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The winners’ circle of the first-ever Best Nanay Awards says a lot about the kind of roster it wants to be known for. The magic 10 cited last October 29 at Windmills and Rainforest restaurant in Quezon City was recognized essentially for their accomplishments and sacrifices. Make Your Nanay Proud Foundation (MYNP) gave the Best Nanay trophies to deserving mothers from all walks of life regardless of educational attainment and popularity “I’m happy with the result,” MYNP founding chair Boy Abunda expressed, “Pulido ang pagkakapili ng winners and through them we can proudly say that MYNP is truly here to pay tribute to mothers and acknowledge the noblest job in the world: motherhood.” Most of the winners came from provinces, namely, Abucay, Bataan natives Gloria Baltar (57) and Rosa Balana (90), Ilocos Norte pride Carmen Ragonjan (68), Josefina G. Olorocisimo (53) of Taytay, Rizal, Angelita Guiteng (61) of Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, Palo, Leyte’s Lorna Garnace (43), and Magdalena Aquino (78) from Batangas. Two awardees came from Marikina City — Zoraida Motil (63) and Cecille Sibunga (62), while Pasig City ’s Leonarda Camacho (90) completed the list. Nominators were also given plaques of appreciation for their initiative to help MYNP in finding the deserving women. They were led by former First Lady Imelda Marcos who attended on behalf of Governor Imee Marcos. The Best Nanay Awards, according to MYNP, chose “10 exemplary mothers who have made significant achievements and thereby made positive impact on their families and communities.” The recipients’ ‘claim to fame’ are as follows: Baltar leads an organization for mothers and women in the town of Abucay, Bataan while her town-mate Balana, founder of Kundirana, made a living and raised her seven children by conducting private piano lessons. Leonarda Camacho, established the Metro Manila Council of Women Balikatan Movement, Inc. A retired public school teacher, Ragonjan is an active member of the federated Senior Citizen Association of Pagudpod while Olorocisimo is head writer of “Tinig ni San Juan Bautista,” the newsletter of St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal. Three had interesting stories as Guiteng made a living by selling metal scraps, newspapers and other junk materials, Aquino sold movie tickets in a local theater as well as worked as meat vendor in a public market, and Motil collected “kaning-baboy” in the neighbourhood, Garnace made waves recently when she served as coordinator of an evacuation center that housed around 3,000 evacuees after Typhoon Yolanda’s wrath. Sibunga, on the other hand, often serves as a DSWD Volunteer in evacuation centers when typhoons and floods in Marikina City occur. The event, which served as part of Tito Boy’s birthday celebration, also saw people raving over and getting copies of the MYNP Book that was recently launched at the 2014 Philippine Literary Festival The said book, published by ABS-CBN Publishing, comprises of testimonials on their mothers by some of the most remarkable figures in business, entertainment, and sports. Some of the personalities who shared stories include Kris Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Kiefer Ravena, James Yap, Herbert Bautista, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Coco Martin, Luis Manzano, Nancy Binay, among many other noted names. MYNP managing director Bemz Benedicto said it aptly in explaining the content of the book, “Much time and effort were devoted to the collection of quotations, essays, and artworks of people who uniquely responded to the question, ‘How do you make your Nanay proud?’ MYNP also tightened its hold to stronger grounds with Selfie with Nanay and Sine Nanay. The former is a yearly nationwide photo contest that encourages participants to submit ‘true mother and child self-photo’ with caption embracing the theme “This is how I make my Nanay proud.” The latter is a short-film festival that will take off in schools.
ni Peter Ledesma
