75 Families of Distinction for August: 4 families receive awards

Four Cebuano families were honored in a dinner last  Friday night as part of the 75 Families of Distinction or “Pinanggang Banay’ng Sugbuanon” in Cebu City.

August is the turn of the clans of Abellana, Alcoseba, Cañete and Villanueva. As part of its 75th year, Cebu City has been giving honor to 75 families that contributed to what the city is today.

The Cañete clan has prominent member like the world champion eskrimador Dionisio Cañete while the Villanuevas are known for the music and the arts as represented by Rudy Villanueva.

Six families were scheduled to receive their awards this month, but the Tabada and Padilla are still mourning the death of relatives.

“The Tabada and Padilla families have lost relatives, that is why we rescheduled their awarding next month,” said Glenda Gabuya, officer in-charge of Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC).

A testimonial dinner for the four families was held at the University of San Jose-Recoletos Main Campus in honor of the awardees.

A photo exhibit of the families can be viewed at the lobby of University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Main Campus was opened last Friday and will be there for a week.

The exhibit and other memorial presentations will be transferred at Ayala Center Mall for two weeks and another two weeks in SM City Cebu.

The exhibit shows family photos, family genealogical charts and short family history of each clan.

The selection of 75 Cebuano families was initiated by the private sector to reestablish the strong foundation and values of the Cebuano family.

The monthly recognition awards six to seven families, which started in March and will end in February 2013.

Last July, the Inocian, Garcia, Dakay, Del Rosario and Velez-Leyson were given the awards with the University of the Philippines-Cebu as the partner school.

On September, another set of families will be honored. These will be the Aznar, Osmeña, Escaño, Aliño, Streegan, Go Thong and Del Mar families with their partner school, Southwestern University. /Tweeny M. Malinao, Correspondent