CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – As main event of the celebration of the 445th Aldo Ning Kapampangan (Pampanga Day), the provincial government recognized twelve Kapampangans who excelled in their respective field of professions and gave honor to the province.
Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda said the Kapampangans who have contributed in the development of the province deserve to be recognized.
Leading this year’s Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardees (MOKA) is Maria Mercedes Reinares y Arrastia-Tuason for Government Service.
Tuason is a Philippine diplomat and ambassador to the Holy See. She received the Magistral dame of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in May 2003. She is also an awardee of the Grand Cross of Merit for the title Order of Pius IX due to her charitable works and diplomatic service to the Roman Catholic Church, a coveted title that was not granted to ladies until November 1993.
The awardee in the field of Arts is Jason Paul Laxamana, a native of Angeles City. Laxamana is a filmmaker and is known for his third full length film ‘Magkakabaung’ (The Coffin Maker).
The MOK awardee in the field of Education is Amable V. Aguiluz V. Aguiluz, a native of Lubao is the Chairman Emeritus of AMA Computer Education System. He pioneered the IT Education in the country, making him the ‘Father of Computer Education’.
Prudencio S. Garcia, a native of Porac town and the CEO and President of Mekeni Food Corporation is the awardee in the field of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Former Pampanga Police Director and now National Capitol Region Police Regional Director CSupt Oscar Albayalde is the awardee in the field of Law Enforcement; founder of Pampanga-based media television network GNN TV44 Allan P. Dungao for Mass Media; and Benerando T. Garcia and Paulina Q. Garcia for Parenthood.
Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, the founding leader and Executive Pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name is the Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the field of Religion.
Fr. Marciano G. Evangelista, the Salesian priest behind the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children’s Village and the Tuloy Foundation is this year’s awardee in the field of Social Service.
Professional basketball player Arwind A. Santos is the most outstanding Kapampangan in the field of Sports while Ednalyn E. Fajardo, an Alternative Learning System (ALS) district coordinator is the MOK awardee in the field of Youth Service.
The provincial government also conferred the Outstanding Honorary Kapampangangan to businessman Ramon S. Ang.
The Outstanding Honorary Kapampangan is given to non-Kapampangans who have served and contributed to the welfare and reputation of the Kapampangan race and directly rendered services in the province.
Ang has been instrumental in the desilting and dredging of Pampanga Bay which cost millions of pesos but at no expense to the provincial government.
The governor added that the awardees should serve as example for other Kapampangans to follow.
“I am happy that the province has many men and women who bring honor to the province. Every Kapampangan needs someone like you to look up to,” the governor said.
“I think in my life as former president, vice president, senator, I‘ve received many awards myself so I know what it’s like to be an awardee. But let me say one of my favorite awards was in1996 when I became an awardee for the Most Outstanding in Governance. When we look at the awardees, we are showing the world that the Kapampangans are truly outstanding,” former President and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who served as the guest of Honor said.
The MOKA held at Kingsborough International Convention Center on Sunday is the highlight of the weeklong founding anniversary of the province.
MOKA has been perceived as the pinnacle of all awards conferred by the province to its outstanding sons and daughters.
