The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) led by its chairman Virgilio ‘Rio Alma’ Almario, a kabalen, cited this ’Guro ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan’ with the national award coined as Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda (GJCB) for his exemplary elucidation of Tira Bakal in his thesis entitled Ang Tira Bakal bilang (Kon) Teksto ng Katawang Nagtatanghal.
“Ing Tira Bakal metung ya pung penitensya a magaganap balang Viernis Santo keni Siyudad San Fernando. Apili ke pu ini as topic kasi buri ke pung pakilala itang uri ning penitensiyang a ita keng academic discourse. Ala pa pu kasing meg-explore keng topic a ita bukud pa pu na taga San Jose kupu nung nokarin original depung gewa ita,” awardee Christian Ezekiel Mananis Fajardo said in an interview.
Fajardo, 30, who hails from San Jose in the City of San Fernando, is a Speech Communication professor at the University of the Philippines – Baguio (UPB) for at least eight years. Fajardo is a proud alumnus of Christ in You Faith Christian Academy in his hometown. He has acquired his masters degree in Speech Communication at UP- Diliman in 2015.
This young professor with best in dissertation awardee Lovella Gamponio Velasco from the University of Santo Tomas received the plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P100,000 each during the 3rd Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda awarding rights on January 27 at the Bulwagang Romualdez, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino in Manila. Their works will also be published in the KWF’s Aklat ng Bayan.
A press release of KWF states, “Ang GJCB ay ang pinakamataas na pagkilala na handog ng KWF para sa natatanging tesis at disertasyon sa agham, matematika, at agham panlipunan gamit ang wikang Filipino. Iginagawad ito tuwing o malapit sa Araw ni Juan Cruz Balmaseda (28 Enero 1985- 18 Setyembre 1947). Si Balmaseda ay isa sa mga nangungunag makata, kritiko, at iskolar sa Filipino. Naglingkod din siya bilang director ng Surian ng Wikang Pambansa na ngayon ay KWF”.
“Tagumpe taya pu ini. Dakal pung salamat at dininan yeng pansin ining research ayni,” Fajardo added. –Larrica Angela Cunanan