Former AGFO Trustee BGen Manuel P Oxales recently earned a distinct accolade from The Maritime League, Inc. as Best Writer in National Affairs Category of the Maritime Review, the League’s official publication, during the Networking Awarding Night of the Philippine International Maritime Conference and Exposition, dubbed BEACON2023, hosted by the League, on September 7,2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Manila.

Maritime Review executive editor Vicky Viray-Mendoza said General Oxales contributed a number of articles in the Maritime Review. He also wrote three books in the past: Advocacy in Retirement, Advocacy Through the Years, and Two Stories of the February 1986 Revolution. His third book was featured as a 2-hour telemovie in 1987. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines(UP), a Masters degree in  National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines(NDCP), and a National Security Management degree from the US Industrial College at Fort McNair, Washington DC. He was a former lecturer at UP, Ateneo, and NDCP. A Golden Aviator awardee, General Oxales served as Wing Commander in Southern Mindanao and a senior staff at Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5, while in the active service.

Retired VAdm Eduardo Ma. R Santos, League Chairman and President, handed the award to VAdm Emilio C Marayag Jr, Chairman of Maritime Review Editorial Board, on behalf of General Oxales. In turn Admiral Marayag presented the award in the AGFO Center on September 24,2023. The other writer-awardees were: late Navy Captain Tomas Baino, PCGA Commander Mark Condeno, Mr. Karl Garcia, NAMRIA Captain Carter Luma-ang, and Atty Ramon Paterno. Former Ambassador Evan Garcia, past PH Permanent Representative to the UN based in Switzerland, gave a brief acknowledgement to the awardees and congratulated The Maritime League, Inc. for advancing the importance of Philippine Blue Economy in the nation’s economic agenda.