Ang Pahayagan

BALER, Aurora – Twenty-eight (28) residents of this province, who have shown strong commitments to the protection of the environment, promotion of peace and unity, for inspiring the people of Aurora to make a difference in their chosen fields, and for inspiring the Youth in the Post-pandemic era are this year’s winners of the 12th Bughaw Awards 2024 and were dubbed as “Aurora’s Best of the Best”.

The recognition is in line with the celebration of the Noble Blue Falcons International (NBFI), a group of environmental watchdogs, and its allied forces from the media, government sectors, and other NGO’s of its 28th Founding Anniversary on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Professor/Lawyer Joseph Beatriz Usita, NBFI’s National Chairman and Father of Environmental Mountaineering, said on Monday, that the recipients passed the screening and underwent meticulous deliberations 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 participations 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 thru 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 world.

This year’s awardees of the 12th Bughaw Awards 2024, the 28 Best Residents of Aurora Province are: Aurora Congressman Rommel Rico T. Angara; Acting Governor Reynante Tolentino; Mayor Rhett Ronan T. Angara-Baler; Mayor Danilo Tolentino-Dipaculao; Mayor Ariel S. Bitong-Maria Aurora; Mayor Ariel A. De Jesus-San Luis; Mayor Shierwin H. Taay-Dingalan; Mayor Manuel T. Torres-Dinalungan; Mayor Roynald S. Soriano-Casiguran; Mayor Joe P. Gorospe-Dilasag; PMAJ Ferdinand B. UsitaChief of Police, San Luis MPS. Bb. Aurora 2024, Issa Dannise De Leon;

Army Lieutenant Colonel Noel Wamil, Battalion Commander, First Infantry Battalion, Second Infantry Division based in Infanta, Quezon; Champion Surfer, Joel Faraon; Dean Rocky R. Dujunco, CPA, Dean of both Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) Law and Accountancy/Business Management;

Fire Superintendent Jonathan A. Glemao, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Aurora Provincial Fire Marshal; Police Major Eduardo S. Mendoza Jr-Chief of Police, Baler Municipal Police Station; Police Staff Sergeant Alvin De Guzman-Police and Environmental Advocate; Lawyer Ariel de la Torre, Ph.D.-Tax Expert;

Judge Edith Cynthia A. Wee-Cabat, Justice Advocate; Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Evalor C. Paulo-Villanueva Outstanding Prosecutor; Educator Irene H. Llave, Principal of Aurora National Science High School (Anscie); Justice Michael P. Ong-Court of Appeals; Asec. Dexter A. Galban-Department of Education;

Jason De Asis, Digital Creator and Media Correspondent of TV5, PNA and RTV Baler; ASCOT President-Dr. Renato G. Reyes, Aurora Provincial Accountant, Wilfredo C. Saturno; and Multi-awarded actor, John Arcilla. Usita said that as one of the 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.

“Since the awardees will serve as inspiration of our members across the globe, they are given an automatic ‘Honorary Membership’ to our organization. So, every year, there will be honorary members coming from the Bughaw awardees,” per Brother Junet Galvez, the NBFI’s Presiding Elder.

Founded on March 19, 1996, in the Philippines, NBFI has 555,000 members across the Pacific. In Sierra Madre, there are 8,000 Environmental Mountaineers helping protect and promote the majestic mountain range against forest destroyers. In Aurora Province, there are 16,000 Blue Falcons’ members protecting its fast-diminishing forest cover. (Jason de Asis)