‘May Bukas Pa: awards, citations, more awards, Part 1″
When Hazel Parfan, our May Bukas Pa Associate Producer texted me that I was suppose to attend the coalition of the elderly awarding ceremony and the PMPC Star Awards last sunday, I was very excited. It is of course part of my obligations stipulated in my contract to attend these activities to promote the show.
I arrived at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at the corner of Lantana and New York Streets in Cubao a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. I remembered that I used to hear mass in this church when I was still a bachelor and was residing at Sgt. Catolos Street. That was more than three decades ago. It was known then as Immaculate Conception Parish Church. It is now a Cathedral. A major improvement however is the fact that the church now owns a medium rise building. At the 10th floor of the building is a function hall which was chosen as the venue of the awarding ceremonies of the coalition of the elderly.
I was already inside the elevator but I still did not have a clear idea of what is the real nature of the awarding ceremony, what is the nature of the award-giving body and such details.
When the elevator door opened however, I was met with sincere smiles from the members of the organizing group who acted as the reception team. An gracious lady hanged a garland on my neck and led me to the front row. I immediately recognized a very familiar face among my row mates: former Senate President Jovito Salonga. Immediately after I occupied my monoblock chair, a very accomodating and dignified man introduced himself as Mr. Fransiskus Kupang – the Executive Director of the COALITION OF SERVICES OF THE ELDERLY, INC. (COSE). A few minutes later my co-actor Tony Manalo joined us. It was such a rare opportunity and I felt very lucky since Mr.Kupang who sat beside me made all the background story of what the Coalition of the Services of the Elderly, Inc is all about. In brief, it is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) that provides support to empower the elderly from community organizing, skills enhancement, training in paramedics, micro enterprise and livelihood with the end in view of uplifting the plight of the older people.
A major activity of COSE is recognizing outstanding achievements of elderly through its annual 10 Outstanding Elderly Award. For 20th Anniversary of COSE, aside from the 10 Outstanding Elderly for 2009, some 43 individuals, organizations, communities, towns, cities, professionals including TV programs were given due recognition for their contributions to the uplift the plight of the elderly.
Zaijian (Santino) Jaranilla joined us to receive recognition from COSE for May Bukas Pa as an outstanding tv show that aside from imparting teachings on positive values has also employed in its cast outstanding elderly like Dolphy, Gloria Romero and Susan Roces etc.
Former Senate President Jovito Salonga gave an inspirational message. But more that the meaty content of his message which dealt on how he survived two major life threatening moments, his mere presence and admission that he is 89 years old was enough inspiration not only to the elderly in the audience but to everone!
Mr. Kupang was very polite to suggest that we be given the award after the 5th Outstanding Elderly since it was getting late and we still have to attend the Star Awards.
