ISABELA CITY, Basilan — When Ulbert Ulama Tugung — the first chairman of the then Regional Executive Council or Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook (LTP) of the Region 9 Autonomous Government — was assassinated in Manila on Nov. 21, 1986, his family established the Ulbert Ulama Tugung Peace and Development Foundation, Inc. (UUTPDFI), a non-stock, non-profit entity. Late last year, on the occasion of Tugung’s 26th death anniversary, the UUTPDFI formally launched the “Academic Excellence†and “Leadership†awards for deserving graduating public high school students in the island province. Yusuf Tugung, the slain chairman’s brother and UUTPDFI president, explained the “Academic Excellence†award is automatically given to the valedictorian of all local high school graduating classes while the “Leadership†award is bestowed to presidents of secondary school student governments in the schools divisions of Basilan, Lamitan City and Isabela City.