Alumni Update February 7 – 13, 2022
3 Sillimanians to receive the 2021 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas
Silliman alumni Dr. Laura D. Garcia from New York, USA (BS Nursing 1981); Dr. Leorey N. Saligan from Washington, D.C., USA (BS Medical Technology 1988); and Engr. Roy G. Betinol from Santiago, Chile (BS Mechanical Engineering 1976) will receive the 2021 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO).
The three alumni are among the 56 distinguished and outstanding overseas Filipinos and foreign-based organizations that will receive the 2021 PAFIOO, as announced by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) last February 3, 2022.
The CFO announced that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will be presenting the 2021 PAFIOO.
The PAFIOO has four award categories – Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), Pamana ng Pilipino,
Banaag, and Kaanib ng Bayan.
Dr. Laura D. Garcia
Dr. Laura D. Garcia and Dr. Leorey N. Saligan (2018 Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee) will be presented with the Pamana ng Pilipino Award, for exemplifying the talent and industry of the overseas
Filipino, for having brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the
pursuit of their work or profession.
Dr. Leorey N. Saligan
Engr. Roy G. Betinol will be presented with the Banaag Award for overseas Filipino individuals and organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefitted a sector or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
Engr. Roy G. Betinol
Institutionalized in 1991 through Executive Order No. 498, the PAFIOO is a biennial search for overseas-based organizations or individuals who have dedicated their work in the service of Filipinos in the Philippines or abroad; selflessly supported relief, rehabilitation, and development programs in the home country; or excelled in their field of work or profession.
Details of the awarding ceremonies will be announced later because of the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2018, Engr. Betsy Merto Engle, 2016 Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee, was also recognized as a PAFIOO Pamana ng Pilipino Awardee.
