GAWAD Lingkod Bayani awardee Cornelio ‘Kune’ T. Mabera (second from right) with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Civil Service Commission (CSC) officials. (PPA)
ILOILO CITY – Cornelio “Kune” T. Mabera, a driver of the Department of Science and Technology-6 (Western Visayas), was awarded as one of the country’s outstanding government workers.
Mabera received the Gawad Lingkod Bayani award during a ceremony Wednesday in Malacañang.
“His dedication, integrity, and exemplary service continue to inspire his colleagues and reflect the true spirit of public service, bringing pride and honor to the entire DOST family and the region,” the DOST-6 led by Regional Director Rowen Gelonga said in a statement.
Mabera received a gold-gilded medallion, a trophy, and a cash prize from Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The Gawad Dangal ng Bayan award is conferred by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to government employees for demonstrating extraordinary acts of public service and consistent adherence to the highest ethical standards.
Mabera began working at DOST-Western Visayas in 1989 as a messenger and utility worker who did not even finish high school.
When he was 33 and juggling work and his family, Mabera decided to finish high school. He then pursued an automotive mechanic training course from a school accredited by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Mabera became not only a driver but also an automotive expert and the all-around repairman that saved DOST-6 thousands of pesos in maintenance. For more than 30 years, Mabera would repair vehicle engines and fix lights and other broken parts. He would repaint walls, repair water pipes, and maintain the garden.