President Marcos Confers the 2024 Gawad Mabini
MANILA 09 July 2024 – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., through Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, conferred the 2024 Gawad Mabini to seven personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs for their exemplary contributions and accomplishments in the foreign service. The ceremony took place during the celebration of the DFA’s 126th founding anniversary on 05 July 2024.
Secretary Manalo was joined by Undersecretary for Administration and Chairperson of the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee, Mr. Antonio A. Morales, during the conferment ceremony.
The Gawad Mabini, created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 490, s. 1974, is conferred by the President of the Philippines to DFA personnel and other Filipinos who have rendered distinguished service or promoted the interest of the Republic of the Philippines both domestically and internationally. The Gawad Mabini has three ranks: Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross), Dakilang Kasugo (Commander), and Kasugo (Member).
This year’s Gawad Mabini awardees with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross) are:
- Maria Angela A. Ponce, former Assistant Secretary of Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) and current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Malaysia. She led the Philippine delegation in upholding Philippine interests through negotiations and expanded the Philippine’s maritime dialogue mechanisms with key partners.
- Eduardo José A. De Vega, Undersecretary for Migration Affairs, who led the transition of Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) functions to the newly created Department of Migrant Workers in February 2023. He spearheaded efforts to rescue and repatriate overseas Filipinos and their families during crises such as the conflict in Sudan, the earthquake in Turkiye, the Gaza conflict, the Houthi-held areas in Yemen, and the Israel crisis, ensuring zero casualties.
- Wilfredo C. Santos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Jordan, demonstrated exemplary leadership and crisis management skills by leading the assistance to Filipinos in Gaza and the West Bank during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, despite the absence of a consular team on the ground.
- Maria Elena P. Algabre, Assistant Secretary of European Affairs, whose leadership was instrumental in organizing a total of 15 High-Level meetings in 2023, including the visits of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the three (3) Foreign Ministers of Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and the conduct of eleven (11) Political Consultations with European counterparts during the same year.
- Ezzedin H. Tago, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Egypt, served as the overall coordinator of ATN Missions to the Port Sudan and Egypt Rafah Border, facilitating the evacuation and repatriation of Filipino nationals from Sudan and the Gaza Strip, including their Palestinian relatives.
The Gawad Mabini awardees with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo (Commander) are:
- Mary Jennifer D. Dingal, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Protocol and current Consul General of Manado, Indonesia. She successfully spearheaded protocol support for notable engagements of the Secretary, including visits from the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, and Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot, fostering productive dialogue between the Secretary and his counterparts. Moreover, her dedication to cultural diplomacy was evident in her efforts to introduce Philippine culture to accredited Ambassadors.
- Bojer B. Capati, former Third Secretary and Vice Consul of Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and current Assistant Director of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs. He facilitated the entry and eventual repatriation of overseas Filipinos from the Egypt-Sudan and Egypt-Gaza borders, providing necessary consular services and ensuring safe passage of Filipinos across the border.
The Department takes pride in presenting these prestigious Presidential Awards to its most deserving colleagues. END