President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday recognized the hard work and dedication of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel during the agency’s 118th founding anniversary celebration held at the DFA main office along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

The President was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Undersecretary Linglingay Lacanlale, also the chairperson of the PRAISE Committee.       

In a speech delivered at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini, President Aquino commended former secretary Albert del Rosario, whose leadership has brought the DFA to greater heights.  

Del Rosario assumed the DFA leadership in 2011 and retired early this year due to health reasons. He was replaced by former Cabinet secretary Almendras.

 “Sa mahusay na pamumuno ni Secretary Albert del Rosario, na ngayon ay ipinagpapatuloy na kasing husay na Secretary Rene Almendras, sa paglilingkod ng maaasahang kawani ng DFA, gayundin sa pakikiisa ng iba pang sektor at ng ating mga Boss, nanumbalik ang maganda nating imahe sa mundo,” President Aquino said before officials and employees of the department.

“Higit sa lahat, nabawi natin ang ating pambansang dangal. Kung dati, tayo ang binabalewalang kasapi ng pandaigdigang komunidad, ngayon, isa na tayo sa tinitingalang bansa. Kung dati, puro negatibong balita ang bumabandera tungkol sa Pilipinas, ngayon, isa na tayo sa laging napupuri; saan man tayo bumisita, laging good news ang ating naiuuwi para sa Pilipino,” he said.

The President also praised the agency’s top-performing personnel and conferred on them the prestigious Gawad Sikatuna and Gawad Mabini Presidential Awards.

“Nagpapasalamat din po tayo sa ating awardees ngayong taon, sa walang humpay na sipag at dedikasyon sa pagtupad ng inyong tungkulin. Mapalad tayong magkaroon ng mga tulad ninyong huwaran sa serbisyo; talaga naman pong gumagaan ang loob ko, na kayo at ang ating mga embahada, ay nagtutulungan para maihatid ang nararapat na serbisyo at benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Sa inyong lahat, maraming salamat sa pagsisilbing kinatawan at sa pagpapamalas ng mabubuting katangian ng Pilipino sa mundo,” said the President, who will end his six-year term on June 30.

President Aquino likewise challenged DFA employees to work even harder to better serve the Filipino people.

“Ang hamon at panawagan ko sa inyong lahat, dito man o sa ibang bansa, nawa’y lagi ninyong sagarin ang pagkakataong pagsilbihan ang ating mga Boss. Manatili tayong humakbang, kumilos, at magpasya, nang may isang tinig at isang layunin. Tularan sana natin ang mga gaya ni Secretary Albert del Rosario, na sa kanyang hindi na gaanong batang edad, ay di inalintana ang mga hirap at sakripisyo para tuparin ang kanyang panata sa bayan. Tularan natin ang ating awardees, na sa kabila ng mga pagsubok ay pinili pa ring gawin ang tama at makatarungan para sa minamahal nating Inang bayan,” he said.

This year’s recipients of the Order of Sikatuna Grand Cross (Katangiang Ginto) Award were: Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus Yabes; retired ambassador Nestor Padalhin, Formerly Assigned at Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) in the Middle East and African Regions; and Assistant Secretary Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega, Chief Coordinator.

The Gawad Mabini Grand Cross (Dakilang Kamanong) Award went to Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Zenaida Collinson; Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus Domingo; Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Lazaro; Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya III; Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco; Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo C. Santos; and Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta.

The Gawad Mabini Commander (Dakilang Kasugo) Award was presented to Acting Director Dennis John Briones of the Office of American Affairs, Division IV; Social Welfare Attaché Bernard Bonina, Philippine Embassy in Malaysia; Director Donna Celeste Gatmaytan of the Office of the United Nations and other International Organizations – Division IV; and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Siegfred Masangkay, Philippine Embassy in Syria.

The Gawad Mabini Member (Kasugo) Award was conferred on Norren Joy Calip, Assistant and Attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia; Anika Fernandez, Officer in Charge of the DFA Regional Consular Office in Cebu; and Gladys Perey, Assistant and Attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon.

The event was also attended by Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. PND (jm)