Six Outstanding Pangasinenses Honored with ASNA Awards

Lingayen - - Professionalism and excellence exuded among the six awardees of the prestigious ASNA Awards held in the evening of April 11 at the Sison Auditorium.

The two Balitok Awardees for the ASNA Awards were: Hilarion M. Henares, Jr. (National Economic Development) and Atty. Gabriel C. Singson (Business/Banking and Finance). 

Henares, who is an economist, educator, businessman and writer, is a grandson of Don Daniel Maramba, a revolutionary hero and the 7^th governor of Pangasinan.  

 Singson was the first governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The four awardees for ASNA were: Mr. Ermin F. Garcia, Jr. (Journalism), Mr. Jose F. Datuin (Visual Arts), Chairman Amadeo R. Perez, Jr. (Government Service/Public Administration) and Ret. Gen. Jose Magno (Military Service). 

Garcia is the publisher of the hard-hitting Sunday Punch newspaper and former publisher of Manila Times; Datuin is an international visual artist; Perez is the chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan; and Magno is a retired general. 

“We take pride in your lives and works which have touched the lives of your provincemates and you make us all proud,” Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said in his message.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Von Mark Mendoza delivered a welcome message while Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan gave a brief description about the ASNA.

 

ASNA is an old form of the Pangasinan word ‘asin’ which describes the good quality of a man just as salt defines the flavor of a dish; and also alludes to a person’s expert knowledge of his profession.

The Balitok Award, on the other hand, is given to Pangasinenses whose contributions have transcended the national and international arena and whose place in Pangasinan history has been embedded by the very nature of the scope of their achievement. 

 The ASNA Awards was launched on April 5, 2010 during the first celebration of Pangasinan Day to highlight the 430^th Foundation Anniversary of Pangasinan. 

In their acceptance speeches, the six awardees expressed gratitude to the provincial government, particularly to Gov. Espino, for recognizing their achievements.

They also took note of the majestic transformations of the Sison Auditorium, Capitol Building and the entire Capitol Complex, with Singson comparing the beauty of the Sison Auditorium with the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and Henares describing the Capitol as beautiful like that of Malacanang.

The search and awards committee, which spent time to review the qualifications of the nominees, is chaired by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and select private individuals, namely: Dr. Lydia Buduhan (Pangasinan State University Vice-President for Administration and Planning); Mrs. Carmelita Duque (Pangasinan Federation of Non-Government Organizations President), Mr. Gabriel Cardinoza (Philippine Daily Inquirer Correspondent), Mrs. Arabella Arcinue (Pangasinan Heritage Society President), Fr. Immanuel Norbert S. Escaño and Mrs. Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan (Provincial Tourism Officer).

Criteria in the selection process included: service with sincere commitment to the community/society (40%), leadership qualities with pioneering innovativeness (40%), and professional excellence, integrity and achievements (20%).

Balitok (Pangasinan word meaning precious, golden metal) awardees in 2010 were Former President Fidel V. Ramos and National Artist for Literature Francisco Sionil-Jose while awardees in 2011 were Former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. and National Artist for Theatre Design Salvador Bernal.

The first set of ASNA awardees in 2010 were Santiago Villafania (Arts and Culture), Rina Jimenez-David (Mass Communications), Dr. Westly R. Rosario (Aquaculture), Dr. Francisco Duque III (Medicine and Public Health), P/Supt. Eric Noble (Community Service), Reynaldo Villar (Government Service), Rodolfo C. Cardozo (Sports) and Menardo Jimenez (Business/Industry).

          For 2011, ASNA awardees were Marcelo E. Casillan, Jr. (Community Service), Alma Quintans-Kern (International Community Leadership), Bb. Joyce A. Bernal (Arts and Culture), Lt. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz (Humanitarian and Military Leadership) and Letecia R. Shahani (Foreign Service).

          Special recognition was likewise accorded, in 2010, to Jaime P. Lucas, an Ilocano and an adopted son of Pangasinan, who organized Pangasinan writers to form the Ulopan na Pansiansiay Salitan Pangasinan to promote the use of the Pangasinan language.