The Province of Capiz was the big winner in the 1st Gawad Balangaw: Regional Awards for Culture and the Arts of Western Visayas with four major awards.
The Regional Cultural Heritage and Arts Council (RCHAC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC-6) awarded the Gawad Balangaw to:
– Capiz Provincial Government
– Tourism and Cultural Officer Alphonsus “Al” Tesoro
– Sigmahanon Foundation for Culture and the Arts Inc. (SFCAI)
– Former governor Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras
The Capiz Provincial Government was recognized for cultural development as well as its voluntary and community leadership efforts that strengthened culture and arts ecosystem and fostered collaboration among indigenous communities, cultural workers and artists in Western Visayas.
Tesoro was likewise given an individual award for nearly three decades of work that went beyond Capiz.
The Sigmahanon Foundation for Culture and the Arts Inc. (SFCAI) based in the Municipality of Sigma was likewise recognized. Its award was received by Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Rolly Miguel, who also serves as SFCAI executive director.
To note, Tesoro led SFCAI and its resident theater Dagway Sigmahanon for nearly a decade before taking a bigger role in the Provincial Government of Capiz.
Likewise, Contreras was honored as the first committee chairperson of the RDC-6’s RCHAC in 2020-2022.
The 1st Gawad Balangaw was organized by the RDC-6’s RCHAC under the auspices of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev-6) and with the backing of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
