IRIGA CITY – This year’s batch of Sumagang awardees is composed of a freelance journalist, a public school supervisor. and a motocross champion who outclassed nine other nominees during the selection process.

        Now in its 28th year, the Sumagang Award is the city’s most prestigious award being given to deserving Irigueños who have brought honor and contributed to the growth of the city and its people.

        The awarding ceremony which was spearheaded by Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen along with other city officials was conducted during the celebration of the city’s 38th charter anniversary held at the ceremonial grandstand.

        Sangguniang Panglungsod member and Sumagang awards committe chairman Omar Erasmo Ampongan told the Bicol Mail that after careful evaluation, the 14-man committee had decided to pick three out of nine nominees based on their credentials and other pertinent documents submitted to them earlier.

        The 2006 Sumagang awardees for their outstanding achievement in their chosen field of endeavor are: College professor/freelance journalist, Mrs. Jokee Botor-Reyes; Public Schools District Supervisor, Dr. Nancy Cuba and Motocross sensation Jan Carlo Rellosa.

        Contrary to the allegation of one Lourdes Sadang, who assailed the awards committee for being biased upon learning that her nominee did not make it, Ampongan stressed that the search for this year’s Sumagang Awardees was never tainted with irregularities.

        He admitted, however, that the city is running out of potential awardees in the years to come, thus, he proposed that such recognition be given every other year and evaluation process be conducted four months prior to the conferment of awards.

        Ampongan said, he also plans to pass an ordinance for the purpose of revising the composition of Sumagang awards committee to ensure a more credible selection process.

        Since it was created in 1978, nearly a hundred Irigueños have received the awards including former senator/TV/Radio host Eddie Ilarde, erstwhile DBM Secretary Emilia Boncodin, the bemedalled retired police officer Lucio Margallo and the famous actress-singer Nora Aunor. The latter was conferred with the award twice, the first when her stardom was still at its peak and the second was before she ran and lost the gubernatorial race against then Governor now Congressman Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur.