File:Nur Misuari.jpg

English: This is the only picture taken Friday March 9 2007 of Governor Misuari. There were hundreds of press upstairs waiting for him in the 3rd floor of the Saudi embassy. They did not get to see him. Not one picture was taken by the press. I was the only one among the diplomats who were sweating for over half an hour in the parking lot negotiating for Nur to enter the building unsuccessfully. Being an amateur photographer always with a camera in my pocket, I took the only picture shortly before Misuary left the Saudi Embassy in Manila without being able to pray that day with the OIC Ambassador and other Moslem Leaders in the country.

Had Nur Misuari been allowed to enter the building and the dozens of photographers had taken his picture ..my picture would have been a dime a dozen as they say...but since I was the only one...who had the only picture...it was precious...it was the most memorable picture I have ever taken as an amateur photographer...it was priceless!....so what do you do when you have something that is beyond value?...you give it to the news....and Wikipedia...que sera sera.

I don't normally do that...but Governor Nur looked so good..so hopeful...so optimistic...so positive despite the immediate problem with the escort...so cool despite the pressure he was facing in the parking lot of the Saudi embassy...I could feel his energy and managed to capture it in this one picture...through his car window.

I had to share his picture with the world...in my six years in the diplomatic circles I have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures ..they have all been for me and for friends who were in my pictures.. this is the first time I felt I had to make a picture public...and I just know Governor Misuari will like it.

Joseph Felix Assad the Consul of Lebanon to the Philippines.