Marcos honors Whang-od, outstanding government servants

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday honored centenarian traditional tattoo artist Whang-od and outstanding government workers in a ceremony that recognized their contributions to culture, heritage and public service.

Marcos awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit to Whang-od, the oldest living mambabatok or traditional tattoo artist from Kalinga, and praised her for promoting an art form that brought fame to the country and breaks gender stereotypes.

He also conferred the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award, Dangal ng Bayan Award and the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award on individuals and groups that provided exceptional contributions to public interest, security and patrimony and demonstrated exemplary ethical behavior and superior performance.

Clad in an intricately woven indigenous motif skirt and an off-white, embroidered blouse topped with a knitted white sweater, Whang-od smiled as she went on stage to receive her medal. While she was assisted by two of her four companions, she did not seem to have difficulty walking despite her age.

Marcos said Whang-od, also known as Maria Oggay, is one of the few remaining master mambabatok from Buscalan. She turns 107 on Feb. 17.

Public servants

A group of scientists from Davao, a utility worker at National Food Authority (NFA) and a mechanic from Antipolo City government were among those conferred the “2023 Outstanding Government Workers” awards by President Marcos at Malacañang yesterday.

Food Processing and Innovation Center of Davao leads the roster of recipients of the CSC’s Pagasa Award, one of the categories of the 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers.

Two other groups also received the Pagasa Award – the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Honey Team and the Palayamanan Project Team from Bulacan Agricultural State College.

For the individual category, the winners were Education Program Supervisor Venus Alboruto of the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Surigao City; Senior Science Research Specialist Vanessa Joy Calderon of Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office II in Tuguegarao City; Associate Professor V Drolly Claravall of Isabela State University-Ilagan Campus in Ilagan City; Agricultural Center Chief IV Ericson dela Cruz of Philippine Carabao Center in Muñoz City; Director III Ronnalee Orteza of DOST Philippine Science High School System-Ilocos Region Campus in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur and Agriculturist II Relvin Paragua of DA Regional Office IV in Iloilo City.

Meanwhile, two exceptional laborers were among the recipients of the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan Award.

Bernardino Dabuet, Utility Worker II at the NFA, was commended for demonstrating “professionalism and excellence in service.”

Another awardee was Fernando Viado, Administrative Aide VI (Mechanic II) at the City Government of Antipolo.

Completing the list of 2023 Dangal ng Bayan awardees were Nutritionist-Dietician III Eleonor Ayan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera Administrative Region in Baguio City; School Principal II Mary Hazel Ballena of the DepEd Schools Division of Abra in Bangued; Disability Affairs Officer III Rex Bernardo of the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte in Daet; Social Welfare Officer I Bernardo Cadaon Jr. of DSWD CAR in Baguio City; Special Education Teacher I Gay Galdo of DepEd-Division of Davao Oriental in Mati, Davao Oriental; Information Technology Officer I Fritz Juele of DepEd Schools Division of Roxas City in Roxas City, Capiz; Head Teacher III Glenny Laping of DepEd Lapu-Lapu Division Office in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and Master Teacher II Querino Lonsagon of DepEd Division of Ozamiz City in Carangan, Ozamiz.

Meanwhile, individuals from the education sector dominated the Presidential Lingkod Bayan (PLB) Award.

Among the awardees were Orlando Valderrama, a professor at the Isabela State University; Ambrosio Cultura II, president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines; Kris Christopher dela Cruz and Raquel Rivera, both Master Teachers 1 of the Alaminos City National High School and Julie Ann Salido, Professor 3 at Aklan State University. – Elizabeth Marcelo