Datu Bago awards conferred to artists, journalist

Three Dabawenyos received the Datu Bago Awards during the 51st Conferment of the prestigious award at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.

Journalist Antonio Ajero and artists Brenda Sofronia Barba and Elenita Dumlao were awarded for their significant contribution to Davao City’s development.

The Datu Bago Awards is the highest accolade presented by the city to outstanding individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of excellence and the breaking of glass ceilings in their respective fields.

The late Antonio Ajero, one of the most renowned journalists in the city for many decades before his death in July last year, was conferred a posthumous Datu Bago Award which was accepted by his son. He was honored and remembered by his colleagues as one of the pillars of Davao City media and for being a mentor to younger media practitioners.

Brenda Sofronia Barba was also accorded with the coveted award for her contributions in the field of Visual Arts. Barba is currently the Fine Arts and Design Cluster Director of the Philippine Women’s College, whose goal is to “bring art to the people” and influence “inclusivity in creativity.” Her artworks as well as her teachings won Barba the award.

Elenita Dumlao, a multi-awarded performing artist and currently the director of Kathara Dance-Theater Collective was also bestowed the prestigious award. Dumlao wrote and created 25 original performance pieces inspired by Mindanaoan culture which helped promote Mindanaoan traditions and folktales across the country and beyond.

Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the Datu Bago Board of Trustees, said the conferment of the award signifies that the recipients have embodied the “most cherished ideals and values as Dabawenyos”— that of integrity, independence, innovation, creativity, diversity, inclusivity, resourcefulness, resilience, and the care for the city and the country.

Vice Mayor J Melchor Quitain, who presented the award, said the awardees channeled the spirit of the warrior chieftain Datu Bago who fearlessly defended his territories from colonizers. He said that each recipient had been “warrior-like” in their efforts to advance Davao City and aid its growth.

The 51st Conferment of the Datu Bago Award was also attended by Datu Bago laureates and Board of Trustees members, city officials, Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative Peg-Buyyahon Rodolfo Mande, descendants of Datu Bago, and other officials. CIO