Learning centers for undocumented Pinoy kids in Malaysia earn embassy execs awards

Three officials from the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur received the Gawad Mabini Award for pioneering alternative learning centers (ALCs) for undocumented Filipino children in Sabah, Malaysia.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya, Embassy Attaché Atty. Norren Joy Calip, and Social Welfare Attaché Bernard Bonina were recognized for the establishment of six Filipino community-run ALCs.
Gawad Mabini awardees from the Embassy pose for this photo after the awarding (from left): former Social Welfare Attache Bernard Bonina, Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya and Attache Atty. Norren Joy Calip. PHL Embassy photo
At least 2,500 Filipino children from undocumented migrant families were able to achieve basic through the ALCs staffed by volunteers and financed by donations and community fund-raising.
“Filipino children in Sabah are in a precarious situation, and our initiatives are mere first steps in a long journey, but we are hopeful that with the support of all stakeholders, we will be able to improve their lives through education, one child at a time," Malaya said in a statement.
Malaya received the rank of Grand Cross (Dakilang Kamanong) along with Maria Zenaida Angara Collinson, Ambassador to Austria; Jesus S. Domingo, Ambassador to New Zealand; Maria Theresa S. Lazaro, Ambassador to France; Domingo P. Nolasco, Ambassador to Italy; Wlfredo C. Santos, Ambassador to Qatar; and Carlos D. Sorreta, Ambassador to Russia.
Calip earned the rank of Member (Kasugo) for assisting Malaya on the ALC project.
Others who received the Member rank include Anika A. Fernandez of the DFA Cebu Regional Office and Gladys O. Perey of the Embassy in Lebanon.
Bonina was rewarded with the rank of Distinguished Member (Dakilang Kasugo) for helping Filipino victims of trafficking nad for other assistance-to-nationals work.
He received the rank along with Dennis John Briones of the DFA Office of American Affairs; Donna Celeste Feliciano-Gatmaytan of the DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations, and Siegfred Masangkay of the Philippine Embassy in Syria.
President Benigno Aquino III and acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras bestowed the honors at the ceremony, held in line with the founding anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Gawad Mabini is conferred on Filipinos "who have rendered distinguished foreign service, or helped promote the interests and prestige of the Philippines abroad."
It was established through Presidential Decree No. 490, s. 1974 and named after Apolinario Mabini, the first DFA secretary. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more