Dion Ignacio has been working in showbiz for the past 20 years, but it’s only now that he’ll be honored with an award.
The 36-year-old actor and musician will receive a Gintong Parangal — an event organized by a group of teachers.
The awards night will be held on 13 August at the grand ballroom of Okada Manila.
Over 20 entertainment and media personalities are among the 50 honorees, including teachers, student leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs and individuals with various advocacies.
Another actor, Dindo Arroyo, will likewise be honored for the first time in his 32-year career.3
DINDO Arroyo will likewise be honored for the first time in his 32-year career.
At the media conference for Gintong Parangal, Ignacio shed tears as he was introduced as an awardee. He was a pedicab driver in his teens in Pakil, Laguna, when he was discovered by showbiz scribe Leo Bukas, who convinced him to join the maiden year of GMA’s reality show StarStruck in 2003.
Though he failed to bag the Ultimate Survivor title (Mark Herras won it), Ignacio went on to appear in various GMA shows — notably in the 2008 series Saan Darating Ang Umaga opposite Yasmin Kurdi.
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DION Ignacio will receive a Gintong Parangal, an event organized by a group of teachers.
His most recent, laudable appearance was in the “Alternate” episode of the series I Can See You where he portrayed the body double of Dingdong Dantes.
Gintong Parangal is headed by Jonathan Velustria Sta. Ana, administrator of St. Dominic College of Asia in Bacoor, Cavite.
At the media conference, Sta. Ana stressed Gintong Parangal is the only teacher’s organization that hands out such awards.
MPJ Entertainment Productions director Perry Escaño chaired the jury for entertainment, stage and media. Escaño is a theater-film actor and director who recently got into talent discovery and management.
Actor-director Ricky Davao, singers Rey Valera and Jayda Avanzado, theater directors Ricardo Abad and Jose Estrella are among the awardees.
Those from media include Daily Tribune managing editor Dinah Sabal-Ventura, TV5 newscaster Alex Santos and Net 25 public affairs host Pat-P Daza.
“It’s not mainly popularity that served as our main criterion for choosing awardees. We’re honoring even stage and production managers who have been on the job for decades, and only directors and actors know them by name and reputation for excellence in their kind of work,” said Escaño.
Gintong Parangal is a nationwide search. The awardees are not just from Metro Manila but also from the provinces and distant regions.