The Quezon city government paid tribute to six individuals and four organizations whose efforts have made a lasting impact on the city’s communities at the 23rd Manuel L. Quezon (MLQ) Gawad Parangal on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

The Gawad Parangal, one of the city’s most distinguished recognitions, honors individuals and institutions that embody excellence, integrity, and inclusive growth.

With this year’s theme, “Sama-sama sa Tagumpay, Tulong-tulong sa Pag-unlad,” the ceremony emphasized how shared responsibility and collaboration between citizens and institutions fuel Quezon City’s continued development.

Awardees were selected through a process overseen by a panel of scholars and civic leaders with expertise in governance, culture, media, urban planning, and environmental advocacy.

Each honoree was chosen based on achievements that align with the city’s five pillars of good governance: Human and Social Services, Environment and Climate Change, Economic Development, Urban Development, and Institutional Development.

* Lorelei R. Vinluan – Recognized for her advocacy on mental health support for educators, women, persons with disabilities, and abuse survivors. She founded COPE UP in 2017 to provide crisis interventions and emotional support.

* Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. – A 13-time Philippine Open Chess Champion, Antonio continues to bring pride to the nation through his participation in international tournaments such as the World Seniors Chess Championship.

* Gerald Piad – Developer of the Computerized Evacuation System, a tool that modernizes disaster response by improving data collection and real-time monitoring of evacuees.

* Kuya Center for Street Children – A Quezon City-based non-government organization that provides shelter, education, and rehabilitation to over 300 orphaned and neglected children.

* Arlyn V. Guillermo – Barangay Kagawad behind the “SANA Oil” initiative, which encourages residents to collect and recycle used oil in exchange for groceries or repurposing as biofuel, promoting both waste management and community participation.

* Partnerships for Sustainability Education – A coalition of schools and communities that promotes environmental literacy and climate education through its Integrated Regenerative Education Ecosystem.

* Fruitas Holdings Inc. – Recognized for supporting local sourcing and inclusive employment, with 161 of its over 800 kiosks nationwide located in Quezon City, employing senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

* Ar. Gerard Rey A. Lico – Award-winning architect and UP Diliman professor honored for his contributions to heritage preservation and design research, including the Tandang Sora Women’s Museum.

* Nestie Bryal C. Villaviray – Founding chair of the Model Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Network, which empowers youth leaders through civic education. His ipinaLOKAL initiative trained over 1,400 young people during the 2023 SK elections, with more than 800 now serving as SK officials.

* Philippine Children’s Medical Center – Child Neuroscience Division – Commended for advancing inclusive pediatric care through projects like the SINAG digital platform and Autism Camp, in partnership with the city’s Kabahagi Center.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the Gawad Parangal not only recognizes achievement but also honors those who embody the spirit of selfless service.

“What inspires me most about our awardees is that none of them set out to be recognized. They simply saw a need and chose to act. That’s the kind of culture we want to nurture in Quezon City. We want to live in a city where people and organizations uplift others genuinely without expecting anything in return. When you have people like that working in every corner of our city, real progress naturally follows,” she said.

Aside from the major awardees, twelve city government employees were honored for over four decades of dedicated service in departments such as the City Treasurer’s Office, Quezon City Health Department, and Metropolitan Trial Court.