Top Filipino envoys and foreign service personnel were conferred the Gawad Mabini Awards for their distinguished service in the field of diplomacy by their unwavering response to the call of duty, their steadfast dedication to serve the nations, and their exemplary performance under extraordinary circumstances on the occasion of conferment of the Gawad Mabini at the Department of Foreign Affairs in December  last year.

Honorable Fortunato D. Oblena, Honorable Orestes D. Bello, Honorable Cecilia B. Rebong and Honorable Roy Cimatu were conferred the Dakilang Kamanong Award as a recognition for their exemplary acts and performance beyond the call of duty. Ms. Grace R. Princesa and Ms. Catherine P. Maceda were cited the
Dakilang Kasugo Award, while Mssrs. Ronald M. Joves, Cotawato M. Arimao, Philip M. Figueroa, Joel R. Nunag and Ms. Hasmin P. Aragon were awarded the Kasugo Award.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia D. Albert and Executive Secretary Alberto G. Romulo conferred the three awards. Undersecretaries Jose S. Brillantes,  Sonia S. Brady and Rafael E. Seguis respectively, read the citations for the awards.

Created by Presidential Decree 490 on 24 June 1974, the Gawad Mabini is an award conferred by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in the name and by authority of the President, every year to personnel of the Department and other Filipinos who have rendered the interest of the Republic of the Philippines at home and abroad.

“It is only fitting that the authors of such accomplishments be recognized not only for their intangible contributions but for the values and insights that they inspire in each one of us,” Undersecretary Franklin said in his remarks. “Just as Mabini did not allow paralysis to pertify his mind and will to serve the cause of the Philippine Republic against overwhelming hindrances, so they proved that impediments for building a strong Republic can be surmounted,” he added.