http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=52&type=2&sec=70&aid=2008 0731159
THE FREEMAN

Friday, August 1, 2008 The petition to appoint a Saudi-based Cebuano pathologist as chief of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) gained more support with the endorsement of the leaders and the 25,000 members of 58 community organizations in a signing ceremony held at Al Mutlaq Hotel in Riyadh last weekend.
Dr. Carlito L. Astillero of Labangon, Cebu City also gained support from thousands of Filipinos from 29 countries worldwide, who added their signatures to an online petition that was launched last week by the community leaders of the Saudi Arabian capital.
Ell Mua, president of the Union of Muslim Associations and national chairman of United OFW Association, emphasized the need for a ”true-blooded” Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) to head the OWWA. After all, he continued, the agency is supposed to be an organization of, by and for the OFWs.
Founding President of the Filipino Retirees Employee Movement Falsal Sharque said that the first task is to ensure that Astillero would get the appointment.
Joey Badong, past “commander” of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) in Saudi Arabia, said that it is important to put at the helm of OWWA someone like Astillero, who knows how to act and listen to the concerns of the overseas workers.
Along with the prominent Overseas Filipino leaders, who signed the online petition, are US-based Victor Barrios, convener of the Global Filipino Nation and Cesar Torres, convener of the Filipino-American Forum of San Francisco California; Dr. Edong del Rosario of Guam, a long-time OFW advocate; Fe Kim and Ernie Perez of the United Filipinos Worldwide for Development; Anita Sychonn Sese, chair of the Overseas Filipino Council; and Jacinto Tilbe of WOCU Afghanistan.
Included in the list were Emmylou Cortez of the United Nurses of New Zealand; Francisco Aguilar Jr., chair of PPP-ICC; Norma Hennesy of Radio Pilipino of Adelaide, South Australia; Dr. Inocencio Oballo Jr., of the Filipino Community in Tuvalu; Zeny Landicho Lugon of the Filipino community in Geneva, Switzerland; Grace Cabactualn of the Filipino Community in Netherlands; Macrena Alcedo Reconsal of Kilipi in Barcelona, Spain; Rodel J. Ramos of the Philippine Press Club of Ontario, Canada; Norberto Hinang of Hanli Engineering in Angola; Chona Bolos of Bonn, Germany; Rudy Dianalan and Corlito Obtanilla of Kasapi Congress in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia; and Arman Muleem and Susie Barbeiri of the Worldwide Filipino Alliance.
It was the OFW Congress in Riyadh, an umbrella organization of different Filipino groups in Saudi Arabia, which organized the petition asking Malacaņang to appoint Dr. Astillero to replace the position vacated by Administrator Mariano Roque when the latter was permanently appointed as labor secretary by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo two weeks ago.
“It is high time that someone from among our OFW leaders be appointed OWWA Administrator,” Francis OCA of the OFW Congress said.
The Cebuano doctor, who also served as laboratory director at Al-Missari Hospital for the past 21 years, presented a five-point agenda.
Should he be named OWWA administrator, Astillero promised to give direct attention on the need to increase the present OFW representation in the OWWA board, and initiate transparency on policy directions, plans and programs of the agency.
Dr. Astillero has been an overseas worker, serving in various medical positions in three Middle East countries from 1976 to present.
He has been an active community leader, serving either as founder or head of a range of organizations engaged in OFW sports, economic, social and welfare activities in his 32 years of being an OFW.
Moreover, he is also one of those who worked hard for the passage of the Overseas Absentee Voting Law.
Dr. Astillero was also awarded “Most Outstanding Filipino in Saudi Arabia” by the Philippine Embassy in 1990 in recognition of his contributions to the welfare of the OFW community.
Further, he was also awarded “Bagong Bayani Awards” by President Corazon Aquino in 1992, the “San Lorenzo Ruiz Award as Outstanding OCW” by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1994 and the Special Presidential “Banaag and Sikat Award” also by President Ramos in 1996, among other prestigious awards given to OFWs in recognition of their services to the overseas Filipino communities.
Dr. Astillero earned his degree at Southwestern University and placed 9th in the 1968 Medical Board Exam.
His family is residing in Labangon, Cebu City. The doctor and his wife Elena have five children which include two doctors, a nurse, an engineer and one trial lawyer in Cebu, Atty. Lito B. Astillero. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/NLQ


mga bro/sis nga OFW, ato ni cya supportahan ha. I endorse ninyo. hes a good man. pun an nato ug BISAYA ang malacanang.