Dr. Erlinda De Guzman Lagoy Luna, MD, FPAFP

Dr. Erlinda De Guzman Lagoy Luna, MD, FPAFP

Born on May 22, 1940, in the town of Bayambang, Dr. Erlinda de Guzman Lagoy Luna stands as a distinguished figure in the field of medicine and community service. A proud Filipina, she carries with her a lifelong commitment to healing, compassion, and civic engagement—values deeply rooted in her upbringing by her parents, Esperanza G. Lagoy and Leon P. Lagoy.

Dr. Luna pursued her early education in Bayambang, attending Bayambang Elementary School, Pangasinan Normal School Laboratory Training Center (intermediate grade), and UNESCO Pilot Center (Bayambang National High School), before advancing her academic journey in Manila. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and later completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at Manila Central University. Further strengthening her expertise, she undertook professional training with the American Academy of Family Medicine, eventually earning recognition as a Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (FPAFP).

A dedicated physician by profession, Dr. Luna has devoted her life to the service of others through her practice at Roxas Community Medical Clinic in Quezon City, where she has long been a pillar of accessible and compassionate healthcare. Her leadership in the medical field is exemplified by her role as Founding President of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians – Quezon City Chapter, as well as her active memberships in esteemed organizations such as the Philippine Medical Association and the Manila Medical Society.

Her excellence and unwavering dedication were recognized in 2000 when she was honored by the Philippine Medical Association as a Top Outstanding Physician in Community Service—an accolade that reflects her enduring commitment to uplifting the health and well-being of underserved communities. On February 4, 1987, she was awarded by President Corazon Aquino to recognize and celebrate her contribution and the impact of her outreach medical extension. Furthermore, she was two times a recipient of recognition from the Early Childhood Care and Development Council of the Philippines.

Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Luna is a passionate civic leader and humanitarian. As President of Undying Wishes of Pinoys, Inc. (UWPI), she has been instrumental in spearheading numerous outreach initiatives, including large-scale medical, dental, and surgical missions. In June 2025, through a collaborative effort with various partners, she helped bring essential healthcare services to over a thousand beneficiaries in Bayambang—providing consultations, laboratory tests, dental care, medicines, and other vital support to families in need.

Despite personal loss with the passing of her husband, Severino Darby S. Luna Jr., Dr. Luna continues to embody resilience and grace as a devoted mother and community leader. Her involvement in organizations such as United Way Philippines and the Senior Citizens Association of Barangay Laging Handa further underscores her enduring commitment to service across generations.

Now at 85, Dr. Luna remains a shining example of a life dedicated to purpose, compassion, and excellence. Her legacy is not only written in her professional achievements but also in the countless lives she has touched through her healing hands and generous heart—truly making her worthy of recognition in the 2025 Bayambang Matalunggaring Awards.

 

***

Shorter version (Option 2)

Dr. Erlinda De Guzman Lagoy Luna, MD, FPAFP

From the nurturing soil of Bayambang, Pangasinan, where her life first began, Dr. Erlinda de Guzman Lagoy Luna has blossomed into a beacon of healing, compassion, and unwavering service.

For more than eight decades, she has lived a life defined not merely by years, but by the countless lives she has touched—as a physician, a leader, and a guardian of community well-being.

Armed with knowledge shaped by discipline and excellence, she pursued her calling in medicine with steadfast resolve, earning her Doctor of Medicine and rising to become a Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians—a distinction that reflects both mastery and devotion to her craft.

Yet her true greatness lies beyond titles.

As Founding President of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians – Quezon City Chapter, and as a guiding force behind Roxas Community Medical Clinic, she has opened doors of care to those who need it most.

Through her leadership in Undying Wishes of Pinoys, Inc., she has brought healing where there was once hardship—delivering hope through medical missions that served thousands, restoring dignity, and rekindling faith in communities often left behind.

Even in the face of personal loss, she has remained steadfast—graceful in spirit, generous in heart, and tireless in her mission to serve.

At 85, Dr. Luna stands as a living testament that a life dedicated to others is a life truly fulfilled.

For her exemplary service in medicine, her enduring compassion for humanity, and her invaluable contributions to community health and welfare—we proudly honor Dr. Erlinda de Guzman Lagoy Luna as one of the distinguished awardees of the 2025 Bayambang Matalunggaring Awards.

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo! - Tradisyunal na Piyesta at Pamahiin at Tradisyon sa Mahal na Araw

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo! - Tradisyunal na Piyesta at Pamahiin at Tradisyon sa Mahal na Araw

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na hindi mawawala ang beauty pageant tuwing Pista'y Baley! Ngunit ang tradisyong ito ay isinasagawa sa pamamagitan ng "kwartaan style" o paramihan ng perang masosolicit mula sa mga donor ng cash at sa mga willing mag-pledge ng bayad para sa mga ibinabagsak na produkto sa canvassing period at contest proper.

 

Yes, ang Miss Bayambang noong araw ay isang nakatutuwang fund-raising activity para sa iba't ibang proyekto na makakatutulong sa buong komunidad gaya ng infrastructure improvement.

 

In fact, may mga nanalong kandidata noon dahil sila ay nakalamang ng dalawang buriki ng sibuyas o dahil nanalo sa public bidding ang kanilang dala-dalang fried chicken!

 

Ang isa sa mga pinakaunang naiulat na Miss Bayambang ay si Bb. Victorina Cayabyab-Brillante, na naging Miss Bayambang 1930.

 

Noong 1972 naman, si Ms. Maria Venus A. Junio ang naging pinakaunang Ms. Pangasinan mula sa bayan ng Bayambang.

 

Noong 1993 naman, ang unang Miss Bayambang contest na may question-and-answer portion ay napanalunan ni Ms. Leilani S. Balansay.

 

Kabilang sa mga naging Miss Bayambang ay ang ina ni Ms. Auralou Ramos ng Budget Office na si Aurora Valdez noong 1961, ang ngayon ay Municipal Administrator na si Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino-Vidad noong 1998 at Ms. Myra Flor Ferrer ng Treasury Office noong taong 2000.

 

Naging mga dating contender naman sina Ms. Adea Luces Junio ng MPDO, Jingle Meg Bautista ng Nutrition, at April Estrada Apostol ng Tourism.

 

At dapat alam mo, na noon, ang pagoda o sinasabing ‘korona ng bayan’ sa plaza ay dating elavated, dahil ang mga na-koronahan at mga kilalang personalidad lamang ang maaaring umakyat at manatili roon tuwing kapistahan!

 

Ngayon, Bayambang, ay alam mo na.

 

***

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo rin na paminsan-minsan, ang ating Pistay Baley ay natataon sa Ambelat Agew o Mahal na Araw.

 

Alam mo ba na maraming pamahiin ang mga Bayambangueño pagdating ng Mahal na Araw, taliwas man ito sa opisyal na turo ng simbahan?

 

Dahil patay daw ang Diyos, kapag nasugat ka, matagal itong gagaling.

 

Bawal maligo, dahil di pa nabuhay ang bangkay ni Hesus. Kailangang maghintay sa 'Pasko ng Pagkabuhay'. 

 

Bawal lumabas.

 

Bawal gumawa ng mabibigat na trabaho.

 

Kapag ikaw ay lumabag sa mga ito, tiyak na tatawagin kang Hudyo ng lola mo.

 

Sa alas dose ng tanghali Biyernes Santo, naging tradisyon na ang gumawa ng 'larak' o langis ng niyog para gamiting panghaplos ng mga mayroong sakit sa katawan dahil ito ay pinaniniwalaang nakagagamot.

 

Sa hatinggabi ng Biyernes Santo naman o Good Friday, ang sinumang lalabas sa dilim upang abangan ang pagpatak ng isang likido mula sa puso ng saging ay magkakaroon ng 'galing,' o kapangyarihan o superpowers.

 

At kinaumagahan ng Pista ng Pagkabuhay, hindi pa uso noon ang Easter Egg Hunt. Sa halip, dapat ikaw ay tumalon ng pinakamataas mong kayang talunin, upang ikaw ay maging matangkad.

 

O kaya magtanim ng kahit anong buto ng gulay o punla ng puno, dahil siguradong ito ay lalago ng husto.

 

Kayo, ano pang lokal na pamahiin at tradisyon ang natatandaan ninyo?

 

Bayambang, ang lahat ng ito ay...dapat alam mo!

 

MONDAY REPORT – MARCH 23, 2026

 

MONDAY REPORT – MARCH 23, 2026

 

 

INTRO:

 

[VOLUME, ENERGY, SMILE!]

 

1: Magandang araw, Bayambang!  Ako po si ______.

 

2: At ako naman po si _____, at kami po ay mula sa Barangay Financial Affairs Office.

 

1: Narito na ang mga pinakahuling balita at kaganapan sa ating bayan.

 

2: Tampok ang iba't ibang hakbang tungo sa kaunlaran.

 

1&2: Ito ang...BayambangueNews!

 

 

[MEMORIZE THE HEADLINES]

 

1.      Philippine Army, May Recruitment Outreach

 

Bumisita ang Armed Forces of the Philippines upang hikayatin ang mga Bayambangueño na maglingkod sa bayan sa pamamagitan ng serbisyo-militar. Bukás ang oportunidad para sa kalalakihan at maging sa kababaihan, lalo na ngayong Women's Month, at maaaring mag-apply sa darating na Mega Job Fair sa March 30 sa Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park.

 

2.      1,609 Pre-K Learners, Nagsipagtapos

 

May kabuuang 1,609 na mag-aaral mula sa mga Child Development Center ng Bayambang ang nagtapos sa 36th Pre-Kindergarten Moving-Up Ceremony, na ginanap mula March 16 hanggang 19. Binigyang-diin dito ng mga opisyal at mga naimbitahang guest speaker ang kahalagahan ng maagang edukasyon sa paghubog ng kinabukasan ng mga bata.

 

3.      Bb. Bayambang Contenders, Nagpasiklaban sa Pre-Pageant

 

Ipinakita ng mga kandidata ng Binibining Bayambang 2026 ang kanilang talino, talento, at kagandahan sa ginanap na pre-pageant noong March 15. Tampok sa kompetisyon ang talent, gown, at creative costume segments na nagbigay-diin sa kultura, tradisyon, at identidad ng Bayambang. Abangan ang coronation night sa darating na gabi ng March 29 sa Events Center.

 

 

4.      LGU Employee Orientation, Isinagawa

 

Isang Employee Orientation Activity ang isinagawa ng HRMO para sa mga Job Order employees ng LGU noong March 16, upang ipaliwanag ang mahahalagang patakaran, tungkulin, at responsibilidad ng mga empleyado sa paglilingkod sa publiko, kabilang ang patakaran sa disiplina at pati ang kanilang tax obligations.

 

 

5.      Fire Brigade ng JKQ MWC, Sinanay ng BFP

 

Ang Bayambang Fire Station ay nagbigay ng tatlong araw na pagsasanay para sa binuong Company Fire Brigade ng Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center noong March 17 to 19. Ito ay upang mapalakas ang kahandaan ng ospital sa mga emergencies at mapahusay ang kakayahan ng mga tauhan sa pagtugon sa sunog. Tinalakay sa aktibidad ang fire safety sa mga health facilities at basic firefighting skills, kabilang ang paggamit ng fire extinguishers, bucket relay method, at pag-unawa sa operasyon ng fire truck.

 

 

6.      Security Coordination, Isinagawa para sa Ligtas na Kapistahang Bayan

Ang LGU ay nakipagpulong sa 104th Community Defense Center ng Philippine Army upang patatagin ang seguridad para sa nalalapit na kapistahang bayan. Humiling ang pamahalaan ng deployment ng mga tauhan para sa crowd control, traffic management, at seguridad, lalo na sa People’s Night & Street Party sa April 1.

 

7.      2027 GAD Plan at Budget ng LGU, Binalangkas

Nagpulong ang GAD Executive Committee ng LGU noong March 17, upang pagtibayin ang GAD Plan at Budget para sa 2027, na nakatuon sa gender equality at serbisyong panlipunan. Ang planong nabuo ay magsisilbing gabay sa pagpapatupad ng mga GAD program sa bayan.

 

 

8.      Mobile Registry Services, Dinala sa Manambong at Bical

 

Ang proyektong mobile civil registration services ng LCR ay dinala sa Brgy. Manambong Parte at Bical Norte noong March 17 at 18. Dinagsa ng mga residente ang mga serbisyong kaugnay ng civil registry at legal identification. Bukod sa agarang pagproseso ng mga dokumento, isinagawa rin ang data capture para sa upgraded Community Service Card, na magpapadali sa pag-access ng mga serbisyong pinansyal ng LGU.

 

9.      Bagong Kooperatiba, Dumaan sa Validation

Ang Cooperative Development Authority ay nagsagawa ng validation activity para sa Bayambang Corn Farmers Agriculture Cooperative upang matiyak ang kahandaan at pagsunod nito sa mga pamantayan bago mairehistro. Ito ay isang inisyatiba ng Cooperative Development Office at Agriculture Office bilang suporta sa pagpapalakas ng agrikultura at kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka ng mais sa bayan.

 

 

10.  Streetlights sa Dusoc-Darawey-Wawa Rd., Muling Pinailaw

Muling pinailaw ng Bayambang Public Safety Office at Task Force Disiplina, katuwang ang CENPELCO at Municipal Engineering Office, ang mga streetlight sa Dusoc-Darawey-Wawa Road matapos masira ang mga ito. Layunin nitong mapabuti ang kaligtasan sa kalsada, habang hinihikayat ang publiko na maging mapagmatyag at ireport ang mga insidente ng vandalism sa lugar.

 

 

11.   ExeCom Meeting, Isinagawa

Nagpatawag ng Executive Committee Meeting si Mayor Niña noong March 18, upang talakayin ang mga nararapat na hakbang kaugnay ng epekto sa ating bayan ng nagaganap na giyera sa Gitnang Silangan. Binigyang-diin sa pulong ang kahalagahan ng koordinasyon at komunikasyon ng mga tanggapan upang mapabilis ang implementasyon ng mga programang magbibigay pakinabang sa mamamayan.

 

 

12.  Mga Kababaihang Lider, Nagningning sa Women’s Night

 

Noong March 19, ipinagdiwang ang isang glamorosong Hollywood-inspired Women’s Night kung saan bawat kababaihan ay itinuring na bituin, tampok ang red carpet treatment, patimpalak, at makabuluhang mensahe mula sa mga lider ng bayan. Ang gabi ay nagsilbing pagpupugay sa mga makabagong babaylan—mga kababaihang patuloy na nagniningning at nagbibigay inspirasyon sa komunidad dahil sa kanilang inspiring leadership sa iba’t ibang larangan.

 

13.  Raffle Game for Women, Nagpatuloy

 

Nasa 3rd week na ang 'Wheels for Women' surprise raffle game ng RHU! Sila ay naghatid ng surpresa sa mga kababaihan sa looban ng Public Market at sa may ibaba ng Royal Mall Supermarket, sa pamamagitan ng mga papremyong personal care items sa mga sumali.

 

14.  Bali-Balin Bayambang Team, Naglibot sa District 3

 

Noong nakaraang lingo, ang Bali-Balin Bayambang Committee ay sumunod namang nagmonitor sa mga barangay sa District 3 para sa clean-green-and-bloom project ni Mayor Niña. Sa kanilang pag-iikot, sinuri ng dalawang monitoring team ang aktibong partisipasyon ng mga opisyales at residente, ang kaayusan at kalinisan ng kapaligiran, at ang pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangkalikasan.

 

15.  MPMIU, Nag-update sa Onion Cold Storage Facility

 

Nagsagawa ng regular na pulong ang MPMIU ng LGU kasama ang mga contractor at kinatawan ng PRDP upang talakayin ang kasalukuyang progreso ng konstruksyon ng Onion Cold Storage Facility sa Amancosiling Sur. Binigyang-diin ang mahigpit na koordinasyon upang matiyak ang napapanahong pagkumpleto ng proyekto na inaasahang makatutulong sa pagpapahaba ng shelf life at kita ng mga lokal na magsasaka ng sibuyas.

 

16.  Tulong mula DHSUD, Ipinamahagi sa mga Nasunugan

 

Ipinamahagi ng  Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Region 1 ang tig-P15,000 pesos sa tulong pinansyal sa mga pamilyang lubos na nasunugan na inendorso ng LGU-Bayambang. Isinagawa ang payout sa MSWD Office, kung saan personal na pinangasiwaan ng mga opisyal ng DHSUD ang maayos na distribusyon ng ayuda.

 

17.  Fire Safety Lecture at Inspection, Isinagawa

 

Ang Bayambang Fire Station ay nagsagawa noong March 19 ng isang Fire Safety Lecture at Inspection sa San Gabriel 2nd Elementary School upang palakasin ang kamalayan ng mga guro at mag-aaral sa wastong pag-iwas sa sunog at agarang pagtugon sa oras ng emerhensiya.

 

18.  Bayambang, Muling Kinilala sa GAPAS Awards

 

Muling kinilala ang LGU-Bayambang bilang 2025 Regional GAPAS Awardee para sa mahusay nitong implementasyon ng 4Ps at mga kaugnay na programang panlipunan. Tinanggap ni Councilor Jocelyn Espejo sa ngalan ni Mayor Nina ang parangal, na sumasalamin sa patuloy na dedikasyon ng pamahalaan sa pagpapabuti ng buhay ng mga benepisyaryo.

 

19.  Acting Chief of Police, Pinarangalan ng PNPA

 

Ginawaran si PLtCol Rommel Bagsic, Acting Chief ng PNP-Bayambang, ng Gawad Dakilang Lakan sa 46th PNPA Grand Alumni Homecoming na ginanap sa Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda sa Silang, Cavite. Ang parangal ay isang pagkilala ng Philippine National Police Academy sa kanyang dedikasyon at natatanging serbisyo.

 

***

 

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo!

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na hindi mawawala ang beauty pageant tuwing Pista'y Baley! Ngunit ang tradisyong ito ay isinasagawa sa pamamagitan ng "kwartaan style" o paramihan ng perang masosolicit mula sa mga donor ng cash at sa mga willing mag-pledge ng bayad para sa mga ibinabagsak na produkto sa canvassing period at contest proper.

 

Yes, ang Miss Bayambang noong araw ay isang nakatutuwang fund-raising activity para sa iba't ibang proyekto na makakatutulong sa buong komunidad gaya ng infrastructure improvement.

 

In fact, may mga nanalong kandidata noon dahil sila ay nakalamang ng dalawang buriki ng sibuyas o dahil nanalo sa public bidding ang kanilang dala-dalang fried chicken!

 

Ang isa sa mga pinakaunang naiulat na Miss Bayambang ay si Bb. Victorina Cayabyab-Brillante, na naging Miss Bayambang 1930.

 

Noong 1972 naman, si Ms. Maria Venus A. Junio ang naging pinakaunang Ms. Pangasinan mula sa bayan ng Bayambang.

 

Noong 1993 naman, ang unang Miss Bayambang contest na may question-and-answer portion ay napanalunan ni Ms. Leilani S. Balansay.

 

Kabilang sa mga naging Miss Bayambang ay ang ina ni Ms. Auralou Ramos ng Budget Office na si Aurora Valdez noong 1961, ang ngayon ay Municipal Administrator na si Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino-Vidad noong 1998 at Ms. Myra Flor Ferrer ng Treasury Office noong taong 2000.

 

Naging mga dating contender naman sina Ms. Adea Luces Junio ng MPDO, Jingle Meg Bautista ng Nutrition, at April Estrada Apostol ng Tourism.

 

At dapat alam mo, na noon, ang pagoda o sinasabing ‘korona ng bayan’ sa plaza ay dating elavated, dahil ang mga na-koronahan at mga kilalang personalidad lamang ang maaaring umakyat at manatili roon tuwing kapistahan!

 

Ngayon, Bayambang, ay alam mo na.

 

***

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo rin na paminsan-minsan, ang ating Pistay Baley ay natataon sa Ambelat Agew o Mahal na Araw.

 

Alam mo ba na maraming pamahiin ang mga Bayambangueño pagdating ng Mahal na Araw, taliwas man ito sa opisyal na turo ng simbahan?

 

Dahil patay daw ang Diyos, kapag nasugat ka, matagal itong gagaling.

 

Bawal maligo, dahil di pa nabuhay ang bangkay ni Hesus. Kailangang maghintay sa 'Pasko ng Pagkabuhay'. 

 

Bawal lumabas.

 

Bawal gumawa ng mabibigat na trabaho.

 

Kapag ikaw ay lumabag sa mga ito, tiyak na tatawagin kang Hudyo ng lola mo.

 

Sa alas dose ng tanghali Biyernes Santo, naging tradisyon na ang gumawa ng 'larak' o langis ng niyog para gamiting panghaplos ng mga mayroong sakit sa katawan dahil ito ay pinaniniwalaang nakagagamot.

 

Sa hatinggabi ng Biyernes Santo naman o Good Friday, ang sinumang lalabas sa dilim upang abangan ang pagpatak ng isang likido mula sa puso ng saging ay magkakaroon ng 'galing,' o kapangyarihan o superpowers.

 

At kinaumagahan ng Pista ng Pagkabuhay, hindi pa uso noon ang Easter Egg Hunt. Sa halip, dapat ikaw ay tumalon ng pinakamataas mong kayang talunin, upang ikaw ay maging matangkad.

 

O kaya magtanim ng kahit anong buto ng gulay o punla ng puno, dahil siguradong ito ay lalago ng husto.

 

Kayo, ano pang lokal na pamahiin at tradisyon ang natatandaan ninyo?

 

Bayambang, ang lahat ng ito ay...dapat alam mo!

 

***

 

KONKLUSYON:

 

[VOLUME, ENERGY, SMILE!]

 

1: Ang mga balitang ito ay sumasalamin sa patuloy na adbokasiya para sa maayos na pamamahala.

 

2: Sama-sama nating isulong ang isang maunlad na Bayambang.

 

1: Muli, ako po si ____.

 

2: At ako naman po si ___, at mula kami sa Barangay Financial Affairs Office.

 

1&2: At ito ang... BayambangueNews!

Dr. Edwin Vallo Antonio: Health Worker, Educator, Cultural Worker, Heritage Advocate

 

Dr. Edwin Vallo Antonio

Health Worker, Educator, Cultural Worker, Heritage Advocate

 

Dr. Edwin Vallo Antonio is a man whose life seems to move in quiet but deliberate circles—between the clinic and the classroom, the loom and the ritual ground, the village and the world. A health worker by profession, an educator by discipline, and a cultural worker by vocation, he has woven these identities into a singular life devoted to the dignity of both body and heritage. In him, science and tradition do not contend; they converse.

His beginnings trace back to the plains of Bayambang, Pangasinan, where the rhythms of rural life—its stories, its silences, its unrecorded wisdom—first impressed upon him the value of memory. From Bayambang Central School to Bayambang National High School, and later to the halls of Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and Northwestern University, he pursued the sciences of healing, earning degrees in Physical Therapy, Public Health, and ultimately a Doctorate in Development Education. Yet even as he mastered the language of anatomy and systems, another calling stirred: the preservation of cultures that modernity too often forgets.

For over two decades, Dr. Antonio has served as Assistant Director of the Laoag Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center, tending to the physical well-being of his community with the same care he extends to its cultural soul. Earlier, as an academic at Northwestern University, he helped shape future healers, grounding them not only in clinical competence but in a broader understanding of service.

But it is in the cultural sphere where his life’s work assumes its most luminous form. As Founder and Executive Director of Katutubo Exchange Philippines (KXPH), he has created a living bridge for indigenous youth—an annual gathering of identities, languages, and lifeways that affirms what it means to be rooted and yet open to the world. Since 2013, this initiative has stood as both sanctuary and stage: a place where the marginalized may speak, and be heard.

Within the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), under the Office of the President, Dr. Antonio has worn many hats—Head, Vice-Head, Secretary, adviser, and steward. His work with the National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities and the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts reveals a career spent not merely in administration, but in advocacy. As GAMABA Coordinator, he has helped safeguard the legacy of the country’s National Living Treasures, ensuring that their art forms—fragile, intricate, and irreplaceable—are passed on like heirlooms of the spirit.

His engagements extend beyond policy into practice. Under the tutelage of masters such as Magdalena Gamayo and Adelita Bagcal, he has directed training programs in inabel weaving and Ilokano oral traditions, immersing himself and others in the living grammar of heritage. In lecture halls, weaving rooms, and cultural fora—both local and overseas—he speaks not as a distant scholar, but as a participant in the traditions he seeks to preserve.

Dr. Antonio’s intellectual and artistic sensibilities also find expression in his book, Around the Americas in 60 Days, a travel narrative that reflects his enduring curiosity about cultures beyond his own. His lens, whether in writing or photography, captures not only places but the human stories that animate them.

His recognitions—among them the Bayaning Pilipino Award, the ASEAN International Photo Competition, and honors from the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program—are not mere decorations, but affirmations of a life spent in meaningful crossings: between nations, disciplines, and identities.

To speak of Dr. Edwin V. Antonio, then, is to speak of a bridge-builder. He stands at the confluence of healing and heritage, of local memory and global exchange. In an age of forgetting, he remembers; in a time of fragmentation, he gathers. And in the quiet persistence of his work, he reminds us that culture, like the human body, must be cared for—patiently, skillfully, and with profound respect for its unseen depths.

 

References:

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2018/11/04/the-sunday-times/arts-awake/katutubo-exchange-2018-gathers-40-indigenous-filipinos-in-ilocos/461693

 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/12/16/weekly/the-sunday-times/katutubo-exchange-celebrates-cultural-diversity/368987

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1073934

 

https://philstarlife.com/geeky/931204-national-living-treasure-nana-dalen

 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2014/10/11/weekly/the-sunday-times/experiencing-manila-1st-time/133557

 

 

https://maloloscity.gov.ph/pagbisita-ng-katutubo-exchange-philippines-kasama-ang-city-tourism-office-sa-ilang-paaralan-sa-lungsod-ng-malolos-nitong-ika-17-ng-oktubre/

 

https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/ph-consulate-sentro-rizal-sf-host-cultural-lecture-workshop-with-katutubo-exchange-philippines-founder-dr-edwin-antonio/

 

https://www.pressreader.com/p

hilippines/daily-tribune-philippines/20210530/282063394884634

 

https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/showcase-of-philippine-indigenous-culture-in-sg-highlights-the-need-for-its-preservation/

 

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=4ae20d8bd47daad1&sxsrf=ANbL-n64Yw5qNEbqGyw3xSY_nyDsbR8OJg:1773755942323&udm=7&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3p-ML-906rRL_m6h4jR-tdAeyw6pOVABma0FfM0NmtAR3KDb9iUS5m9YwM5Ail3nSSFLS4wZsfpNYoMtKX4-LBF7BVnH-qU6VUxAkufz_kSuGRkmGSHg-DDs-t7KK9oNy2yi35CheiZwQWKWONM61Hv8Vn9THQDIQKw9xWQgqWtjDRZP8w&q=katutubo+exchange+PTVr&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO2vDmi6eTAxUBr1YBHfBUCmoQtKgLegQIFhAB&biw=1920&bih=953&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7447b8d1,vid:ts-DPV-t46I,st:0

 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/10/03/weekly/the-sunday-times/connecting-cultures-through-program-for-indigenous-youth/221939

 

 

https://phnompenhpe.dfa.gov.ph/announcements/810-taoid-a-seminar-workshop-of-philippine-indigenous-culture

 

 

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/12/29/a-decade-of-heritage-educationindigenous-youth-program-celebrates-10th-year

 

Leonora Perez Sagun: Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Motherhood

Leonora Perez Sagun

Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Motherhood

 

Leonora Perez Sagun stands as a quiet pillar of enterprise, compassion, and civic virtue in Bayambang—a woman whose life story is woven from industry, devotion, and an unwavering commitment to community upliftment.

Born on October 11, 1965, in Nalsian Sur, Bayambang, to Jaime R. Perez and Maria Macaraeg Perez, Leonora’s early years were shaped by modest beginnings and a deep-rooted sense of perseverance. She pursued her elementary education at Nalsian Elementary School and continued her academic journey through secondary education at Bayambang National High School, before earning a degree in AB Mathematics from Luzon Colleges in 1989. This foundation in discipline and analytical thinking would later find expression in her remarkable entrepreneurial pursuits.

From humble origins, Mrs. Sagun rose to become a formidable businesswoman, building and managing a diverse portfolio of enterprises that have not only sustained her family but also contributed to the local economy. As owner and general manager, she has led the steady growth of businesses such as E.T. Sagun Rice Mill, Oning’s Rice and Poultry Supply, Lorraine’s Gasoline Station, Sagun Gasoline Station, and most recently, Sagun Commercial Spaces. Her ventures, established across decades beginning in 1981, reflect both foresight and resilience, earning her distinction as a top dealer of BMeg Feeds and Pigrolac Feeds in Central Pangasinan.

Yet beyond commerce, it is in service where Mrs. Sagun’s spirit shines most luminously. As an active and committed member of the Rotary Club of Bayambang, she has been at the forefront of numerous humanitarian initiatives—programs that bring tangible relief and hope to the underserved. From organizing medical and dental missions, supporting disease prevention programs for senior citizens, and extending financial aid to deserving students, to spearheading disaster response efforts and environmental campaigns, her work reflects a life devoted to the principle of “service above self.” Her compassion has reached even the most vulnerable, including children battling hydrocephalus, for whom she has extended meaningful support through life-saving initiatives.

In the midst of her many endeavors, Leonora remains deeply anchored in family. She is a devoted wife to Engr. Ernesto T. Sagun, with whom she has built not only a life but a legacy. Together, they have raised five children—among them an engineer and two medical doctors—each a testament to the values of diligence, integrity, and compassion that she embodies.

Graceful in leadership and steadfast in purpose, Mrs. Sagun exemplifies the rare ability to harmonize the demands of entrepreneurship, public service, and motherhood. Her life is a testament to what can be achieved through quiet determination and a generous heart.

In every sphere she touches—business, family, and community—Leonora Perez Sagun radiates the enduring spirit of a Matalunggaring Bayambangueña: resilient, compassionate, and profoundly dedicated to the betterment of others.

 

Dr. Joselito Rosario, Municipal Veterinarian

Dr. Joselito Rosario

Municipal Veterinarian

Dr. Joselito 'Lito' Rosario serves as the Municipal Veterinarian of the Local Government Unit of Bayambang, where he leads programs that safeguard animal health, support livestock production, and protect public health in the community.

Resposible for overseeing municipal veterinary services, he provides veterinary care such as vaccination, deworming, and treatment of animals while assisting local farmers and backyard raisers in improving the productivity and quality of their livestock.

He also oversees animal disease prevention and response, conducts anti-rabies and animal welfare campaigns, and regulates the inspection of animals and meat to ensure that food products reaching the public are safe and hygienic.

Through these services, Dr. Rosario helps strengthen Bayambang’s agricultural sector while promoting responsible pet ownership and community awareness on animal health.

Dr. Raquel Carungay Pambid, Science Educator & Researcher

 

Dr. Raquel Carungay Pambid 

Science Educator & Researcher

Dr. Raquel Carungay Pambid has dedicated her 28 years of service at Pangasinan State University as a faculty member, researcher, and extensionist. 

Inspired by the Department of Science and Technology's concept that "Science is for the people," the fruits of her research work had indeed been disseminated to the appropriate clientele through technology fora and caravans. 

As instructor, she has encouraged and mentored thousands of students in teaching, research, and food standardization and development. 

She herself gave a good example in this regard, since her expertise in research has produced patents for buro and red onion, and her research on buro won a national award in 2010 given by the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). 

She also produced and co-authored books in biology, NSTO, and research. 

Dr. Pambid has motivated fellow teachers to pursue their studies in graduate school, to conduct research in their fields of specialization and produce their own instructional materials. 

Being recognized by her own peers, local government units, non-government agencies local, national and international, her outstanding achievement as a professor, director, researcher, consultant, and producer of technology has shown that she is worth emulating as an ideal educator.

(Write-up lifted/contributed)