry with her mentoring creative workshops all over the country and never denying communities with her unique skill to empower people to think for their own upliftment.

CULTURAL ADVOCACY

Reinaldo P. Monreal’s entry into cultural work signaled a beginning of good things for Bohol, shares a townmate of the awardee. Monreal, who has been an almost permanent fixture in the cultural advocacy of his hometown Loon and Bohol in general has also been an accomplished creative writer, poet and dramaturgist. Known for his exploratory theater work for PuntaCruz Cultural Collective, Monreal has since creatively pursued a personal and convincing lobbying for the pride of place as a potent empowerment tool to make communities feel good about their history, culture and tradition. His works promote awareness to Boholano traditional arts has earned recognition by local tourism workers which pushed the man to lead a relatively new but aggressive group of tourism officers bent on sustaining the gains of Bohol and planning for the best of Bohol’s tourism industry.