DFA Celebrates 121st Founding Anniversary
PASAY 26 June 2019 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. led the celebrations for the 121st Founding Anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini on 26 June 2019.
Also present during the event were Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje, AFP Vice Chief of Staff Gaudencio Collado Jr., Philippine Navy Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral LoumerBernabe, and Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz.
For his message, Secretary Locsin highlighted the successes and challenges faced by the DFA and how it continues to be resilient and steadfast in its commitment to promote and protect Philippine interest in the world stage.
“Since I assumed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, I have been guided by the directive of the President to provide every Filipino with a ‘comfortable and secure life.’ In this regard, I have worked with all of you in ensuring we adhere to this directive. The first priority was to give every Filipino beyond the Republic’s physical reach to protect and help immediately the means enjoyed by his and her fellow countrymen at home: the right to vote,” Secretary Locsin said.
“Under the guidance of this President we are pursuing an independent foreign policy. We continue to reassess our relationships with other countries. Even as we pursue new relations with non-traditional allies; we continue to adapt our relations with traditional allies to the changing times. But never to their changing fortune: we shall never be opportunists. The basis of our external relations with other countries is, foremost, friendship; and not whatever material benefit we hope to get from them. We scorn talk of mutual benefit first rather than sincere friendship,” he added.
“The Department’s work is not easy. We are on call at all times. And that is why, as we celebrate our foundation day, we recognize the men and women who have gone above and beyond the usual call of public service of sitting on their butts and waiting for the time to pass for the dismissal bell to ring. We are no longer school children. We also recognize the loyalty of our people and the dedication of our various organizations that have significantly contributed to the success of the Department,” Secretary Locsin stated.
In his welcome remarks, DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Administration Officer in Charge J. Eduardo Malaya paid tribute to the men and women who have and are serving the Department.
“We owe Apolinario Mabini and the pioneer corps of Filipino diplomats our abiding gratitude because their love of and devotion to our country and people knew no bounds, even to the point where no sacrifice, even of their very lives, was too great. Their examples and sacrifices have not been in vain as the values they stood for – “patriotism, integrity, professionalism, excellence, service and love of country” -- have remained with and in us as the DFA Core Values, and these are best exemplified by those who received recognitions and awards, especially the Gawad Mabini,” he said.
The event honored its officers and staff who have reached milestone years in their services to the Department, as well as to employees and offices who have performed well for the year.
Leading the awardees were the recipients of the Gawad Mabini, who were bestowed the honor for being instrumental in forging the country’s bilateral and multilateral alliances in pursuit of the country’s interests domestically and abroad.
Given the Gawad Mabini, Grand Cross with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose, and Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. Consul General Renato Pedro Villa. Awarded the Gawad Mabini, Commander with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo was DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Special Assistant Raul Dado, while bestowed the Gawad Mabini, Member with the rank of Kasugo was DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) staff Hussain Hadjinoor.
Established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 490, s. 1974 and named after Filipino national hero and the first Foreign Affairs Secretary Apolinario Mabini, the Gawad Mabini is conferred on Filipinos who rendered distinguished foreign service or helped promote the interests and prestige of the Philippines abroad.
Meanwhile, six officials were conferred the Felipe Agoncillo Lifetime Service Award (FALSA). They include Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon, Philippine Embassy in Baghdad Charge d’Affaires Julius Torres, Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque, Consul General to New York Claro Cristobal, Consul General to Sydney Teresa Taguiang and Consul General to Chongqing Crescente Relacion.
The FALSA is given every year to retiring or retired Heads of Missions who have significantly advanced the interests of the Philippines overseas.
Recognized as Best Organization for the year were the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs headed by Office of Administration Officer-In-Charge J. Eduardo Malaya and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General Edgar B.Badajos.Bestowed the Assistance to Nationals Award were Philippine Embassy in Riyadh’s Maribelle Facundo, Philippine Consulate General in Dubai’s Shiela Mupas, Philippine Embassy in Kuwait’s Russell Grace Ocampo and DFA-OUMWA’s Najela Raymundo (individual category) and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai’s Assistance to Nationals Unit (group category).
Then President Emilio Aguinaldo established the DFA on 23 June 1891, one of the first government agencies created under the revolutionary government. He tasked Apolinario Mabini, the first Foreign Affairs Secretary,to win international recognition for the Philippines as an independent state, and to establish diplomatic relations with other countries. END
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. delivers his remarks during the celebrations for the 121st Founding Anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs held at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini on 26 June 2019. (Photos by Clark Galang, DFA-OSCR)