The 2nd Dragon Star Award of the Quezon City Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen, Inc. honored 10 illustrious individuals and non-government organizations (NGOs) who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve their communities at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These individuals and groups were hailed as “real-life heroes” of the pandemic for helping save many lives and inspiring countless others to follow their footsteps.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte attended the awarding ceremonies on Sunday, June 26 at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City, along with other key city officials.

The list of awardees include Ana Patricia Non, Lou Sabrina Ongkiko, Kathrina Bianca Macababad, Dr. Glenn Angeles, Dr. Hilda Co-Ong, Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre and Roy Maceda.

The group also honored the Tzu Chi Foundation, Salamat PH Healthcare Heroes and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII). Former Quezon City Mayors Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte and Brigido “Jun” Simon Jr. also received a special award from the group.

“I am honored to be a part of this ceremony that will recognize people and groups who have stepped up to help their communities during this trying time,” said Belmonte.

“Napakalaking bagay ng kanilang tulong para mapagaan ang epekto ng pandemya sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

Non, the first Filipino to lead the establishment of a community pantry in the Philippines at Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, and Ongkiko, who formulated and developed a critical learning continuity plan in the field of STEM at the Culiat Elementary School in Quezon City, were earlier honored during the 19th Manuel Luis Quezon Gawad Parangal Awards last year.

Dr. Angeles, for his part, answered the government’s call in setting up temporary quarantine facilities for frontliners by co-organizing the Emergency Quarantine Facilities in March 2020, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and volunteers from the private sector.

Dr. Co-Ong helped organize several national blood donation programs that saved countless lives during the pandemic while Macababad was one of the nurses who saved 35 babies at the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) when the Philippine General Hospital caught fire last 2021.

Dr. Silvestre worked behind the scenes with the World Health Organization in Geneva and with the Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc., a non-profit organization which she helped found, dedicated to the health of the newborn and its mother as a mother-child dyad, while Maceda co-organized “BeSekLeta for Every Juan” that provided free bicycles to citizens, particularly medical frontliners in need of transportation.

Salamat PH Healthcare Heroes will be recognized for organizing a volunteer group of seven women who support frontliners in the fight against COVID-19, while the Tzu Chi Foundation and FFCCCII helped the government’s efforts against COVID-19.