Overcoming the challenges of the online set-up, the Center for Student Life (CSL) held the annual Gawad Benildyano fully online for the first time in its 28th year of establishment last Jan. 29. With the theme “Limitless Benildean Service and Leadership,” CSL awarded and recognized Benildeans for their notable achievements and contributions via livestream on their official Facebook page.

Before COVID-19, Gawad Benildyano was physically celebrated at the SDA Theater. CSL did not let the COVID-19 pandemic stop the tradition and broke through the conventional platform in recognizing students and organizations through the digital realm. 

“The struggle that I see is the platform. Preparing for a physical or face to face production is really different (from) an online production. (...) (But) now, the world is really interfaced. [This event symbolizes the theme] “limitless” because it is not bounded by the physical space (or) where you are, but it just transcends wherever you go to contribute and do something (...) in servicing other Benildean students,” CSL Dean Ms. Norie Ador Dionisio stated in an interview with The Benildean.

To resonate the same ambience, the flow of performances and the presentation was made possible through the CSL sought the help of the student artist groups, Culture and Arts Unit, and the video editing and creatives team. Interpreters were also present to accommodate the Deaf community.

2019 Voca Decathlon Champion and resident chorale group Coro San Benildo’s Arianna Ocampo performed “Awit Para Sa Benildyano,” an original piece composed by Benilde alumna and former Student Publications Office Head Ms. Dianne Torres, to formally commence the online awarding ceremony. Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBDRC) performed alongside Ocampo.

Vice President of Lasallian Mission and Student Life Mr. Neil O. Pariñas provided the opening remarks that highlighted the concepts of leadership, culture, meritocracy, and excellence. The awarding ceremony proceeded consequently. 

Here are the following organizations and offices that were awarded with meritorious awards:

Student Involvement Unit Meritorious Awards:

• Benilde Debate Varsity

• Luzon Intervarsity 2019
• Team Octofinalist: Rae Reposar and Rodrigo Villafuerte
• Octofinalist Adjudicator: Abbiegail Abinal
• Grandfinalist Adjudicator: Kenneth Eugenio
• Ateneo Intervarsity 2019
• Grandfinalist Adjudicator: Kenneth Eugenio
• Pre-Quarters Adjudicator: Isabel Licup
• Pre-Quarterfinalist Team: Kat Solomon and Mariane Ylagan
• 10th Breaking Team: Rene Gandeza Jr. and Kenneth Eugenio
• National Debate Championship Cebu 2019
• Union Cup Grand Champions: Kat Solomon and Mariane Ylagan

Student Publications Unit Meritorious Awards:

• Benildean Press Corps

• 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards (Finalists)
• Best Student Organ- College: The Benildean
• Best Short Film: “Yapak: Iisang tinatahak ang landas sa pananampalataya,” and “Araw ng mga Ina”
•  Best-designed Campus Papers of the Philippines (Finalists)
• Best-designed Campus Paper of the Philippines (College Level): The Benildean
• Best Scitech or Innovation Story: “Fire it up: Can the Philippines take the heat?” by Bea Mendoza
• Best Environment Story: “Under (Green) Pressure” by Anna Laganzon and Aaron Metierre
• Best Community-Based Story: “Unsolved Mysteries and False Promises: Lumad Edition” by Marinel Peroy and Beatrice Quirante
• Most In-depth Feature: “Unsolved Mysteries and False Promises: Lumad Edition” by Marinel Peroy and Beatrice Quirante, and “Ok, Boomer, Let’s Play The Blame Game” by Marinel Peroy
• Most Inspirational Feature Story: “Br. Dodo: When an artist becomes a leader” by Marinel Peroy and Zophia Emmanuelle Tendido
• Best in Features Spread Design: The Benildean (Update Issue)
• Best Frontpage Design: The Benildean 
• Best in Photo Editing: The Benildean (Clickbait Issue)
• Most Child-Friendly Design: The Benildean (Clickbait Issue)
• Best School Paper Color Scheme: The Benildean (Update Issue) and The Benildean (Clickbait Issue) 
• Best Infographics: The Benildean
• 7th Philippine Student Quill Awards 
• Merit Awards
• Pride March 2018 (Video) by Patricia Beatrice J. Tan
• The Benildean: Exploitation by Brian Paolo Castillo
• Pride March 2018 (Photo Album) by Samantha Grace Regino
• The Benildean: Aftermath by Brian Paolo Castillo
• The Benildean: Preservation by Brian Paolo Castillo
• Dekunstrukt Stills by Samantha Grace Regino
• “Peace and order under Duterte: A promise or simply rhetoric?” by Jose Taylo
• “Dungis ng Perlas” by Brian Paolo Castillo
• Horizons: Orbis by Alexei Lucas Trajano
• Excellence Awards
• “En route to Human Extinction” by Marlon Ecalnea
• “Modern-day slaves” by Marlon Ecalnea
• Horizons: Coexistence by Jan Kirsten Jardenil
• “Sulyap na Salita” by Margarita Azalea de Lemos
• On the Fifth by Therese Marie Torres

Culture and Arts Unit Meritorious Awards:

• Cultural and Promotions Team

• 7th Philippine Student Quill Awards
• Award of Merit
• Award of Excellence

• Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company 

• All Generation Championship 2019 (Seoul, South Korea)
• Champion

• Coro San Benildo

• 2nd INTERKULTUR Video Award 2020
• Silver Award (Acapella Category)

SBDRC Hip Hop showcased their talent through an intermission number in between the awarding sessions. Azusa Pacific University Chamber Singers and Coro San Benildo performed Josu Elberdin’s “Izar Ederrak” soon after.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ador Dionisio and Benildean alumnus and School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management faculty member Mr. Christopher Jade Lee announced the winners per category.

The winners with their corresponding awards and affiliated organizations are as follows:

Individual Awards:

• Outstanding Student Athlete: Loralee Natividad (Women’s Taekwondo Team)
• Outstanding Student Leader: Samantha Lumang (Benildean Industrial Designers)
•  Outstanding Student Volunteer: Angelo Fabian (Student Trainers)
•  Outstanding Artist: Yule Tao Pax Avellaneda (Coro San Benildo) 

Special Citation:

• Most Creative Presentation (Individual): Angelo Fabian (Student Trainers)
• Most Creative Presentation (Group): KVG Self Care Webinar with Kada-Uno Beneficiary (Kaagapay Volunteer Group), Mangrove Tree Planting (Greenergy), and rECOnnect (Greenergy) 

Group Awards:

• Outstanding Student Volunteer Group: Kaagapay Volunteers Group (KVG)

• Outstanding Athletic Team: Taekwondo Women’s Team 

• Outstanding Student Artist Group: Coro San Benildo 
• Outstanding Community Outreach Project: Self-Care Webinar with Kada-Uno Beneficiary (KVG)

• Outstanding Student Development Project: Ways of Waste (Greenergy)
• Outstanding Student Involvement Group: Student Trainers

Awardees attributed their successes to God, faith, family, friends, mentors, colleagues, and the Benildean community in their thanksgiving speeches. 

“To the Benildean Community, thank you for recognizing our efforts in KVG and for helping us (to) make a difference. [...] The purpose and will of our organization has furthered and profited greatly from your reciprocation in every single project and event that we make. This is what strengthens the community as a whole. We go hand in hand in educating, giving service, and making changes for the greater good of the Benildean community. And for that, we are deeply grateful,” KVG member Jianne Ross Arda stated in her speech on behalf of her organization.

Meanwhile, in his inspirational speech, Benilde Brother President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC emphasized how the three gifts that the pandemic brought about using the “extraordinary Benildean perspective,” namely “the gift of space, essentials, and creativity," aid each and every Benildean to push forth and be involved extraordinarily well amid the challenges. 

“As leaders, I hope we continue to use the gift of space to build stronger and authentic relationships with our families, teams, and communities. May we be empowered with the knowledge of what is essential in decision making and direction setting. And may we continue to be creative as we serve our creator and our communities,” Br. Dodo concluded, congratulating the Benildean leaders and awardees thereafter. Gawad Benildyano, formerly known as Gawad Sinagtala, is the College’s annual event to award and acknowledge Benildeans who have selflessly given their skills, time, and talents for the Benildean community in a span of an academic year. 

Awards will be arranged with CSL for pickup.