The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Vidal Esguerra. Santos in 1996. The citation reads:
For his outstanding leadership and indefatigable efforts in producing and publishing the Philippine Business and Industry Index, the centerpiece of Library Integrated Services Cooperative’s (LISCO) publication activities since 1979, in the service of fellow librarians, researchers, students, corporate planners, and the general public.
For his zeal in organizing the Ortigas Center Group of Librarians as Founder and Chairman for effective sharing of reference and information materials.
For establishing the standards for Special Libraries which have become the major criteria for selecting the Special Library of the Year.
Thanks to Susima Gonzales and Lilia Echiverri for providing the photo and citation.