AL-KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia – A Filipino mechanical engineer was among the recipients of the 2012 Banaag Presidential Awards last December 22 in Malacanang.
Engr. Carlito Alpay said he was overwhelmed by the citation because he was the only one from the whole Middle East who made it in the individual category. There were more than 130 applicants for the award from 26 countries.
“I and my family are humbled for getting this award and I was not expecting it because there are a lot of applicants from around the world. Imagine 133 applicants from 26 countries,” he said.
In conferring the Banaag Award to Alpay, President Benigno Aquino III recognizes his contributions as an advocate of Filipino migrant workers in the field of mechanical engineering and his perseverance and successful lobbying for the conduct of licensure examinations which paved the way for the extension of other professional licensure exams in Saudi Arabia.
Alpay took time out from his work and went home to receive his award. He is dedicating the award to the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers Saudi Arabia Chapter (PSME-SA) that endorsed him for the prestigious award.
PSME members in the kingdom are jubilant because their former president has won the coveted award. They recently honored Alpay with a victory party in AlKhobar.
“In behalf of Phil. Society of Mechanical Engineers, Saudi Arabia chapter, I am very happy for Engr. Carlito Alpay for winning this award because it is the first time in the history of our organization that an award was given to a Filipino professional mechanical engineer like him,” Engr. Ransam Pirote said.
Engr. Pirote is also the former president of PSME-SA.
In 2006, Engr. Alpay was voted as The Outstanding Mechanical Engineer (TOME) and he also won the PSME Fellow Award in 2010.
The Baanag Award is given to an individual or organization overseas, honoring them for their achievements in their field of professions and their contributions in advancing the cause of overseas Filipino community or sector.
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