TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Five outstanding Tabukeños were recognized by the city government for being in the top 10 of the licensure examinations results in their respective fields and for finishing as top graduate of the Philippine Navy.
The awardees were Abegail Yap, ninth placer with 86.60% average and Bernardo Ganotice III, fifth placer with 87.60% average -both were graduates from Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines (MCNP) and succeeded in the July 2016 Radiologic and X-ray Technologists Board Examination.
The two were joined by tenth placers Trisha Nadine Damian, a graduate of University of Santo Tomas (UST) with 84.60% average in the November 2016 Nurse Licensure Examination and Far Eastern University (FEU) Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation graduate Aljon Falgui with 86.00% average in the February 2017 Physical Therapist Board Exam; and April Joy Bucalen who finished eighth in the 2016 Philippine Naval Officer Candidate School, Philippine Navy (PN).
‘’My parents are my constant inspiration not just in topping the exam but in everything I do,’’ Ganotice III, now a clinical instructor at MCNP told.
Brigadier General William Alunday, the keynote speaker for the ‘’Gabi Ng Parangal’’ and Fellowship Night, in a message read by son Genghis said that all of us must accept the challenge of contributing to the development of the society not just in Tabuk City, but anywhere else.
‘’We have to examine ourselves and set standards in achieving our goals in life and envision what we really want to become,’’ the general said adding that there are three things needed in order to succeed and that is to dream big, plan and work for it.
Considered to be the first Kalinga general, Alunday also said that one should think of their own family as a motivation to keep them going and to also seek divine guidance.
In his parting words, the general mentioned that Kalingas should showcase to the world what they are capable of and to never be ashamed that they are Kalingas.
Alunday, born on March 15, 1962, married to Evelyn of whom he has three kids is a 1987 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and now brigadier general at the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade based in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.
As to his previous assignments, he was the former chief of staff of the presidential group; the battalion commander, 1st Mechanized Infantry Batallion; former operations officer, Philippine Contingency under United Nations, Liberia, Africa; and former security officer of former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos.
The occasion dubbed as ‘’Gabi Ng Parangal’’ which was attended by contingents from the four sister municipalities of Bauko and Tadian, Mt Province; Gregorio Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur and Pasil, Kalinga marked the ending the four-day celebration of the 16th Matagoan Festival and 10th City Founding Anniversary with the theme ‘’Parabor Ti Apo Intayo Pagyamanan; Tabuk City Agtultuloy Nga Aywanan.’’
By Darwin S. Serion
