Two Riyadh Expats Bag the 2008 Presidential Awards
PRESS RELEASE NO. APV- 82-2008
09 November 2008
The Embassy of the Philippines in Riyadh is proud to announce that two (2) Filipino expatriates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whom it nominated for the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ (CFO) biennial search for the Year 2008 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, have been chosen to be among the awardees.
In a facsimile message dated 05 November 2008, the CFO informed the Embassy that Messrs. Alexander Edades Asuncion and Joseph Ilag Magdalena were among the 31 successful awardees from a total of 122 nominations received by the CFO from 29 countries. They won the Banaag Award, an honor conferred on Filipino individuals or associations for their contributions which have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
Mr. Asuncion has 30 years of overseas experience. He was conferred with numerous awards for his outstanding service to the Filipino expatriates in the Kingdom, notable of which were the Bagong Bayani Award, Filipino Hero of the New Millennium and the Hall of Fame of OFW Achievers. He is not a lawyer nor has legal background but he has comprehensive knowledge of Saudi Labor and Workmen Law, which he used to give valuable advice and support to compatriots who are engaged in labor disputes at no cost. He used to be a correspondent of Arab News, one of the leading daily newspapers in the Kingdom, wherein he imparted legal counseling and labor assistance and reached out to all OFWs in the Kingdom.
On the other hand, Mr. Magdalena’s status and achievement as one of the successful entrepreneurs in the Kingdom is a kind of Cinderella story. He rose from the ranks of ordinary OFWs using his creativity, innate talent, perseverance and patience to reach higher echelon where he now belongs. He is the General Manager and investor of one of the biggest groceries called “Pinoy Supermaket,” which is gradually building up branches in the Kingdom. With his position, he helped the government promote all kinds of Philippine products and has been a consistent supporter and benefactor of the programs and projects of Filipino community organizations, individuals and the Embassy. His generous financial contributions to the Filipino community through the years without asking for anything in return, earned him the respect and admiration of the Filipino expatriates as well as the Saudi nationals. Despite his accomplishments though, he remains simple, humble and within reach to people of all walks of life.
Messrs Asuncion and Magdalena will both be recognized during the awarding ceremonies tentatively scheduled on 09 December 2008 at the Malacañan Palace in Manila, Philippines.
The complete list of awardees is as follows:
LINKAPIL AWARDEES
1. Association of Philippine Physicians of America - New York
2. Enverga, Tobias Jr. - Toronto
3. Filipino Women’s Association United Kingdom - London
4. Stichting Kapatiran - The Hague
KAANIB NG BAYAN AWARDEES
1. Catholic Medical Mission Board - New York
2. Children’s Chance CT - New York
3. Heetens Helpgood Center Philippines - The Hague
4. Ligier, Laurence - Paris
BANAAG AWARDEES
1. Asuncion, Alexander - Riyadh
2. Berberabe, Patricia - New York
3. Carandang, Angeles - Chicago
4. Casambre, Sr. Mary Aida - Hongkong
5. Derpo, Esperanza - Abuja
6. Filipino Korean Spouses Association - Seoul
7. Garcia, Lamberto - New York
8. Ho, Eleanor - Taiwan
9. Magdalena, Joseph - Riyadh
10. Muzones, Santiago, Jr. - New York
11. Noblejas, Dr. Antonio - Wellington
12. Overs, Lilian - Toronto
13. Philippine Community Council of New South Wales - Sydney
14. Philippine Nurses Association of America - New York
15. Philipsen, Adelina - The Hague
16. United Filipino Council of Hawaii - Honolulu
PAMANA NG PILIPINO
1. Besa, Amelita & Dorotan, Romeo - New York
2. De Leon, Bayani - New York
3. Esguerra, Carlos - New York
4. Hizon, Federico - Singapore
5. Pelayo, Libertito - New York
6. Ramos, Dr. Teresita - Honolulu
7. Villarin, Engr. Nilo - Washington END
