Employees and colleagues, as well as friends from way back, honored President Antonio Kalaw Jr. on the occasion of his 10th anniversary as top executive of the Development Academy of the Philippines on June 1. Kalaw, who was elected by the DAP Board of Trustees as the Academy’s seventh president on June 1, 2006, has become one of the two longest-tenured heads of the Academy in its 43-year history.
Kalaw’s tenure at the top of the institution that also celebrates its 43rd anniversary this month makes him the second-longest-tenured DAP president next only to founding President Onofre D. Corpuz, who had occupied the post since the Academy was created under Presidential Decree No. 205 on June 7, 1973 up to June 1984, when he was succeeded by then-Education, Culture and Sports Minister Jaime Laya at the DAP helm.
Impromptu program
In an impromptu program that provided more of a festive atmosphere than anything else, DAP employees and officers sang and danced as well as serenaded Mr. Kalaw at the Leonides Virata Hall. Videos of greetings and good wishes from the employees, his staff and DAP officers were also played before the audience.
Atty. Gloria Fajardo, one of Kalaw’s old colleagues who came along with artist Hugo Yonzon III, publicist Jing Mable and Undersecretary Ramon Mateo Dizon of the Office of the Executive Secretary, praised Kalaw for helping bring the Academy to where it is now – a thriving, progressive and innovative training and research institution that has taken its place among the country’s most productive government agencies.
Atty. Fajardo recalled that Kalaw was reluctant at first to be nominated as DAP president but eventually relented to head the agency where he has spent most of his professional life in various capacities.
Fajardo added that although Kalaw may project a stern image at times, he is actually a very kind-hearted, benevolent executive who just has the Academy’s interest at the top of his priorities.
Other testimonials were also offered by Corporate Affairs Vice President Trygve Bolante and Anthony de Rojas of the Human Resources Management and Development Department, son of former DAPper Juanita de Rojas of the DAP’s Marketing Department, while Senior Vice President for Services Bernardo Dizon later offered a toast for the celebrant.
De Rojas recalled his first encounters with Kalaw as a young boy and has fond memories of those encounters. Bolante, meanwhile, wished Mr. Kalaw more productive days ahead.
The program, which was hosted by Guian Perea and Wally Patayan and jointly orchestrated by Asset Management Center Vice President Ermarie Mondejar, HRMDD Head Marife Magud, and Lyn Veloria of the Office of the President, was capped by a simple merienda prepared by the organizers.