In time for the city’s 73rd founding anniversary, the Quezon City Government will be holding its annual Gawad Parangal on October 12, 2012, during which selected nominees will be honored with citations as Quezon City’s Most Outstanding Citizens or Most Outstanding Institutions and Organizations. The Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office – the department tasked to take charge of the search for awardees of the prestigious ceremony – has announced that they are now officially open for nomination.

The Gawad Parangal seeks to give due recognition to individuals who have contributed greatly to Quezon City and its people. These contributions may be through the nominees’ acts of public service, or through their personal achievments in their respective professions. Previous awardees include a number of prominent people from varying fields of endeavors—from performing and visual artists and mentors, to notable politicians, architects, doctors, enterpreneurs, and judges. In 2005, Special Citations have been awarded to enterprises and corporations, until it was later modified in 2009 into what is now a separate category for Most Outstanding Institutions and Organizations.

Although residency carries weight in the selection process, amendments had been made so as to include individuals who may have been former residents of the city, and businesses, institutions or organizations that may have not been originally based in the city but have helped considerably in the betterment of life in general for Quezon City residents.

Some well-known public officials who have been awarded during the past years are Pres. Benigno Aquino III, the late Pres. Corazon Aquino, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, former VPres. Teofisto Gingona Jr., and Justice Reynato Puno. Other famous names in the list are Lea Salonga-Chien, Rosario “Charo” Santos-Concio, Cecilia “Cheche” Lazaro, Atty. Felipe Gozon, Ryan Cayabyab, Maria Elisa “Boots” Anson-Roa, Willie Nepomuceno, and the Comedy King Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon. Among the institutions and organizations that have been graced with a citation are ABS-SBN, GMA Network Inc., Mercury Drug Corp., Philippine Heart Center, Jollibee Fastfood Chains, Max’s Restaurant, and National Book Store to name a few.

Nominations and inquiries may be directed to the Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office (CTAO), located at the 8th floor, Civic Center Bldg A, Quezon City Hall Compound, Diliman Quezon City, with telephone number 444-7272 loc.8843 to 45. Nomination forms and details may also be downloaded from www.quezoncity.gov.ph. The CTAO will be accepting complete entries (accomplished form and necessary attatchments) no later than 15 August, 2012.

Download Gawad Parangal 2012 Nomination Form

• Most Outstanding Citizens
• Most Outstanding Organizations