IWP Director, Prof Ed Araral. received the 2016 Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Awards, given to overseas Filipino individuals and organisations in recognition of their achievements.
The awardees were chosen from a total of 103 nominations from 22 countries by four different committees from the Philippine Diplomatic Posts, inter-agency technical committee, multi-sectoral executive committee, to the Office of the President.
Past recipients of the award include Maj. General Taguba (author of the Abu Ghraib Iraq prisoner abuse report), Rico Hizon (journalist with BBC World News), Lea Salonga (Broadway performer), Erik Spoelstra (coach of two-time NBA champions Miami Heat), and Manny Pangilinan (infrastructure tycoon), among others.
The award was given by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 19th, 2016 at Malacanang Palace in Manila.