With the theme “Legacy of Service,” the Department of Student Life (DSL) recognized exemplary Benildeans from different fields at the annual Gawad Benildyano at Hotel Benilde, AKIC Campus yesterday, November 15.

 

Gawad Benildyano, formerly known as Gawad Sinagtala, is a recognition activity of the College which aims to award outstanding Benildean groups and individuals.

 

“Gawad Benildyano is a way for the College to recognize and affirm the students that the things they are doing makes the College proud of [them],” DSL Dean Ms. Norie Ador Dionisio said in an interview with The Benildean.

 

To open the event, resident chorale group Coro San Benildo’s Daniella Mendoza and Rhianna Mantos, accompanied on piano by musical arranger Mark Atienza, performed “Awit para sa Benildyano,” an original composition by Benilde alumna and former Student Publications Office Head, Ms. Dianne Torres. This was followed by the opening remarks of Ms. Ador Dionisio, emphasizing on Benilde’s legacy through students who contributed themselves, their time, and talents to the community.

 

“When Saint Benilde [Romancon] was canonized, he said, ‘Sanctity does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.’ I think tonight is a manifestation [of that],” Ms. Ador Dionisio said in her opening remarks.

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

For the highlight of the event, meritorious and major awards were given to individuals and groups. The awards and winners are as follows:

Photo by Denise Paule

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

Photo by Denise Paule

 

School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies Meritorious Awards

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Young People

Bronze Level Awardee: Veronica Mae del Rosario

Bronze Level Awardee: Dexter Belandres

 

Center for Social Action Meritorious Awards

Delegate – 7th La Salle Summer Program: Riggynald Gamboa

 

CSA Core Volunteers

First Place, Kampihan sa Karapatan, Human Rights 7th Pinduteros Awards: Bakit Bakwit? Campaign Proposal

 

6th Philippine Student Quill Awards

Award of Excellence Communication Management: LIKHA: Ligtas Ka at Handa Community Education Session

Award of Excellence Communication Management: Lihim ng Kahapon: Mga Kwento ng Martial Law

Nominee – Student Top Award for Communication Management: LIKHA: Ligtas Ka at Handa Community Education Session

 

Student Involvement Office Meritorious Awards

Ten Outstanding Human Resource Students of the Philippines 2018

1. Riggynald Gamboa
2. Chad Rafael Manangat

 

Student Publications Office Meritorious Awards

Benildean Press Corps

1. 6th Philippine Student Quill Awards
   1. Awards of Merit
      1. Straight from The Shoulder: A List of My Freudian Slips by Thea Torres
      2. National Day of Protest Photo Coverage by Sace Natividad
      3. Trending Tuesdays
      4. 45th Martial Law Anniversary Video Coverage by Koy Bayot
   2. Awards of Excellence
      1. The Benildean 10: Acceptance by Charlotte Martin
      2. Horizons: Technicolor by Jaztin Yabut
      3. Shades of Gray: Convalescence by Thea Torres
      4. Benny’s Buhay: Rally by Isabel Weber
2. Spectrum 2018
   1. The Benildean: Exploitation Issue by Alexei Trajano, 1st Place, Best Magazine Layout
   2. “Kapatiran o kamatayan?” by Brian Castillo, 2nd Place, Best Editorial
   3. Shades of Gray: Convalescence by Thea Torres, 3rd Place, Best Literary Folio
3. 1st Manila Times Campus Press Awards
   1. TheBenildean.com, Best College Student News Website
   2. Stuck by Gab Torres, Best Literary Piece

 

Benildean Yearbook Office

1. 6th Philippine Student Quill Awards
   1. Awards of Merit
      1. Naka-kubli sa Dilim: State of Human Rights 45 years after Martial Law by Robin Estargo
   2. Awards of Excellence
      1. PERSPECTIVES 2018: Classic by Vincent Carl Mendoza
      2. #Classic by Marc Vincent Soriano
      3. #MerryMonday: Benilde Issues by Gabriel De Jesus
      4. #UsWednesday by Loi Gabrielle Yan
      5. EMBARK Vol. 3 by Vincent Carl Mendoza

1. 1.  

 

Office of Culture and Arts Meritorious Awards

Karilyo, Runner up at the 35th Luna Awards Alamat sa Animasyon

“Oedipus” Adaptation by Dulaang Filipino at Teatralny Kufar International Student and Youth Theatre Festival 2018

1. Best Performance by an Amateur Theatre
2. Best Actress (Gracielle So)
3. Special Prize by Jury – Best Physical and Sound Solution
4. Nominted for Best Supporting Actress (Ezra Ulanday)

“Oedipus” Adaptation by Dulaang Filipino, Recipient, Ani ng Dangal-Dramatic Arts, National Commission for Culture and Arts

 

Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company

Hong Kong Challenge Dance Cup Competition 2018

1. Gold in Solo Category
2. Gold in Ensemble Category

Hip Hop International

1. Finalist, Hip Hop International 2018
2. First Place, Hip Hop International Regionals
3. Second Place, Hip Hop International Nationals

Cultural Promotions Team

1. 6th Philippine Student Quill Awards, Awards of Excellence in Communication Skills
   1. #ParaKanino
   2. Kapihan, Kwentuhan, Kantahan, ATBP.
2. STAR Workshops 2017
3. Oedipus – Shadowplay Projections in collaboration with Karilyo
4. “Solomon: The Musical,” Best International Show, Escenemateur “Juan Mayorga” Prize of the Performing Arts by the International University of La Rioja in Madrid, Spain

 

Individual Awards

Outstanding Student Athlete: Jericho Arellano

Outstanding Student Leader: Andrea Beatrice Aguila

Outstanding Student Artist: Angelica Villanueva

Outstanding Student Volunteer: Riggynald Gamboa

Outstanding Student Journalist: Therese Marie Torres

Outstanding International Student: Sohankumar Motwani

 

Special Citation

Most Creative Presentation (Individual): Jericho Arellano

Most Creative Presentation (Group): Women’s Taekwondo

 

Group Awards

Outstanding Athletic Team: Women’s Taekwondo

Outstanding Student Volunteer Group: SDEAS Volunteers

Outstanding Artist Group: Coro San Benildo

Outstanding Community Outreach Project: Deaf for Kids (SDEAS)

Outstanding Student Development Project: Bakit Bakwit? (CSA Core Volunteers)

Outstanding Student Involvement Group: CSA Core Volunteers

 

“Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagserbisyo sa ating mga kapwa Benildyano pati narin sa mga taong nangangailangan dahil ito ay ating responsibilidad dahil tayo ay mayroon kakayahan at kaalaman upang ipaabot sa kanila ang mga dapat malaman,” Gamboa said in his thanksgiving speech.

 

Meanwhile, Motwani, who is visually impaired, emphasized the importance of inclusion in his thanksgiving speech.

 

“Disability is not caused by disability itself; disability is actually a product of environment that the individual is in,” he said.

 

“I want you to reflect on yourselves and ask, ‘Am I a bridge or am I a wall?’ Our parents, advisers, teachers and mentors have served as bridges. Now is our time to serve as bridges,” Motwani added

 

For Mr. William Sidayon, Coordinator for Social Responsibility and Outreach Program of SDEAS, Gawad Benildyano is a way to appreciate the efforts of the Deaf community.

 

“Isa ito [Gawad Benildyano] sa mga inaabangan ng mga students, not for the awards but in a sense na ito ‘yung time ng mga nasa Deaf community para ma-appreciate ‘yung mga ginagawa nila,” he said in an interview.

 

Photos by Denise Paule