Six Bacolodnons receive Mayor’s special citation

Mayor Evelio Leonardia awarded six outstanding Bacolodnons with a Mayor’s Special Citation during the celebration of the 82nd Charter Day of Bacolod City at the Government Center yesterday June 18.

This year’s awardees include an outstanding movie director, a composer, and four employees of the Bacolod City Government Center. They received a plaque of recognition from the mayor.

PEQUE GALLAGA – a multi-awarded actor, director, screenwriter and filmmaker. The award was given in recognition of the encompassing legacy he leaves behind. More than the innumerable local and international awards he garnered in the world of film-making and television musicals as actor, screenwriter, and director, he raised Philippine cinema to heights far beyond expectations. He also touched the lives of countless youth from Bacolod and Negros when he became artist-in-residence at the University of St. La Salle where he nurtured talents and trained emerging actors, coaches, and directors. To this bigger-than-life legacy, the City acknowledges the instrumentality of Peque Gallaga in uplifting the aesthetics of the MassKara Festival into world-class standards when he was tapped by Bacolod to teach and inspire the choreographers, musicians, and designers through creative consultations and workshops.

JOEL “BAGGUER” VILLALUZ SR. – a composer and lyricist. The award was in grateful appreciation for his generous and open-minded service to the Bacolodnons, both in private and public service spanning over five decades. He is also acknowledged for his musical talents both in composing and rendering songs, often for free, in Hiligaynon and English. He will always be remembered as the composer and lyricist of the official song of the City of Bacolod, “Kami Bacolodnon.”

Three employees of the Bacolod City Government were recognized for their long years of dedicated service:

RIZALINO DE LA PEÑA JR. – a job order employee of the Bacolod City Government for 16 years now, previously assigned at the Department of Public Services (DPS) and presently at the Office of the Building Administrator.

ROWE BERMEJO – a job order employee of the Bacolod City Government for 13 years now, previously assigned at the City Engineer’s Office and City Legal Office, and presently at the Office of the Building Administrator.

REX DELINA – an employee of the Bacolod City Government for 10 years now, previously assigned at the City Engineer’s Office and presently at the Office of the Building Administrator.

One employee was awarded for his honesty.

RONNIE LLANTO – a job order employee of the Bacolod City Government who started working at the Department of Public Services last year. He was awarded for facilitating the return of a wallet he found while in the performance of his duty as a city street cleaner.

Every year as a tradition, Leonardia has been awarding outstanding individuals and organizations with a Mayor’s Special Citation during the Charter Day celebration.* (CITY PIO)