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| (Image Source: Batangas PIO) |
Even though some of its highly-anticipated activities are pushed back and yet to make their resumption in the foreseeable future, the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic will not stop the provincial government of Batangas to stage and hold its 438th founding anniversary as the celebration was being held last December 8, 2020 both physically within the grounds of the provincial capitol and virtually through online live streaming and video conferencing. And among the activities that took place in the hybrid event was the annual Dangal Ng Batangas Awards recognizing exemplary and notably outstanding accolades and achievements from renouned Batangueño personalities in the fields of culture and the arts.
Organized by the Batangas Culture and Arts Council (BCAC) under the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), outstanding Batangueños who are highly regarded as the pride of the province were being honored and presented with a miniature statue based on the Diwang Batangueño sculpture which was made by Eduardo Castrillo as commissioned by Grupo Sining Batangueño's Misha Resin (Michael Toms Semana) and is seen at the Historical Park inside the Provincial Capitol Compound. The mini Diwang Batangueño statue, which is the trophy for this year's Dangal Ng Batangan Awards, symbolizes the five most important values embodied in the spirit of the Batangueño - Nobility, Wisdom, Beauty, Bravery and Industry.
Prior to the said hybrid awarding ceremony, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) recognized the efforts of Aileen Constantino-Peñas in helping and supporting Filipino migrant workers. Through her initiatives and management, she is able to deliver economic and social services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are the country's unsung modern heroes. On the other hand, the provincial government honored Batangas City and the municipality of Lobo for bringing honor and pride to the province through their sleuth of local and international awards and recognitions including the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the Department of Interior and Local Government.
This year's Dangal Ng Batangan Awards comprises of four different categories: Batangas Artist Award, Heritage Preservation Advocate Award, Folk Arts Award and Eminent Persons. With these in mind, here is the full list of Dangal Ng Batangan Awards 2020 winners in their respective categories.
Batangas Artist Award - given to Batangueño artists in different fields whose body of work goes far beyond ordinary expression and practice; their expertise and influence are recognized by their peers in the province and across the country as sublime expression of Philippine arts and culture
* Edgardo Manguiat of Lipa City (Music) - founder of the UP Singing Ambassadors; renouned composer, musician, conductor and multi-awarded artist; 5th Ani Ng Dangal awardee for achieving the highest level of artistic excellence and bringing honor to the country
* Sharlene Sawamoto of Batangas City (Dance) - bonafide institutional member of the Association of Ballet Academies, Philippines (ABAP); registered teacher in the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet; and certified teacher of Hapa Haole Polynesian dances
* Vince Conrad Abratigue of Batangas City (Theatre)
* Raynante Carandang of Tuy (Visual Arts) - incumbent vice chairman of Grupo Sining Batangueño and founder-president of Pintor Kulapol Visual Artists and Parisukat Artists groups in Tuy, Batangas
* Renerio Concepcion of Nasugbu (Literature) - former BSU Filipino Department Chairperson (2008-2014), 2010 Carlos Palanca Memorial Award winner
* Rogger Basco of Lipa City (Media Arts) - 2008 Outstanding Lipeño awardee and founding organizer of the first CALABARZON-wide intercollegiate film festival
* Rafael Briones of Lipa City (Architecture) - a former United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Batangas Chapter president who is behind the design and construction of Our Lady Of Peace & Good Voyage Church in Antipolo City, Alitagtag Parish Church and the St. Francis De Sales Theological Seminary in Lipa City, among others
Heritage Preservation Advocate Award - given to a Batangueño who has shown exemplary and outstanding efforts to promote consciousness for the development and protection of the province's cultural, historical and religious legacy
* Marian Pastor-Roces of Batangas City - curator of the University of the Philippines Manila's Museum of History of Ideas, Yuchengco Museum in Makati City, Museo Marino in Manila, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Museo Ng Kalinangang Katutubo as well as the Museo Puntong Batangan in Batangas City
Folk Arts Award - given to an individual, group or organization who promotes, preserves, conserves and sustains folk arts and traditional arts that reflects important or diverse Batangueño traditions, arts and cultural heritage; and works on traditional customs, crafts and ways of living as tangible Batangueño identity
* Teofilo Catanyag of Alitagtag - "Maniago Revolt, 1660" relief mural which was installed inside the National Historical Institute in Ermita, Manila; author of "Alayang Bantayog" and "Aklat Ng Magkakabayo: Sining At Kultura Ng Alitagtag"
Eminent Persons - given to renouned and outstanding Batangueños who are well-respected in and out of the province within their respective fields. Nominees for the said category are being judged by the Batangas Tourism Council with the eventual approval of the Provincial Governor.
* Elena Rivera Mirano of San Juan - Professor Emeritus In Art Studies, UP College Of Arts And Letters; 1989 National Book Awards winner for "Subli: One Dance In Four Voices"
* Renee Salud of San Juan - recognized as the "Philippine Ambassador of Fashion" for the promotion of using Filipino indigenous materials made by local artisans, weavers, sewers and embroiderers as part of his designed fashion creations which were showcased in various international expositions across the globe
* Leo Martinez of Balayan - award-winning veteran movie and theater actor, Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) director-general, former National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) member and former chairperson of the Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon
- With words by Vince Altar, Batangas Provincial Information Office
