DAMMAM, 6 October 2006 — The United Surigaonon Association in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia (USA-EPSA) recently launched the Rafael E. Seguis Leadership Award, or RESLA.

The award will be given to the outstanding member of the USA-EPSA, who had shown exemplary leadership or heroic deeds and unquestionable service to the Filipino community in the Eastern Region.

“This is our humble way of recognizing our most outstanding Surigaonon members who excel every year,” said Rex Catubigan, the current president of USA-EPSA.

The award is named after Undersecretary Rafael Seguis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, who had long served Filipino workers in the Middle East. The former ambassador to Saudi Arabia is himself a full-blooded Surigaonon. He is from Anao-Aon barangay of San Francisco town, Surigao del Norte province in the southern Philippines.

Catubigan said that the Surigaonons in the Eastern part of the Kingdom want to emulate the sacrifices of Seguis in looking after distressed OFWs, particularly in the most recent evacuation of Filipinos from Lebanon.

“He was still mourning the loss of his mother at that time, but he had to go to Lebanon when war broke out to assist in the evacuation of our compatriots,” Catubigan said.

During the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Alkhobar last May, she told the Filipino community that Seguis has his heart with the OFWs.

Ted Cagampang, the group’s external vice president, noted that he was personally impressed when Seguis stayed in Iraq to facilitate the release of then kidnapped OFWs Angelo dela Cruz and Roberto Tarongoy.

“We learned from news reports that Seguis had to stay in Iraq until the release of both Cruz and Tarongoy,” Cagampang said.

Imee Manalang, the Surigaonon’s executive vice president, said USA-EPSA is also giving the same recognition to outstanding student leaders from the three Filipino schools in the Eastern Province.

She said that the principals of International Philippine School in Alkhobar, The Al-Andalus International School, and the Philippine School in Dammam have been informed about the project.

Children who show leadership must be recognized not only to encourage them to carry on but also to challenge others to do the same, she said.