Pres'l Medal of Merit mulled for Tiya Dely

MANILA, Philippines - A Palace adviser on Friday proposed that broadcast icon Fidel "Tiya Dely" Magpayo be given the Presidential Medal of Merit for her 68 years of service in the broadcast industry. The proposal was broached by Presidential Adviser for Culture and Arts and National Commission on the Culture and the Arts Executive Director Cecil Guidote-Alvarez. It came even as Magpayo - who died Sept. 1 after succumbing to a stroke - is being vetted for the national artist award in 2009. Alvarez said Magpayo had been nominated for the national artist award, which is being given every three years, for the category of broadcasting as early as 2006. She said the results of the national artist nomination would be known by June 2009. She added that while awaiting the results of the "tedious and long process" of the national artist nominations, the NCCA had recommended that conferring of the Presidential Medal of Merit which is decided more quickly and more easily. Alvarez said Magpayo who was a "well respected, distinguish pillar in broadcasting" deserves the award. She added that if the President approves the recommendation, the medal could be conferred by September or October this year. The Presidential Medal of Merit - as stated in Executive Order No. 236 - is only given to individuals - Filipino or foreign - for their "outstanding service to the President, the Administration or Cabinet members." It may also be given "gaining prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence" "Retiring cultural worker or artist, after serving the government in an official or advisory capacity, or a foreign artist who has promoted Philippine culture" can also be recipients of the award or others who committed "acts of merit that enhance the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines, including heading the Philippine delegation or having contributed materially to the success of a major international conference or event that has brought prestige and honor to the country, including Presidential visits overseas and major international events held in the Philippines". Alvarez accompanied the President in visiting the wake and paying their last respect to Magpayo at the Loyola Memorial Chapel in Marikina City Friday morning. The President stayed for 30 minutes at the wake where she was greeted by Magpayo's daughter Delia "Didi" Belonio and her husband Raul Belonio. Aside from Alvarez, Education Undersecretary and NCCA chairperson Vilma Labrador, Public Attorney's Office (PAO) Chief Persida V. Rueda Acosta and Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino Commissioner Joelad Santos were also present. Magpayo, was working in the radio booth of dzRH when she suffered a stroke on Saturday at 11:30 p.m., while hosting the program "Serenata Kolektibista" – a program which features kundiman and rondalla music. Magapayo, who hosts the weeknight program, "Ang Inyong Tiya Dely," started her career in the broadcasting industry when she was 18 years old, when she joined the group of radio comedians Andoy Balunbalunan and Dely Atay-atayan as a singer. Her first counseling program started at DzRH in October 1953 before she moved to DzMM. She later returned to DzRH. - GMANews.TV