Part 2 Academic Leadership in Social Education and Cultural Development

In recognition of his outstanding achievements and extra-ordinary commitment to the service of humanity, Dr. Azanza has been honored as “Distinguished UP Alumnus for Social Service” (1996); was conferred by President Fidel V. Ramos the “Lingkod Bayan Award” (1996), the highest award given to civil servants by the Office of the President; was listed in the Marquis “Who’s Who in the World” for his outstanding achievements in the field of Education, (2001); “Parangal ng Bayan Award” (2002); the prestigious “Huwarang Ama Award in the field of Education” (2006); and “The Most Outstanding Folklore Researcher” (2008) conferred by the Philippine Folklore Society for preserving, protecting and promoting the 400-year old endangered oral folklore, “Alamat ng Mandaluyong”. Last September 7, 2008, the Philippine Jaycees also recognized Dr. Azanza as “Most Outstanding Metro Manila Chapter President” for his excellent civic leadership and commitment to service to humanity.

Dr. Azanza is recognized today as one of the country’s leading educators in the field of social education and cultural development. He utilizes his expertise in sociology to promote social education as well as to protect, preserve and promote our country’s oral folklore and cultural traditions. Dr. Azanza who also teaches at the UP College of Education was acknowledged by Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Nestor O. Jardin for his foremost folklore research that led to the preservation of the oral folklore “Alamat ng Mandaluyong” (The Legend of Mandaluyong), which for many years had been in serious threat of becoming permanently lost. CCP President Jardin described the work of Dr. Azanza as a positive response to the 1989 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Resolution in Paris, France which called upon member states to “safeguard and protect folklore traditions, particularly oral traditions that are extremely fragile and at risk of extinction”. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) considers the “Alamat ng Mandaluyong” as a very important oral tradition that belongs to our country’s cultural heritage.