FILIPINO WINS GOLD MEDAL IN TURKISH LANGUAGE OLYMPIAD 

23 June 2006 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Mr. Ershad Shadee Halud, a Filipino student of the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga, was awarded the gold medal in the 4^th International Turkish Language Olympiads held on 17 June 2006 at the Istanbul Gosteri ve Kongre Merkezi, Turkey.  

Mr. Halud snared the gold in the category of Basic Language level. A total of 84 countries sent their representatives to the Olympiad including those from the Asia Pacific region. Other Filipino participants were Omar Kabak and Al Qayyim Mansil, also from Mindanao. 

Ambassador Bahnarirn A. Guinomla personally congratulated and commended Mr. Halud for giving honor to his country. “Considering the honor that Mr. Halud reaped for his country, he should duly receive and be recognized by the appropriate education department officials in Manila and/or his region,” he said. The Ambassador also visited the Philippine booth that displayed Philippine fruits, handicraft and information materials about the Philippines. 

Many cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and Ambassadors and diplomats of the participating countries attended the event. H.E. Bulent Arinc, president of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, was the Chief Guest of Honor. At the conclusion of his speech, Mr. Arinc read out a note from an anonymous businessman who was listening to his speech that the businessman was donating US$ 1,000.00 to each of the more than 300 student participants. 

The international competition was organized by the International Language Teaching Association. The organizing Committee was headed by the former Minister of Education of Turkey Prof. Mehmet Saglam. END