Israeli doctor receives PHL presidential award for helping Pinoys

Israeli doctor Dr. Gonen Haba received from President Benigno Aquino III the 2012 Presidential Award: “Kaanib ng Bayan” for helping the Pinoy community in Israel. A news release on the Official Gazette said the award was conferred on Haba in Malacañang Palace, with the supervision of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), on December 5. “The Kaanib ng Bayan” is given to foreign individuals or organizations who have reached out to Filipinos and supported their progress and development. Haba has been conducting free medical missions, clinics and other forms of assistance for Filipinos in Israel where medication and other related costs are expensive. Haba is the second Israeli to receive the Kaanib ng Bayan award. The first Israeli recipient was Simha Salpeter, a former Israeli Colonel in 2010 who donated funs to typhoon “Pepeng” victims in the Philippines in memory if his late Filipina wife. in an interview with GMA News Online on Wednesday, CFO Undersecretary Mary Grace Ampil-Tirona expressed the country's gratitude to Haba. “It will never be too much to keep repeating how much we appreciate the work you are doing for the benefit of our Israel-based Filipinos,” Ampil-Tirona said. In the news release, Ambassador Generoso D.G. Calonge said, “His dedication to his field of practice, commitment and generosity makes him a very valuable partner of the Embassy in promoting the welfare of Filipinos in Israel.” Haba was chosen based on testimonials from Filipinos in Israel. One testimonial said, “Dr. Gonen Haba is well-known to the Filipino Community in Israel for his compassion, wholesome attitude, patience and generosity to our workers who approached him for help.” “At all times, Dr. Haba puts the interests of his Filipino patients and extends utmost service and assistance expected of him as medical practitioner,” it added. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News