04 June 2014 – The Office of the United Nations and other International Organizations (UNIO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs hosted the soft launching of the Diplomatic League (D-League), a Futsal competition between the DFA and the resident embassies based in Manila on Saturday, May 31.

The event was graced by UNIO Assistant Secretary Jesus R.S. Domingo, Timor-Leste Ambassador H.E. Juvêncio de Jesus Martins and United Kingdom Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Trevor James Lewis. DFA employees, personnel from the Embassies of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, interns from the University of Santo Tomas and and the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Los Galacticos Football Club attended the event.

The D-League was established as a recreational activity which aims to gather support for the sport in line with the United Nation (UN) system’s “Match Against Poverty,” a UN-led campaign to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) which struck the Visayas in November 2013. The League also promotes sportsmanship and camaraderie among members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations based in Manila. END