According to a list of awardees provided by the Cebu City Government, among the 2023 Mayor’s Special Awardees is SunStar Cebu and Superbalita Cebu founding editor-in-chief and currently SunStar Cebu editorial consultant Pachico A. Seares.
The City also recognized the late SunStar Cebu reporter Elias Baquero with a posthumous “Outstanding Individual” award.
Baquero, who was a reporter for SunStar Cebu for three decades until his retirement in 2019, passed away due to cardiac arrest on Jan. 14. Baquero had also led several media groups.
Baquero’s family was slated to receive the award on his behalf.
The program was still ongoing as of this writing.
The City also recognized as “Outstanding Individuals” songwriter and Vispop co-founder Jude Gitamondoc and Cebuano karting prodigy William John Riley Go.
The City also awarded the Women in Literacy Arts (Wila) as “Outstanding Institution.”
Opposition bloc
Also among those receiving special awards from the Cebu City Government were the vice mayor and allies of Mayor Michael Rama in the Cebu City Council, as well as three of the six members of the Council aligned with the opposition, namely Nestor Archival Sr. and ex-officio members Jessica Resch and Franklyn Ong.
Among the businessmen who received special awards were Chester Cokaliong of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry immediate past president Felix Taguiam, Philippines Retailers Association-Cebu Chapter president Christian Paro-an, Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III.
Also recognized with special awards were former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and former environment secretary Roy Cimatu; and 14 firms mostly in construction and real estate, including Dakay Construction and Development Corp., WTG Construction and Development Corp., P.B. Obial Construction, Quirante Construction Corp., Filinvest Land Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc., Robinsons Land Corp., and Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp.
Hero nursing students Angyl Faith Ababat and Kristianne Joice Ona, who saved the life of a mango vendor who had been slashed last month, also received special awards.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. (JKV, CTL)