The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) presented this Thursday the Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Abroad Award, in its fifth edition, to Quemuel Arroyo Peña, an urban architectural designer, who, regardless of his physical motor disability, has served in different community functions and is currently head of accessibility for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York City.
In an event full of Dominican spirit, held at the Eduardo Brito National Theater, the trajectory of this Dominican native of Bonao, Monseñor Nouel province, who also received a compensation of one million pesos, donated by the Banco de Reservas, was highlighted.
At the ceremony, Chancellor Roberto Alvarez expressed great pride in the greater incidence of Dominicans abroad, who “overcoming obstacles and taking on challenges, have achieved high academic and professional levels, exercising leadership in their communities, reaffirming and asserting their Dominican identity with great dignity, while extending it to other cultures”.
“This award, which bears the name of the illustrious Dominican Oscar de la Renta, recognizes in this great artist the exceptional attributes of our emigrants, which are also characteristic of this world-famous designer who knew how to take his art to the most important catwalks without ever forgetting his homeland and to which he remained, contributing solutions to important social problems of the country,” added the Minister of Foreign Affairs enthusiastically.
During the ceremony, the work and trajectory abroad of Rafael Antonio Núñez Cedeño, Iris Violeta Rijo Matos, Esperanza Ozuna, Emely Rosaura Duvergé, Luis Emilio Rodríguez Vicente, Carmen Torruella Quander, Evelyn Miosotis Rodríguez, Fidel Aquino Robles and Ari Peralta, who have excelled for many years in their professional, social, economic, cultural and scientific roles in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Iceland, were also recognized.
Roberto Alvarez recalled that the protection of Dominicans abroad is the main axis of the country’s foreign policy, outlined by President Luis Abinader, considering that these nationals are natural ambassadors of the DR and a country brand.
Present at the presentation of this fifth version were members of the permanent commission and jury of the award, chaired by Haydée Rainieri; in addition to the members, the ambassador and vice minister for Dominican Communities Abroad, Carlos de la Mota; María Amalia León and María Alejandra Castillo, who is also general coordinator of the Award, and director of Specialized Diplomacy of Mirex. This commission is also integrated by the permanent advisor, José Luis -Pepín- Corripio and Eliza Bolen.
The event, which was also sponsored by Grupo Puntacana, Fundación Corripio, Grupo Rizek, Kah Kow, CEPM and Energas, was attended by representatives of the business sector, civil society organizations, the diplomatic corps, government officials, media directors, opinion leaders and influencers.
Source: Presidencia.gob.do
