JEDDAH, 24 December 2007 — The new Philippine head of post in Jeddah has assumed office, ending three weeks of uncertainty.
Consul General Ezzedin Tago arrived in Jeddah from Manila on Saturday morning and was given a welcome party later in the day by consulate officials and staff.
In his speech, Tago assured the consulate staff and the Filipino community that he would continue with the good things that his predecessor, Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot, has been doing.
“I recognize and acknowledge Consul General Lomondot for a good job he has done and I hope to build on his accomplishment and achievement,” he said.
He asked for full support from the staff and community, assuring that he was open to discussing with them issues and activities concerning the community.
At the same time, he asked members of the community to always avoid unnecessarily getting into trouble by abiding with the laws and respecting the customs of the host country. “Whatever activity by organizations that are helpful to the community and not contrary to the host government’s laws are assured of our support,” he also said in a brief interview during the welcome party held early in the night at the Ramada Hotel.
Leading the welcomers were Consul Jose Jacob, Labor Attachés Bulyok Nilong and Adam Musa, Haj Attaché Sulaiman Mutya, head of the Assistance to Nationals Unit Vicky Salian, Welfare Officer Romeo Pablo, and other section heads.
After the brief ceremonies, Tago and the officials proceeded to the consulate to join a gift-giving program organized by the consulate staff for residents of the shelter for distressed Filipino women workers.
His appointment as head of one of the Philippines’ busiest posts makes Ezzedin Tago the most distinguished alumnus of a Philippine school in Jeddah to date.
Tago was one of the first high school graduates of the Philippine School in Jeddah (PSJ), the first Philippine embassy school organized when his father, Dauday Tago, was an official of the consulate.
(The school, now known as the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ), became the biggest Filipino overseas school with more than 1,200 students until it broke up into several schools several years ago.)
After earning a degree in political science in the University of California, he entered the foreign service and served in different capacities.
From 1999 to 2003, he was 3rd secretary and later 2nd secretary at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
From 2003 to 2005, he served as 2nd secretary in Jakarta; and from 2004-2005, he was detailed briefly in Baghdad, Iraq, during the hostage crisis of Filipino driver Angelo dela Cruz and accountant Robert Tarongoy.
Tago said he considered his posting to Iraq “one of my most memorable and challenging tasks.”
