BAGUIO CITY – In an announcement made this week, the Baguio Filipino-Chinese Community, led by Chairperson Peter Ng, revealed the distinguished recipients of this year’s Chinese Spring Festival Awards.
Five individuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds, were honored for their remarkable contributions to the community.
Among the awardees are George Tan Ong Cua and Mike Wang Tiu, recognized for their exemplary contributions to the business sectors.
Ong Cua, a 59-year-old native of Baguio and an Electrical Engineering graduate from Saint Louis University, manages and owns the Golden Pine Hotel, the Paragon Hotel and Suites, and Fortune Seafood Restaurant.
He is also the officer in charge of the Association of Philippine Chinese Understanding.
Mike Tiu, who has called Baguio home since 1998, is the proud owner of the Baguio Time Center and serves as the president of Tiok Lim.
Baguio Tourism Council Chair Gladys Vergara-de Vera, Eugene Valbuena, and Ramon Jacinto received accolades for their outstanding efforts in tourism, public service, and community service, respectively.
Vergara-de Vera, a businesswoman and daughter of former Baguio congressman and mayor Bernardo Vergara, boasts an impressive academic background and owns several enterprises, including GVO Gasoline Stations, the Swiss Baker, Francia Realty, Sunrise Holding, and GV Bucketlist Travel.
In addition to her business ventures, Vergara-de Vera has a rich history in public service, having served as a city councilor from 1986 to 1992, including stints as the former chair of the Kabataang Barangay and president of KB Region I.
She currently holds key positions as the chair of the Baguio Tourism Council and the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) Tourism Council.
Notably, she is the president of Glad to Be Green, Inc., an organization dedicated to advocating for clean and renewable energy technologies.
Eugene Valbuena, a city government employee since 1992, has been an integral part of the Baguio Chinese New Year Executive Committee secretariat and serves as the vice chair of BB-Picag, a volunteer service-oriented organization.
Ramon Jacinto, the director of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines – Baguio, was also recognized for his contributions to community service.
The awards ceremony will take place on February 13 at Hotel Supreme.
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