FEDERATION OF FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL (FFCI), MR. SIMI SALPETER TO BE CONFERRED WITH THE  2010 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv proudly announces that the Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) and Mr. Simi Salpeter are among the twenty four recipients of the 2010 Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. The 24 recipients were selected from the 110 nominations received by the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) from 23 countries worldwide.

The awarding ceremonies will be held in Manila on 14 December 2010 at 6:00pm at the Malacañang Palace. President Benigno S. Aquino III will confer the awards to the recipients.

The Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) will receive the Banaag Presidential Award for Organization. Ms. Minerva Villanueva, former president of the FFCI, will represent the said organization in receiving the Presidential Award.

The FFCI is an umbrella organization that has grown stronger over the years since its inception in 2002. At present, its membership affiliations totals to 37 organizations from all over Israel.

The FFCI continues to conduct activities that benefit OFWs, such as medical missions in coordination with Israeli doctors and medical team of the Philippine military contingent stationed at the Golan Heights under the command of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The FFCI has recently received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Foreign Affairs for their generous donations and invaluable assistance in the relief effort of the Philippine government to help the victims of typhoon Ondoy.

It is also noteworthy that in 2006, Ms. Justina Sales, 2003-2006 FFCI President, also received the Banaag Presidential Award for individual achievement.

Mr. Simha Salpeter, an Israeli citizen who was married to the late Monserrat "Montie" Moran Sison, will receive the "Kaanib ng Bayan Presidential Award". According to many, he continues to be the "helpful father" of the Filipino Community in Israel. Despite his age of over 70, he remains a prominent figure in every Filipino activity, extending them his support and providing them any assistance they need.

His deep involvement in the protection and caring of Filipinos even led him to make his residence in Tel Aviv a center of Filipino life since the 1970's, hosting Filipino trainees, doctors and students who came to Israel to study. He opened his house to countless Filipino delegations, as well as notable personalities such as De la Salle University President Fr. R. Donato, Max Soliven, Filipino Painter Manuel Baldemor, Freddie Aguilar and many others. His residence also became the first Filipino cultural center where lectures and folk dances were presented for Israelis and members of the diplomatic community. Due to this, he was asked to assist the Embassy to establish the Israeli – Philippine Friendship Association.

When the number Filipino workers began increasing in the 1980s, he helped the Philippine Embassy, having neither Labor nor OWWA Offices at that time, in ensuring that the rights of OFWs were protected. He often acted as negotiator between Filipino workers and their employers to settle their disputes, fought loan sharks to secure fair interest rates and easy repayment arrangements, and even visited sick OFWs in hospitals and provided support for their needs.

Because of his untiring involvement with the Filipinos, he was acclaimed as the first adviser of the Federation of the Filipino Communities in Israel. Since then, he actively helped the organization by organizing numerous and different regional, cultural and religious associations in Israel.

As a member of the Organizing Committee for the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Israel-Philippines Diplomatic Relations, he played a pivotal role in the conceptualization and the construction of the first Philippine Monument in Rishon Lezion, i.e., the Open Doors Monument. It is the first structure that symbolizes the Philippine role in saving Jewish refugees escaping the holocaust in Europe during the Second World War.

He also sponsored many community projects in Pangasinan and Mindoro, FFCI medical missions in Israel, Sagip Kababayan for the victims of typhoon Ondoy. He also donated a considerable amount of money for the rehabilitation of the families of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Sison, Pangasinan which was acknowledged by the city government.

Mr. Salpeter continues to hold the Philippines and Filipinos close to his heart.