Seven PHL Embassy Personnel in Tokyo Receive 2018 Gawad Mabini and Other DFA Awards

(L-R): Ferdinand F. Fabello, Loyalty Awardee; Robespierre L. Bolivar, Minister & Consul General, Gawad Mabini Awardee; Mary Joy N. Duran-Mortel, Outstanding Employee Awardee; Amb. Jose C. Laurel V; Eduardo M.R. Meñez, Deputy Chief of Mission; Frances L. Komesu, ATN Awardee; Ma. Emilie T. Salazar, Loyalty Awardee; and Nonna C. Punzalan, Loyalty Awardee

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V led the presentation of awards after the flag ceremony held on August 6 to six 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

Mary Joy N. Duran-Mortel, Attaché, was awarded Outstanding Employee Award and one of the 15 Outstanding Employee Awardees this year.

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, she received a plaque and a cash incentive.

ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AWARD

Frances L. Komesu, local hire, was awarded the Assistance-to-Nationals Award (Level 2) and is one of the nine awardees this year.

Komesu joined the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo in January 2014 as Consular Assistant and currently handling civil registration matters. For this award, 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
NONNA C. PUNZALAN, Attaché
MA. EMILIE T. SALAZAR, Attaché

Silver Pin for 25 years of service
Mr. FERDINAND F. FABELLO, Attaché

Silver Pin for 20 years of service
ENRICO S. NOCUM (†), local hire

The Loyalty Award of Nocum, who passed away early this year, will be posthumously presented to his spouse.

On June 18, 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.

Duterte awarded 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, Bolivar received a Presidential Citation that comes with a medal, a ribbon, and a sash with the insignia of the Gawad Mabini.