THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) kicked off the celebration of its 120th founding anniversary with the opening of its Sports and Wellness Day graced by no less than Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano at the Astrodome.
A total of 10 teams are seeing action in the tournament that features competition in both basketball and volleyball.
Cayetano was joined by members of the Philippine women’s volleyball team, players of Globalport and Columbian Dyip, along with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, and Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto during the brief opening ceremony.
On Monday night, President Duterte personally served as guest speaker of the agency’s anniversary celebration held at its Pasay City office near the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Madaling magsabi ng sacrifice, discipline, teamwork, pero minsan mahirap gawin iyon sa isang napakalaking departamento where we are found all around the world at hindi lang sa isang building,” said Cayetano in his speech.
“But through sports, discipline, sacrifice, and teamwork are essential, di ba. So I hope through this event ma-build natin yung Team DFA.”
Employees of the agency had a grand time taking selfies and photos with volleyball stars Mika Reyes, Cha Cruz, and national team captain Aby Marano, together with Globalport stalwart Mo Tautuaa, Jeric Teng, Jonathan Grey, and Sean Anthony, as well as Columbian Dyip’s Dylan Ababou, Ronald Tubid, Russel Escoto, and Rashawn McCarthy.
“Thank you very much for taking time to be with us,” Cayetano told members of the national volleyball team that is set to compete in the coming Asian Games in Indonesia.
“At siyempre, nandito rin ang ating PBA commissioner kasi meron daw ilan sa inyo ang gustong maging PBA players so baka ma-discover kayo dito,” said the senator, drawing laughs from his audience.
“At napag-alaman ko rin, commissioner, na meron naman sa PBA na gustong maging ambassador, so puwede tayong magpalit.”
Marcial said the PBA’s presence during the event further forges the partnership between the league and the government agency, which is teaming up to hold the DFA’s ‘Passport on Wheels’ project on June 25 to be held at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.
