DFA CO Cebu Commemorates 127th Anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs with Flavorful Celebration of Cebuano Heritage

Personnel of the DFA Consular Office in Cebu led by its Acting Head, Dr. Angel H. Espiritu Jr. celebrates DFA Day (photo courtesy of Jaezer J. Agatea)

CEBU 03 July 2025 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office in Cebu marked the DFA’s 127th Founding Anniversary with a meaningful tribute to tradition, community, and local pride on 1 July 2025. The event, led by Acting Head of Consular Office Dr. Angel H. Espiritu Jr., was highlighted by a shared meal of Cebu’s famous lechon and the distribution of the province’s iconic dried mangoes.

Employees gathered for a festive lunch featuring lechon, the beloved roasted pig that Cebu is widely known for. With its crisp skin and tender meat, the dish served as a flavorful centerpiece and a symbol of unity, gratitude, and cultural identity.

To commemorate the milestone with the public, the Consular Office also handed out packets of dried mangoes to clients visiting the office. Sweet and distinctly Cebuano, the mangoes were a simple gesture of appreciation and a way to share in the spirit of celebration.

“It was important for us to celebrate with the public,” said Dr. Espiritu, “because the DFA has always been a people centered institution, one that exists to serve and engage the Filipino community with dedication and respect.”

The activity was the Consular Office’s way of showcasing Cebuano heritage by featuring local flavors that reflect the unique character and cultural richness of Cebu, and presenting them as expressions of Filipino hospitality and excellence at its finest. In doing so, the Consular Office honored the DFA’s 127-year journey defined by service and deep-rooted connection to the Filipino people.

Personnel of both the DFA Temporary Offsite (TOPS) in SM Seaside Cebu City and the DFA Passport Satellite Office (PSO) in SM City in the municipality of Consolacion, Cebu also joined in the celebration of DFA Day. Both DFA offsite locations are supervised by the DFA Consular Office in Cebu, reflecting a unified commitment to public service and the Department’s enduring legacy.

The three DFA offices in Cebu are open from Monday to Friday, except holidays, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. END

Lechon being enjoyed by the employees of the DFA Consular Office in Cebu as part of the DFA’s 127th Founding Anniversary Celebration (photo courtesy of Hannah Abigail G. Dela Cruz)

Clients from the Releasing Section of the DFA Consular Office in Cebu accept the dried mangoes distributed to celebrate the DFA’s 127th Founding Anniversary (photo courtesy of Ronelito S. Cariño)