Seven Philippine Embassy Personnel in Tokyo are Recipients of the 2018 Gawad Mabini and Other DFA Awards
(L-R): Mr. Ferdinand F. Fabello, Loyalty Awardee; Mr. Robespierre L. Bolivar, Minister & Consul General, Gawad Mabini Awardee; Ms. Mary Joy N. Duran-Mortel, Outstanding Employee Awardee; Amb. Jose C. Laurel V; Mr. Eduardo M.R. Meñez, Deputy Chief of Mission; Ms. Frances L. Komesu, ATN Awardee; Ma. Emilie T. Salazar, Loyalty Awardee; and Ms. Nonna C. Punzalan, Loyalty Awardee.
06 August 2018 – H.E. Jose C. Laurel V, Philippine Ambassador to Japan, led the presentation of awards after the flag ceremony held today to six (6) personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo who are recipients of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Awards. Along with the Gawad Mabini Awards (a Presidential Award), the DFA Awards are given annually in celebration of the DFA Foundation Day.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE AWARD
Ms. Mary Joy N. Duran-Mortel, Attaché, was awarded Outstanding Employee Award and one of the 15 Outstanding Employee Awardees this year.
The award was given in recognition of her loyalty, dedication, commitment and exemplary performance of her duties in the DFA thereby inspiring her colleagues to strive for excellence. Unlike in the previous years, the DFA has dramatically reduced the number of awardees to only 15 this year in order to elevate the stature of the Outstanding Employee Award and increase the cash incentive.
Ms. Duran-Mortel joined the DFA in April 2010. In August 2014, she was assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and is currently the Cultural Officer of the Embassy. For this award, Ms. Duran-Mortel received a plaque and a cash incentive.
ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AWARD
Ms. Frances L. Komesu, local hire, was awarded the Assistance-to-Nationals Award (Level 2) and is one of the nine awardees this year.
The ATN Award was given in recognition of her performance, selfless service, and unwavering commitment in providing responsive and efficient ATN service for the protection and promotion of the interests and welfare of overseas Filipinos.
Ms. Komesu joined the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo in January 2014 as Consular Assistant and currently handling civil registration matters. For this award, Ms. Komesu received a medal, a plaque and a cash incentive.
LOYALTY AWARD
The Loyalty Award was given to personnel in recognition of dedicated years of loyal and committed service to the DFA. The Loyalty Awardees shall receive the DFA pin, cash incentive, and the Certificate of Recognition. Three hundred forty-nine (349) are recipients of the Loyalty Award this year and four of whom come from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo:
Gold Pin for 30 years of service
Ms. NONNA C. PUNZALAN, Attaché
Ms. MA. EMILIE T. SALAZAR, Attaché
Silver Pin for 25 years of service
Mr. FERDINAND F. FABELLO, Attaché
Silver Pin for 20 years of service
Mr. ENRICO S. NOCUM (†), local hire
The Loyalty Award of Mr. Enrico S. Nocum, who passed away early this year, will be posthumously presented to his spouse.
On 18 June 2018, Mr. Robespierre L. Bolivar, Minister and Consul-General of the Embassy, received the Gawad Mabini Award with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo (Commander) from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at ceremonies held at the DFA in Pasay City in commemoration of the founding of the DFA.
Established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 490 signed in 1974 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos in honor of Apolinario Mabini, the country’s first Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Gawad Mabini is one of the highest civilian decorations conferred on Filipinos who rendered distinguished foreign service or helped promote the interests and prestige of the Philippines abroad.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte awarded Consul General Bolivar the Gawad Mabini for his work as then-Special Assistant of the DFA Undersecretary for Policy and as concurrent Acting DFA Spokesperson, in particular during the Philippines’ successful chairmanship of the ASEAN during its 50th anniversary in 2017. For this award, Consul General Bolivar received a Presidential Citation that comes with a medal, a ribbon, and a sash with the insignia of the Gawad Mabini.
