American historian named honorary Kapampangan

John Alan Larkin —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—American historian John Alan Larkin led the 11 recipients of the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (Moka) given on Dec. 11 during the celebration of the 446th Foundation Day of Pampanga province.

The provincial government named Larkin, now 81 and living in New York, as outstanding honorary Kapampangan for his book “The Pampangans: Colonial society in a Philippine province.”

Published in 1972, the book examined the zarzuela, Aetas, sugar production and the Philippine revolution.

In a speech read by his friend, Rosario Ventura, Larkin paid tribute to Luther Parker, an American who documented Pampanga in 1901.

The award for education was conferred on Luis Maria Calingo who served various American universities and received the US president’s highest award for quality and organizational excellence.

After 34 years, he returned to the Philippines to become the 9th president of Holy Angel University in Angeles City.

Journalist-turned-diplomat Elmer Cato received the award for government service. He has served as charge d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad since 2015.

The Moka also went to veterinarian Eduardo Lapuz Jr. (agriculture), Conrado Manuel del Rosario III (arts), Raul Matias (business and entrepreneurship), book publisher Segundo Matias Jr. (culture), Corazon Legaspi (parenthood), Bishop Victor Ocampo (religion), Ambassador Bienvenido Tan Jr. (social service) and educator Allan de los Reyes (youth service).

The Moka was started in 1978 by the late Gov. Juanita Nepomuceno. —TONETTE OREJAS