The Brains Behind The Golden Balangay Awards

September 10, 2019

The Brains Behind The Golden Balangay Awards

Straight from Li ERON.

The Founders of the Golden Balangay Awards: Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie dela Gana and Mr. & Mrs. Jovito Fabila.

I'm pretty sure the title of this blog will make these humble people uncomfortable. They hate the limelights! We can see them and they are highly visible in the community but they still prefer to be a little obscure.

But the truth about Volunteering, especially when you are introducing an important initiative, you've got to stand behind it. You need to own the brand you are establishing in the community. It is in owning your brand, your endeavour, your challenges to make it credible and to make it work, will people trusts that endeavour. Standing behind Golden Balangay Awards is also necessary. People will often ask who is behind something and then they make that choice to support it or not. In the advent of social media, everyone is encouraged to promote themselves. It is no longer about bragging. It is about asserting what goodness you can do for your community.

(L-R): Claire dela Gana, Jovy Favila, Bloomy Favila and GBA Ambassador, Rachelle Cruz.

There are rules in social media and they call it 'branding.' I believe the world has omitted the word 'bragging' as it no longer applies. The Golden Balangay Awards are supported by many individuals or it will not succeed. But who are the people who put this award-giving body into fruition and burn their eyebrows to make it work?

Three years ago on my first attendance at the launching of Golden Balangay Awards, the credibility was quite noticeable on their criteria and judging, including the judging process that lies heavily on digital process. You can tell how Nominees are dropped from the lists on every category and then the winner. The judges also doesn't know each other as they do their judging online so bad influence is completely eradicated.

Rachelle Cruz red carpet interview, Winnipeg Arts Gallery, Sep 7, 2019.

I had a question thrown to one of the founders on how the integrity of the process be protected and guarded? The answer was brief, it is a system that has been created and safely guarded. Integrity is a huge part in giving awards. I believe that Golden Balangay Awards will be able to shine the spotlights on individuals in our community and sift through the heaps and find the most worthy to receive the award.

I am not saying that GBA is the only credible award-giving organization in Canada. There are many....one of which has given me my recent award and we need to salute all of them because giving awards is a relentless pursuit. They need to be respected and we need to be grateful in receiving them.

The Favila, Bloomy and Jovy, presenting the Gluckstein Excellence Award in Arts and Culture.

Here are some pics of the GBA 2019 red carpet awards night held at Winnipeg Arts Gallery attended by Filipino-Canadians, Nominees, past winners and guests, including fashion designer John Ablaza and his models. Let's not forget, GBA Ambassador, Rachel Cruz who interviewed the Nominees at the red carpet.