Maginhawa community pantry organizer Ana Patricia Non and ten other personalities from various fields will be feted in the 2020-2021 Rotary Golden Wheel Awards to be held at the Marriot Hotel in Pasay City on June 20.
Presented by the Quezon City government led by Mayor Joy Belmonte and the Rotary Club of Rotary International District 3780, the Golden Wheel Awards recognizes outstanding non-Rotarians who best exemplify the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self” and the guiding principles of the Four Way Test.
Rotary International District 3780 Governor Johnny Gaw Yu and Golden Wheel Awards Chairman Paul Angel Galang have announced the winners of the 2020-2021 Rotary Golden Wheel Awards in 11 categories.
Yu said the awardees are “all distinguished personalities who have contributed in their own way to the service of the nation and the overall improvement of the lives of Filipinos.”
The Golden Wheel concept is inspired by the Rotary Wheel itself which symbolizes passion, excellence and service. The Golden Wheel Awards logo was conceptualized by incorporating the three pillars of the Quezon City Memorial landmark, also symbolizing the partnership between the RI District 3780 and the Quezon City government.
The awards selection committee chaired by past District Governor Samuel Pagdilao Jr. with QC Councilor Winnie Castelo, past District Secretary Bong Cruz and Rotary Governors from other districts voted to determine the winners from several nominees in their respective categories.
From a bamboo cart on Maginhawa Street, the 26-year-old Non has inspired many Filipinos to open community pantries and share what they can to feed the poor.
Non, Patreng to her friends, is a graduate of UP College of Fine Arts, and an entrepreneur running a small furniture making shop whose operations stopped due to the pandemic.
Before the community pantry, many knew Patricia as a volunteer or organizer of activities to help the poor.
The 11 awardees are: Non and Ferdinand Constantino, Growing Local Economies amidst pandemic category; Dr. Edith Tria, Josephine Barbin and lawyer Dorothea Gancayco, for Supporting Education category; Dr. John Michael Lao and Fr. Arthur Opiniano, for Fighting Disease category.
Other awardees include Fr. Steve Tynan and Barangay Tanod Melodina Maximo, for Promoting Peace; Clarita Orlain, for Protecting the Environment and midwife Leila Rebadomia, Saving Mothers and Children.
The founding fathers of the Rotary Golden Wheel Awards include Past District (PDG) Governor Rufino “Penny” L. Policarpio III, PDG Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr., PDG Dan Espinosa, PDG Chito Borromeo, PP Bong Cruz, PDS Suzette Lee and PP Melandrew T. Velasco.
