DFALF Celebrates 28th Foundation Anniversary, Holds Annual General Assembly
DFALF Chairperson Pamela Louise Manalo thanks DFALF partners and donors in her remarks (Photo credits to: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)
MANILA 02 January 2024 – The DFA Ladies Foundation, Inc. (DFALF) held its annual General Assembly and celebrated the 28th year of the Foundation on 17 December 2024 at the Carlos P. Garcia Conference Room. The event was graced by DFALF Chairperson Madame Pamela Louise Manalo and was joined by the 2024 DFALF Board of Trustees, Incoming Board of Trustees and DFALF members who joined onsite and online from the DFA Main Office, Consular Offices, and Foreign Service Posts.
DFALF Chairperson Manalo appreciated the commitment and hard work of the 2024 DFALF Board of Trustees, under the leadership of President Celia Anna M. Feria. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Board of Trustees for their hard work and commitment. I commend the dedication and dynamism that brought about positive results for the foundation and to its members.”, Chairperson Manalo said. She lauded the Trustees for their tireless office-to-office membership drive that brought a significant increase in membership, from 520 members last year to the all-time-high tally of 736 for 2024. The Chairperson highlighted the increase in donation of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) that allowed the foundation to expand the reach of the Scholarship Program. She also thanked all partners and donors for their support to the DFALF Community, and the members for their active participation in the Foundation’s projects.
Outgoing DFALF President Celia Anna Feria delivered her year-end report highlighting the activities and projects of the Foundation for 2024. Under her leadership, the 2024 Board of Trustees led the foundation into a remarkable growth, fulfilling DFALF’s mission to promote unity, camaraderie and esprit de corps among its members. Among the activities were the Workplace Wellness activity, papercutting workshop, and seminars such as Breast Health Talk and Child Safety and Security in Public Spaces. President Feria also explained how a member’s 500-peso membership fee went a long way in supporting DFALF scholars, financing the needs of members in their times of distress, funding charitable projects, and providing various wellness activities for the members. “I would like to convey our sincerest gratitude to our Chairperson, Madame Pamela Louise Manalo for the trust and confidence you have given to the 2024 DFALF Board of Trustees”, said President Feria and thanked the members for their steadfast commitment to the Foundation.
DFALF Treasurer Lorleejane S. Mandi updated the members of the financial status of the Foundation, which includes the collections and disbursements incurred since the assumption of the 2024 Board of Trustees. Treasurer Mandi emphasized that the Foundation is in good financial standing.
During the assembly, the Incoming 2025 Board of Trustees were also presented to the DFALF members:
Ms. Eleanor F. Balanquit, Office of Protocol
Ms. Joan Macrise C. Corrado, Office of Public Diplomacy
Ms. Jill C. Del Rosario-Gardose, Office of the Secretary
Ms. Diana Myra Eson-Alomia, Office of Fiscal Management Services
Ms. Johairah A. Lomondot, Office of Fiscal Management Services
Ms. Lorleejane S. Mandi, Office of Fiscal Management Services
Ms. Jianne Rose Augustine V. Navarro, Office of Treaty and Legal Affairs
Ms. Ma. Claribel M. Ochoa, Rome PE but soon to be recalled to the home office by January 2025
Ms. Christina Gracia Rola-McKernan, Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs
Raffle draws were held with prizes donated by the following sponsors and partners: Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, DFA Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DFAMPC), San Miguel Corporation, SM Retail, Inc., McDonald’s, Tesoros Marketing, Inc., SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., Shangri-la The Fort Manila, Tabora MNL, National Book Store, and Komida Komisaryo Foods, Inc.
In her closing remarks, Assistant Auditor Eleanor F. Balanquit, said, “We committed to serve to the best interest of the Foundation and I am glad that we were able to successfully do our part as Board of Trustees.” She thanked the members and expressed her hopes for the same support to DFALF in the years to come. She addressed the DFALF scholars by encouraging them to strive hard and make use of the opportunity that was given to them. “We hope that one day it will be your time to help another scholar to reach for his or her dreams.”, Assistant Auditor Balanquit added.
The successful conduct of the DFALF’s General Assembly and the Celebration of 28th Anniversary was made possible with the support from the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), OSEC-Special Projects Unit (SPU), Office of Public Diplomacy (OPD), and Office of Asset Management and Support Services (OAMSS). END
DFALF President Celia Anna Feria and highlights the Foundation’s accomplishments for 2024 (Photo credits to: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)
DFALF Treasurer Lorleejane S. Mandi reports the financial standing of the Foundation. (Photo credits to: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)
(from left to right) DFALF Chairperson Pamela Louise Manalo, DFA Chief Coordinator Bernadette A. Fernandez, and the Incoming 2025 DFALF Board of Trustees (Photo credits to: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)
DFALF Assistant Auditor Eleanor F. Balanquit encourages the members to give the same support to the Foundation in the coming years as she delivers her closing remarks. (Photo credits to: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)