Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has conferred honorary citizenship on writer-journalist, poet, and music impresario Pablo Arcilla Tariman in recognition of his artistic excellence and contribution to Iloilo’s arts and culture.
The conferment came after the farewell concert produced by Tariman at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in Iloilo City.
Present in the conferment were former senator Franklin Drilon and UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano.
An honorary citizenship is a status bestowed on a foreign or native individual deemed as admirable or worthy of distinction.
Since 2018, Tariman has presented eight concerts in Iloilo City, featuring world-acclaimed Filipino pianist Cecile Licad, 12-year-old cello prodigy Damodar Das Castillo, tenor Nomher Nival, soprano Jasmin Salvo, clarinetist Andrew Constantino, pianist Gabriel Paguirigan, and violinist Jeanne Marquez.
His intimate concerts were mounted in the premiere cultural heritage sites of Iloilo City—Nelly Garden, Molo Church, and now the Performing Arts Hall of the UPV in Iloilo City. The concerts became the toasts of Iloilo’s arts and culture circle.
The latest concert mounted by Tariman at UPV Iloilo City Oct. 20 featured tenor Arthur Espiritu, clarinetist Andrew Constantino, and pianist GJ Frias.
Former senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas lead standing ovation for tenor Arthur Espiritu, clarinetist Andrew Constantino, and pianist GJ Frias; Tariman is rightmost. Conferment took place right after the Oct. 20 concert at UPV Iloilo. (Photo: Sam J. Genodepa)
The visiting artists were given three standing ovations. The concert was staged in memory of Ilonggo tenor Otoniel Gonzaga, the first and last Filipino tenor to sing Verdi’s Otello and probably the first and last Filipino tenor to sing Calaf in Turandot.
Other than Iloilo City, Tariman has been recognized as Outstanding Citizen of Manila by the City of Manila, Outstanding Pasigueño by the Pasig City government, and Outstanding Bicolano by the City of Legazpi.
Tariman also received citations from the city governments of Isabela and Cebu City.
He was a recipient of the Aliw Award in 2018 and the LEAF Award in 2020 for covering the arts for the last 45 years in various publications.
