Educator cited for service to overseas Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines—An educator credited for helping Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to take professional board examinations for mechanical engineers without having to return to the Philippines received the highest award for an overseas Filipino worker at  Malacañang Thursday morning.

The Bagong Bayani Foundation, Inc., conferred the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bayani on Dr. Eduardo Parra Malagapo for “his outstanding achievement in the field of education, and his tireless involvement in various socio-civic activities and humanitarian services for fellow Filipinos abroad.”

President Benigno Aquino was present during the conferment of the Bagong Bayani Awards for outstanding Filipino migrants.

Awarded for being outstanding employees during the ceremonies in Malacañang were the Filipino crew members of the MT Diamond Champ and MT Nichichiko for “risking their lives keeping their ships afloat during the destructive earthquake and tsunami” that hit Sendai, Japan in March.

“Faced with imminent danger, their heroism and competence as seafarers saved precious lives and properties and averted potential environmental disaster that would result from oil spills,” the foundation said in a statement.

Also cited for being outstanding employees were the Filipino crewmen of the  MV South Islander for their rescue of 27 crew members of the fishing boat Daichi Shoei Maru No. 1 that caught fire in the Pacific Ocean in April.