Four of this year’s outstanding citizens are creatives or are into helping promote creativity in the city that has been recognized as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Creative Cities.
Film maker Ferdie Balanag, architect Dulthe Carlo Munar, former University of the Philippines chancellor Dr. Raymundo Rovillos and photographer Rodolfo Tan are four of the eight named Outstanding Citizens of Baguio who will be feted on Baguio Day, September 1.
Rovillos has been active in the promotion of creativity in the city and helped found events like the Mandeko Kitoo. Rovillos is recognized for his efforts in the professional service, announced mayor Benjamin Magalong this week. Rovillos also started the quest to have the city recognized by the UNESCO as part of the creative cities network
Tan, known as Ompong Tan, is a respected photographer and considered as one of the prime movers of the art form in the city. Tan’s effort has been recognized under the community service category.
Balanag, an award winning director for a film about the travails of orphaned Nepalese children, is the founder of the Montanosa Film Festival, probably the city’s Cannes Festival. He will receive an award for the culture and arts category along with Munar.
Balanag is the younger of two alumni of the now defunct UP High School. He is a member of class 1985, junior of Philippine Army chief Lt. General Romeo Brawner, a graduate of UPHS in 1984, who will receive an award in the professional service.
Brawner is the son of the late Romeo, a former Court of Appeals chief justice and the late UP Baguio professor Dr. Leonor Fe, who pushed for the popularization of archery as sport in the region.
Also receiving recognition in the professional service is Regional Trial Court judge Mia Oallares-Cawed, while Marybeth Yu So has been recognized for her community service.
The search was spearheaded by the Society for Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) headed by President and former Baguio City High School principal and now vice president – academics of the Baguio Central University Dr. Elma Donaal. Mount Carmel – Montessori director Dona Digna Rosario chairs this year’s search committee. Pigeon Lobien
