Dangal ng Lipi

September 14 was the big day for the 2009 Dangal ng Lipi (DnL) awardees. My wife and I arrived at about 5:50 PM at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol Gymnasium, where the Awards Night was to be held. I was immediately separated from my wife and ushered into a waiting room, where 3 other awardees were already waiting. One by one the awardees arrived. We were served finger food and later on, pre-set-plate dinner. We had additional plates of lechon and veggies placed at the center of the table. After a short while, all the 10 awardees had already arrived and were advised to eat their dinner before the start of the program. Dinner was also served for all the people in the gymnasium/auditorium.

After we were done with dinner, some of the DnL secretariat members came in to inform us that the program would start at any time. We were asked to proceed to the entrance of the auditorium (where the big framed and glassed tarpaulins of the pictures of the individual awardees greeted everybody attending the Awards Night) and to arrange ourselves using a pre-determined order. My assigned "guide" approached me and told me that she would provide me a cue every time it was necessary for me to do something as part of the program.

I was the first one to be called and together with my guide, I went inside the auditorium for the start of the processional. My guide ushered me to the platform; this was also done by the other guides to their assigned awardees. Then, when we were all up on the stage, a group of young people in native costumes came to serenade and dance before us; and later on, placed the sampaguita garlands on us. After that number, we were ushered to our assigned seats, which was immediately in front of the stage but with half of us on each side.

The Opening Remarks was delivered by Board Member Ernesto Sulit, who is the Chairman of the Provincial Board's Committee on Tourism, Culture and Arts. This was followed by the report of the Chairperson of the 2009 Dangal ng Lipi Selection Committee, Dr. Elsie Jimenez, on the process and criteria of the screening and selection of the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi 2009. After the said addresses, there was a colorful and humorous Broadway-type play entitled, "Walang Sugat". It was very nice!

This was followed by the very inspiring message of the Provincial Governor, Hon. Jonjon Mendoza; and the keynote speech of the Guest of Honor, Undersec. Ma. Lorelie Fajardo (Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Assistant for Central Luzon).

Then the awarding...Using the same sequence as when we came into the auditorium, I was called first upstage. I was initially ushered to the center-front of the stage. In the meantime, while the citation was being read, the awarding group composed of Dr. Jimenez, Gov. Mendoza, and Usec. Fajardo prepared - with the assistance of members of the secretariat - the items to be given as part of the awards (medal, plaque and trophy). The citation (the same one that appears on the plaque) summarized the accomplishments of the awardee that merited the giving of the award.

Usec Fajardo placed the looped ribbon with a DnL medal on me (like the hooding rites in a graduation), Gov. Mendoza handed to me the plaque, and BM Sulit and Dr. Jimenez gave me the trophy. Then, we had photo ops with the awarding group, and the awarding group together with the provincial board members. This was followed by photo ops with my family and associates, and the mayor of Guiguinto. This was done one by one for all the awardees. It was a great moment for me.

After the whole awarding rites were done, a representative of the awardees delivered the awardees' response. The response was delivered in straight "Wikang Pambansa" or Pilipino by Dr. Clarita Carillo, the awardee for Education. She spoke with great clarity and purpose. It was a good one! All the speakers spoke almost completely in Pilipino.

After her speech, all the awardees were ushered back to the stage, where they stood at assigned places on the platform. I was situated at the front-most, left-side. Then the "awit ng Dakilang Bulakenyo" was played, balloons were released, confetti "rained" on the awardees on the stage, and a long cloth was unfurled from the farther-side of the center of the stage to the floor on the auditorium. While at the same time, the people in the audience were clapping their hands vigorously and continually until this part of the ceremony ended.

I had such great emotion in me. It is very difficult to describe the feeling I had during that time. I thought of my late parents (papa and mama) and my family; this was a day for them. I knew I was very close to the point of crying; but I was able to control my emotion. Some of my co-awardees were teary-eyed. This part of the ceremony was very overwhelming. At that moment, I wanted to savor the once-in-a-lifetime experience of "soaring like eagles" with the best and accomplished people who have "dugong Bulakenyo" and also to declare to the world that I, a resident of this province for almost 35 years ago, am a proud Bulakenyo.

The Awards Night was well-planned, organized and attended. The organizers and the secretariat deserve a big congratulation. The organizers considered all the details, coordinated everything properly and executed their plan to the best of their ability. It was a night to remember for me and the other awardees.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Bulakenyo!