LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Seven outstanding Pangasinenses will be given recognition tonight by the provincial government headed by Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr.

The ASNA Awards is one of the highlights of the celebration of Agew na Pangasinan (Pangasinan Day) as the province celebrates its 431st founding anniversary.

April 5 is a special non-working holiday in the province as declared by Malacañang by virtue of Proclamation No. 103 signed by President Benigno C. Aquino III.

The highest recognition, the Balitok Award, will be given to former fourth district congressman and six-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose de Venecia Jr. (Balitok Award for Global Leadership), and National Artist Salvador Bernal (Balitok Award for Theater Design). The two hail from Dagupan City.

The other ASNA awardees are former Senator Letecia Ramos-Shahani (for foreign service), US-based Alma Quintans-Kern (International community leadership), Engr. Marcelo M. Casillan, Jr. (community service), film and television director Bb. Joyce E. Bernal (arts and culture-film), and Lt. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz (AFP) for humanitarian and military leadership.

The ASNA search committee is chaired by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, with Pangasinan Heritage Society president Arabella Arcinue and several academicians as members.

Provincial Tourism Officer Ma. Luisa Elduayan, search committee secretary, said the awardees were rigidly selected from many nominees.

The ASNA awarding ceremony and grand ball will be led by Governor Espino at 7p.m. at the Sison Auditorium, the cultural center of Pangasinan.

ASNA is an ancient term for asin (salt) which the province’s name was derived. The ASNA Awards was first held last year, after the founding day of the province was established by the search committee headed by former Vice Gov. Gonzalo Duque.

Espino then said, “It is only fitting that the province give the highest expression of recognition to Pangasinenses who unselfishly rendered exemplary service not only to the province but to the country as well.”

The Asna Awards will inspire others especially the youth to emulate the achievements and leadership skills of the awardees and strive hard to succeed in their chosen fields.

The first Balitok Awardees were former President Fidel Ramos and National Artist F. Sionil Jose.  The other awardees were Rodolfo T. Cardoso (sports), businessman Menardo “Nards” Jimenez (business), then health secretary Dr. Francisco T. Duque (medicine/public health), Commission on Audit Commissioner Reynaldo Villar (government service), Dr. Westly Rosario (aquaculture), former Sta. Barbara police chief Eric Noble (excellent contribution in community), and Santiago Villafania (arts and culture/literature).  Special recognition was given to former DTI director Jaime Lucas for being a pioneer propagator of Pangasinan language.

The Agew na Pangasinan celebration will commence with a Thanksgiving Mass to be officiated by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.  This will be followed by commemorative program, unveiling of ASNA monument, inauguration and blessing of the 1,500 capacity Pangasinan Training and Development Center.  Inside is a photo exhibit dubbed as Impantekep na Apalabas tan Kaplesan featuring photos of the past and the present Pangasinan.