NAGA CITY - Peñafrancia Basilica Rector Monsignor Romulo A. Vergara, along with his committee members last Tuesday, May 16, formally launched at Villa Caceres Hotel here the 2006 Mayoral Awards before members of the local media.

Photo Caption: MAYORAL AWARDS. Members of the 2006 Naga City Mayoral Awards Committee chaired by Monsignor Romulo Vergara of the Peñafrancia Basilica formally launch the search for outstanding Nagueños as one of the highlights of the city’s 58th Charter Anniversary celebration on June 18 during a press conference with local newsmen at Villa Caceres Hotel. Shown in photo are committee members (from left): Antonio Amparado, retired Sanggunian secretary; Dr. Lourdes Anonas, UNC VP for Academic Affairs; Mons. Vergara; Call Center executive Sieg Bulaong, and; Insurance executive Abet Bercasio.

        The mayoral awards is an annual activity given by the City Government of Naga to recognize Nagueno individuals and groups who have demonstrated exemplary service that contributes to the development efforts of the city as well as outstanding achievement that brings honor, emulation and public acknowledgement to the Nagueno, in particular, and the City of Naga, in general.

        Msgr. Vergara who chairs the awards body said that the mayoral awards will highlight the annual celebration of the city’s charter anniversary, which is the 58lh this year, on June 18, 2006 amidst a line-up of colorful and memorable activities that will underscore Naga’s strong civic pride and its gains and aspirations as one of the most vibrant and livable cities in this part of the country.

        Traditionally, three levels of awards are given to outstanding Naguenos; 1) Distinguished Mayoral Award, the highest mayoral award which is given to outstanding performance, achievement and service for the past 10 years. An awardee may receive this award only once; 2) Special Mayoral Awards - this is given for outstanding performance and service achieved and sustained during the past 5 years. An awardee may receive this award only once, but may qualify him/her for the higher Distinguished

        Mayoral award in the future; 3) Mayoral Recognition, this is given to groups, organizations or individuals who have brought singular honor, recognition and positive impact to Naga City through and award or recognition in the national or international level, and for individuals who have shown exemplary acts of heroism, valor, and civic duty worth emulating.

        The awards body is composed of two committees: the search committee and the awards committee. The search committee, chaired by Sieg Bulaong, with Antonio Amparado, Abet Bercasio and 2005 mayoral awardee Joe Obias as members, receives and initially evaluates nominations and sees to it that other basic requirements are duly complied with by the nominator.

        The awards committee on the other hand, chaired by Monsignor Vergara himself, with Dr. Lourdes Anonas, Amelita Zaens, Chito Villegas as members, examines, validates and confirms the recommendations forwarded by the search

        committee. Bicol Mail’s Joe Perez acts as media coordinator and information officer. The secretariat is being manned by Gil de la Torre of the Sangguniang Panglunsod.

        Nominations forms and guidelines may be obtained at his office or at the Office of the Vice Mayor, City Hall compound, Naga City. Forms may also be downloaded from the city’s website, www.naga.gov.ph.

        Deadline for submission of nominations is on May 26, 2006.