The Center for Student Life (CSL) hosted the 32nd Gawad Benildyano with the theme, "A Legacy of Service, Honoring Excellence." Numerous awards were presented that recognized Benildean excellence, individuality, and merits at the 2F Manila Ballroom, Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle on Jan. 23.
The program, hosted by Mr. Marco Santiago, Director of the Benilde Marketing Center and Ms. Joyce Camille Dominguez, Head of the Service Learning Unit of the Center for Faculty Advancement, began with a performance of the Gawad Benildyano theme song.
Benilde President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC delivered his opening remarks. “In our post-pandemic world, the challenges we have faced have only amplified the resilience, the creativity, and the innovation that have long been at the heart of the Benildian community and the Benildian educational experience,” he said.
Meritorious Awards were first presented to the students of the Student Involvement Unit, the Benilde Culture and Arts Unit (BCAU) and the Student Publications Unit (SPU) for their exemplary wins in artistry, leadership, and journalistic pursuits representing the College in external competitions.
The awarding of Gawad winners commenced, starting with the Project Awards Category, which was swept by DrawINK as Outstanding Community Outreach Project for KOMINK 3: Bringing Colors to Life and Outstanding Student Development Project for DrawINK Convention 2024.
Next up was the Group Awards Category, wherein the Men’s Lawn and Soft Tennis Team was awarded as Outstanding Athletic Team. Meanwhile, the Stage Production Operations Team (SPOT) was named the Outstanding Artist Group. For the Outstanding Volunteer Group, the School of the Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) Volunteer group was recognized. Lastly, the Benildean Press Corps (BPC) won the Outstanding Student Involvement Group Award for the third consecutive year.
Special Citation Awards were presented to Jorel Gabrielle Magistrado for Best in Presentation-Individual Category and DrawINK for KOMINK 3: Bringing Colors to Life as the Best in Presentation-Group Category.
Before the final category, Mcaine Andrei Carlos, an alumnus of the AB-Multimedia Arts program and recipient of the Fulbright 2023 Global Undergraduate (UGrad) Exchange Program gave an inspiring speech emphasizing on three valuable lessons: turn crisis into opportunities, embrace collaboration, and build a legacy by being authentic.
For the final category, each winner of Individual Awards was given a T’nalak—a clothing piece woven by the T’boli people from South Cotabato.
The award for Outstanding International Student was given to Yan Wai Chen from the Benilde International Student Emissaries. The Outstanding Student Athlete Award went to Mikee Gloria who hails from the Benilde Women’s Swimming Team. Magistrado, former Editor in Chief of BPC, was recognized as the Outstanding Campus Journalist. For Outstanding Student Artist, Ma. Antonette Aquino triumphed in this category. Meanwhile, SDEAS student, Romulo Porral III bagged both the Outstanding Student Volunteer and Outstanding Student Leader.
In an interview with The Benildean, CSL Dean, Mr. Levi Albania, shared his sentiments on this year’s iteration of Gawad Benildyano, explaining how, “There’s always the challenge to do better.”
To end the program with her closing remarks, Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life, Ms. Nicky Templo Perez quoted St. John Baptist De La Salle, “To reward so great a good work and a service that he regards so highly, God gives two kinds of rewards in this world to those who commit themselves untiringly to the work of the salvation of souls.”
Gawad Benildyano, formerly known as Gawad Sinagtala and symbolized by the Lasallian star is an annual event of CSL that acknowledges the ingenuity, service, and meritorious achievements that the Benildean community has exemplified in an academic year.
