PHL labor attache receives Gawad Mabini presidential award in Malaysia

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur’s Labor Attaché Dr. Alicia Santos received the Gawad Mabini with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo in ceremonies in Manila on July 31 during the the 115th Foundation Day of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Presidential award, the highest given to DFA and foreign service personnel and service attaches, was bestowed on Santos by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario based on the recommendation of Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya.  

Santos was recognized for her work with the Filipino community in Malaysia, particularly in unifying the community organizations in Malaysia under one umbrella organization, the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM).

Composed of around 35 Filipino community organizations, FFAM was accredited with the Malaysian Registry of Societies in August last year.

Labor Attaché Santos also organized events for the Filipino community, through the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC), which is not just being a refuge for distressed Filipinos in Malaysia but also as a center where Filipinos are given access to skills training. 

“Dr. Santos has been a most valuable and effective member of the Embassy team in the accomplishment of its missions and undertaking of its initiatives," Malaya said in a news release on Friday.

"She and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office staff have been very helpful in not just safeguarding and protecting the welfare of Filipinos in Malaysia, but also as partners in the Embassy’s various initiatives.  We are happy and proud that she was recognized for her exemplary achievements,” Malaya added.

With a government service career spanning almost 35 years, Santos started in government as an Administrative Officer at the National Manpower and Youth Council (now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) in 1977.

She then worked her way up to becoming Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment.

She served as Labor Attaché in countries such as South Korea, Lebanon, Syria and Italy before her present position.

Santos holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Program Administration from the University of the Philippines and a masters of arts in English literature from the University of Santo Tomas.  She was also conferred a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, by the Universiti of Regina Carmeli. - VVP, GMA News