National Artist for Literature Frank Sionil Jose led this year’s sterling list of awardees at the 5th Dangal (Dakilang Adhikain ng Ating Lahi) Awards for Elderly Care.
The annual awarding ceremony—made possible through the partnership of United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab), the BusinessMirror, RiteMed Philippines Inc. and United Bayanihan Foundation. Inc (UBF)—recognizes the dedication and efforts of the nation’s senior citizens to actively serve their communities and the nation.
Anthony C. Cabangon, publisher of the BusinessMirror, presented Jose with the Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Award, the highest Dangal recognition bequeathed to senior living legends in Philippine society.
“It is with great pride and honor that we are giving the first Ambassador Award to Mr. Jose, who is certainly one of our country’s treasures. It is equally meaningful for us, since the Dangal Awards is annually held during the anniversary month of the BusinessMirror.”
Jose, who will be 93 this December 3, is a prodigious and multiawarded writer of novels, short stories and nonfiction. His works have been translated in 22 languages and has won for him various accolades, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature and Journalism in 1980, the National Artist Award for Literature in 2001, the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award in 2004 from the government of Chile, and the Officer in the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2014.
At this year’s Dangal Awards, Jose was joined by six outstanding senior citizen leaders and five organizations for the elderly. These included: Indidual winners—Ruben Cornelio, Valenzuela; Josephine Gaviola, Makati; Bonifacio Dazo, Las Piñas; Estrelita Evangelista, Pasig; and Alejandro Santiago, Pasig; and Crisogono Ermita from Parañaque, who was also the RiteMed Awardee for 2017. Group winners—Tina Cares Saving Lives Program (San Mateo, Rizal); Xavier School Association of Retired Colleagues (Xavier School, Greenhills, San Juan); UP Los Baños Elderly Development Program (UP Los Baños); Office for Senior Citizens Affairs of Mexico (Mexico, Pampanga); and the United Pampanga Senior Citizens Organization or UPSCO (San Fernando, Pampanga).
Cabangon noted that it was his father, the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, “who ordered us that we should dedicate a page in our paper for the elderly, and to ensure that proper recognition is given to them. Five years ago we launched the Dangal Awards in collaboration with Unilab, RiteMed and UBF. Half a decade later, we continue to pursue this advocacy just as my father wanted us to do.”
For her part, Claire D. Papa, director for external affairs and social partnerships of Unilab, said that the “invaluable contributions of our elderly in preserving the Filipino culture and values are significant stories that must be re-told most especially to the young generation. They are our pillars of strength and determination to rise up and continuously strive to improve our society. Notwithstanding their physical limitations, our senior citizen awardees have shown us that age is not a hindrance in serving our country.”
Gracing the event to give updates on congressional bills pertaining to senior citizens were Sen. Bam Aquino and Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones.