by Jason De Asis/PNA
Twenty-three residents of this province, who have shown strong commitment to the protection of the environment, promotion of peace and unity and for inspiring the youth to make a difference in their chosen fields, are this year’s winners of the 7th Bughaw Awards and were dubbed as “Aurora’s Best of the Best.”
The recognition is in line with the celebration of the Noble Blue Falcons International Inc. (NBFI), a group of environmental watchdogs, and its allied forces from the media, government sectors and other non-government organizations, of its 23rd founding anniversary on Tuesday, March 19.
Professor Joseph B. Usita, NBFI national chairman and “father” of environmental mountaineering in the Philippines, said on Monday the recipients passed the screening and underwent meticulous deliberation through the NBFI core values working for a healthy environment, peace and unity.
“The recipients are under strict monitoring and background checking by the screening committee in their accomplishments and participation in the community against criminalities, fighting forest destroyers, among others, and unknowingly passing the organization’s advocacy,” Usita said.
He said that the recipients have the character of the NBFI that protects and promotes the environment, peace and unity through acts of volunteerism and camaraderie, which prioritizes and respects the NBFI Code of Honor through a righteous and meaningful life.
Usita also said that this pioneering on-line award aims to inspire the youth of Aurora province and guide the members of Noble Blue Falcons scattered in all parts of the globe.
This year’s awardees are Verna Abby Catusalem-Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president; Patrick Alexis Angara, a student leader and eco-tourism advocate; Lawyer Nick M. Salamera; Aurora acting Governor Rommel Rico T. Angara; Danilo Tolentino, senior citizen’s right advocate; Police Captain Ferdinand B. Usita, peace and environmental advocate; Dingalan Mayor Shierwin Taay; Casiguran Mayor Ricardo A. Bitong; Dilasag Mayor Joe P. Gorospe;
Baler Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief Gabriel C. Llave; Baler Vice Mayor Pedro “Bobong” Ong Jr.; Engineer Sid Galban, president and CEO, IPG Training Institute for Professional Advancement; Dr. Asuncion Angara Bitong, principal at the Florida Elementary School, Maria Aurora; Brig. Gen. Ramil M. Bitong, brigade commander, 803rd Infantry “ Peacemaker” Brigade, Philippine Army;
Jason de Asis, veteran reporter and stringer of TV5/News5 and Philippines News Agency (PNA); Police Captain Desiree Buluag, police visibility advocate; Leonardo P. Ulsa, Aurora Provincial Environmental Management Unit Officer (PEMUO); Dr. Zorobabel S. Laureles Sr., dean, College of Criminal Justice, Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU);
Senator Sonny M. Angara; Dinalungan Vice Mayor Tito Tubigan; Baler Mayor Nelianto “Pilot” C. Bihasa; Police Captain Delia M. Cada, women and children’s rights advocate and Engineer Bernabe Archeta, inventor/owner of Markell Machineries Manufacturing.
Usita said as one of the many residents of the province, being chosen as a Bughaw awardee is a rare feat worth emulating, not only by the people of Aurora, but of the world as a whole.
“These recipients are supporting our organization to the fullest level in the clean-up drive, tree-planting, effect of global warming, information and dissemination, patrolling and monitoring against illegal logging to protect the mountains,” Usita noted.
Founded on March 19, 1996 in the Philippines, NBFI has 444,000 members distributed nationwide with 8,000 environmental mountaineers helping promote and protect the mountains against destroyers while helping the provincial government of Aurora safeguard the province’s fast diminishing forest cover.
In this province, there are currently more than 8,000 NBFI members.
