SINGAPORE, 26 June 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Singapore held a simple thanksgiving program on Monday, 23 June, for its personnel who served as Members of the various Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Electoral Boards for the 2025 Philippine Overseas Voting held from 13 April to 12 May 2025. 

The event was held on the occasion of the 127th anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on 23 June. 

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig recognized the hard work and efforts of the entire Embassy team, including those who were not on duty during the 30-day overseas voting. First Secretary and Consul Joyleen Santos highlighted the Embassy’s best practices that contributed to the successful and efficient conduct of the month-long overseas voting, including the extensive public diplomacy efforts,  tailored communication strategy, community engagement, whole-of-government approach, close coordination with host government, and support and participation of the Filipino Community in Singapore. 

Atty. Ian Michel G. Geonanga, Director IV of the Commission on Elections – Office for Overseas Voting (COMELEC-OFOV), delivered a special video message during the program, in which he extended COMELEC’s and OFOV’s deepest appreciation and heartfelt congratulations to the Philippine Embassy in Singapore for the successful conduct of the 2025 midterm elections.

He expressed particular gratitude to the Embassy for its steadfast support throughout the overseas voting preparations, beginning in 2024. This included hosting the regional training for Asia-Pacific foreign service posts and the Filipino community on internet voting, facilitating the conduct of the mock elections in January 2025, and leading up to the historic launch of the Philippines’ first-ever online voting exercise.

“The success of internet voting would not have been possible without the invaluable help and support of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore,” Atty. Geonanga emphasized.

During the program, Ambassador Macaraig awarded Certificates of Appreciation to members of the electoral boards, namely, the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC), Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG), and Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI). 

Individual certificates were also awarded in recognition of personnel’s exceptional contribution/or achievement in the  conduct of the first-ever Philippine Overseas Internet Voting: 

Certificates of Commendation

• First Secretary and Consul Joyleen Santos, SBOC Vice Chairperson and Head of Public Diplomacy Section 
• Second Secretary and Consul Renee Gayle M. Chua, SBEI Chairperson and Overall Coordinator for the 2025 Philippine Overseas Voting 
• Attaché Ivanah Karla Vicencio-Luz, Public Diplomacy Assistant and SBEI Support Staff 

Certificates of Recognition

• Mr. Ronald Bautista – In recognition of his outstanding initiative, resourcefulness, and exemplary technical support as Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS) Operator; and
• Mr. David Jr. Bacho –  In recognition of his outstanding initiative, resourcefulness, and exemplary technical support as OVCS Technical Support 

Special Citation 

• Second Secretary Atty. Teddy Edmund Pavon – In recognition of his creativity, initiative, and contribution to the design and production of digital art collateral in support of the Embassy’s public diplomacy efforts.

To close the program, Second Secretary Gayle Chua shared some key takeaways throughout the overseas voting period and valuable lessons learned that may be useful for the next team who will handle the national elections in 2028. /END