By Anthony Ian H. Reyes
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) Regional Office 1 highlighted the importance of sustained, citizen-centered public service as it recognized 18 regional qualifiers during the 2026 Gawad Lingkod Bayani Pagpupugay at Pasasalamat on September 21 at the Francisco I. Ortega Convention Center on September 21.
Held as part of the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA), the gathering recognized public officials, employees, and groups whose work demonstrated the values of “Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para sa Bayan,” while emphasizing that meaningful public service extends beyond formal recognition.
Guest speaker, Bacnotan, La Union Mayor Divina C. Fontanilla, a national Gawad Lingkod Bayan awardee, said public servants should measure their work by the lives improved, people assisted, opportunities opened, and citizens inspired through government service.
“More than the award, the real trophy lies in the people we serve,” Fontanilla said, adding that recognition should translate into a renewed commitment to the communities public servants serve.
Fontanilla said the challenge for public servants is to maintain compassion, integrity, and excellence even after the recognition ceremony, particularly by returning to the needs of citizens seeking assistance from government offices.
“Because in the end, public service isn’t really about us. It is about the public we serve,” she said.
One regional qualifier and national semi-finalist, Baby Janet R. Cruz, Senior Manpower Development Officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 1, linked public service to improving the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) through her work at the Area 1 Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Dagupan City.
“Public service is not simply about fulfilling our duties or accomplishing our targets. It is about touching lives, restoring hope, and making a difference even in the simplest ways,” Cruz said.
She said assisting PWDs in developing skills, overcoming barriers, and accessing opportunities reinforced her commitment to compassionate and inclusive public service. The greatest reward, she added, is knowing that government work has helped make someone’s life better.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan State University (PSU) President Elbert M. Galas, a Gawad Pagasa national semi-finalist, said public service is reflected in “the lives that we touch, dreams that we fulfill, institutions that we help to strengthen, and a future that we gradually help shape.”
The CSC’s Gawad Lingkod Bayani recognizes public officials, employees, and groups who demonstrate exemplary performance, ethical conduct, integrity, innovation, and collaborative excellence in public service.
The recognition reinforces the role of government workers in translating public service values into concrete assistance, opportunities, and improved services for communities, with the honorees serving as examples of continued commitment beyond the awarding ceremony. (CCMT/AIHR, PIA Ilocos Region)
