Eight more outstanding individuals have been added in the list of the Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela recipients as the City Government of Valenzuela recognized their excellent contributions in their respective fields, and their portrayal of the values and qualities of the hero and city’s namesake, Dr. Pio Valenzuela.

Coinciding with the commemoration of the 148^th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, the event was graced by the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Commission of the Filipino Language, the National Artist Virgilio Almario and some members of the Valenzuela clan. 

The awardees during the 15^th Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela, held at the Valenzuela Town Hall on July 11, are: (1) Atty. Danilo Lardizabal “Danicon” Concepcion of Barangay Veinte Reales on the field of Education; (2) Ma. Teresa S. Habitan of Barangay Arkong Bato for Government Service; (3) Glaiza de Castro Galura of Barangay Malinta for Visual and Performing Arts; (4) Msgr. Mario DJ Arenas of Barangay Karuhatan for Community Service (Posthumous); (5) Rosario de Guzman – Lingat of Barangay Lawang Bato for Journalism and Literature (Posthumous); (6) Rolando J. Paulino, Jr. of Barangay Dalandanan for Profession; (7) Dr. Jose Jurel M. Nuevo of Barangay Gen. T. de Leon for Science and Technology; and (8) Joseph Jerome D. Ong of Barangay Paso de Blas for Business and Economics.

According to Ms. Elizabeth Chongco, Chairperson of the 15^th Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela Search Committee, the award aims to recognize outstanding Valenzuelanos that contributed to the betterment of the society and to serve as inspiration to Valenzuelanos and all Filipinos.

For more information about the Search and get an idea on how to nominate for the next cycle, visit: http://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/gawaddrpio

The program started with the traditional “Wreath Laying Ceremonies” before the Triumvirate Monument at the City Hall Grounds which was attended by the consistent donors of Dr. Pio Valenzuela scholarship program. Back in 2014, in lieu of buying wreaths as offering to the late hero, the members of the city-based professional and socio-civic organizations opted to donate their funds for the scholarship program to plant seeds of hope to intelligent Valenzuelano students who are driven to finish college.  Since then, only wreaths coming from the City Government are offered before the monument.

Based on the data of the Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Program Advisory Committee, last year’s drive generated an amount of Php 318,750 which helped sustain the program’s current 625 beneficiaries.  The drive continues this year with attendees instantly donating and pledging again for the noble cause.