Banaag
Alexander E. Asuncion
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Heroes need not be brave
revolutionaries. They can be ordinary men
armed with sheer determination to commit
themselves to public service without
expecting anything in return. You dont
have to die for your country to become a
hero as long as you offer your heart to the
needy, weak, oppressed, and be a model
Filipino, says Mr. Alexander E. Asuncion,
more popularly called KaBayani by his
friends and the community in Saudi
Arabia.
Mr. Asuncion was born in San Quintin,
Pangasinan in 1950. When he migrated
to the Middle East in January 1979, it never crossed his mind
that he would become instrumental in assisting fellow Filipino
migrant workers and be a role model to them as well.
With his extensive experience and exposure to restrictive
working conditions in the Kingdom as part of his professional
work in personnel administration and training, Mr. Asuncion
acquired a comprehensive understanding of the Saudi
Arabian culture, laws and regulations. His knowledge
coupled with his deep concern for Filipinos who encounter
labor disputes, motivated him to write and explain in simple
terms the essential elements of Saudi Labor and Workmen
Law. His translation has been converted into an information
material given out to departing OFWs bound for Saudi
Arabia who go through the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration.
Mr. Asuncion has never been satisfied with a routine 8-
hour workday. Equipped with professional experience in
administrative ethos, he carries the burden and
responsibility of sharing his profound knowledge on the Saudi
Arabian environment by conducting free seminars on the
new Saudi labor law. Mr. Asuncion also creatively uses the
media to support his advocacy in advancing the welfare
of his fellow OFWs. His regular column in the Arab News
Pinoy Xtra serves as an extension of his commitment to give
advice and opinion on the new Saudi labor and Shariah
laws; thus encouraging Filipinos to enhance their relationship
with the host country.
In conferring the Banaag Award to Alexander E. Asuncion, the President recognizes his exemplary
efforts to defend the rights and uphold the dignity of overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, and for his extraordinary advocacy for the just and fair treatment of Filipinos worldwide.
Although not a lawyer, Mr. Asuncions
familiarity with the Saudi laws enabled
him to dispense sound legal advice to
migrant Filipinos. He helped a Filipino
worker to be acquitted of murder
without the direct assistance of lawyers
and the Philippine government. He
guided him through legal formalities and
obtained the necessary documents to
prove his innocence until this Filipino was
released and sent back to the
Philippines.
Mr. Asuncion assisted in the repatriation
of hundreds of overstaying Filipinos in the
eastern region who were given amnesty by then King Fahd
by asking the Philippine government to sponsor their one-
way tickets to Manila. He also helped four mechanics in
claiming their overtime pay by forwarding their grievance
to the labor courts, which resulted in the payment per worker
of an estimated amount equivalent to one million pesos.
Going beyond labor assistance, Mr. Asuncion was one of
the pivotal figures who expedited the privatization of an
international Philippine school in Al-Khobar and the
establishment of a satellite office of the Philippine Embassy
in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.
In recognition of his selfless and untiring service to his fellow
migrant workers and worthy contributions to the Philippine
government, he was appointed by then Philippine
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Romulo Espaldon to be an
Honorary Assistant Labor Attach, giving him the authority
to perform labor assistance to his fellow OFWs in the eastern
region.
He has been confirmed with numerous awards for his
outstanding community service to Filipino expatriates in the
Kingdom, notable of which are the Bagong Bayani by the
Bagong Bayani Foundation in 1994, Bayaning Pilipino ng
Saudi Arabia sa Taon ng Bagong Milenyo (Gawad Geny
Lopez Jr.) by ABS-CBN and Ugat Foundation, and the Hall
of Fame of OFW Achievers for his extraordinary
accomplishments as a migrant Filipino.
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