BACOLOR, Pampanga—Public Works Undersecretary Rafael Yabut led this year’s Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (Moka) awardees, having beeng adjudged as the best among Capampangans in government service for 2014.
Yabut, an engineer, started as a daily wage laborer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 1975. He is a Rank 1 career service officer and currently served as the undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office Operation for both foreign-assisted and locally funded projects of the DPWH.
Yabut was never tainted with corruption and anomalies in the government.
The awardee, a native of Candaba, Pampanga, was the recipient of various commendations and awards both from the government and private sectors. This year’s Moka awardee in the field of Sports is Annyka Channel Pineda Cayabyab, a champion golfer.
Cayabyab comes from a family of sports enthusiasts. Her father, Archen Cayabyab, was an established Philippine Basketball League player. Her mother, Lubao Mayor Mylin Cayabyab, introduced her to the game.
Annyka bagged the championhip in the Girls 9-10 Year Age category division of the Future Champions of Golf International Junior Golf Championships at Riverwalk, Golf Club in San Diego, California.
Johnny Uy fondly called “Papa Johnny” by locals, was the Honorary Kapampangan Awardee.
Even if he was of Chinese origin, Papa Johnny’s heart belongs to the Capampangans and is considered to be a true-blooded Capampangan because of his contributions to the community.
Other awardees include Nicolas Capulong (Education); Alexander Maynardo Castro (Arts); Rosario “Sau” del Rosario (Culture); Maria Concepcion Arcega (Agriculture); Leonida Vera (Religion); Sylvia Ordonez (Social Service); Edgardo D. Gomez (Science and Techonology); Marlong Aguilar (Youth Service); and Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta (Judicial Service).
The others who got special citations from the provincial government include: Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto of San Fernando, who recently retired; Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff; Sgt. Sherly P. Toribio; Police Officer 3 Comet Dimla Dumangeng; and Cmdr. Simeona Punsalan Tapang, a.k.a. “Kumander Guererro” of the Hukbalahap movement.
Lawyer Cesar Villanueva, a past Moka awardee and the guest speaker during Thursday’s Moka said the unity, cooperation, compassion of the Capampangans and the burning desire to contribute to humanity are the engines and driving factors for them to work in an outstanding manner.
Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda said the annual search for outstanding Capampangans by the provincial government is a manifestation of its serious efforts to instill the values of high performances and excellence that must prevail in our society—standards that are essential to nation-building and development.
The 2014 Moka was one of the highlights of the 443rd Aldo Ning Kapampangan.