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PNoy at peace with leaving Palace

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/06/23/062316_pnoy.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Benigno S. Aquino III. Photo by Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - President Aquino is at peace with the thought of stepping down from office in seven days, saying the country is in better shape than when he came in. &quot;Nangiti po ako dahil pitong araw na lang po, bababa na ako sa pwesto,&quot; Aquino quipped Thursday at the start of his speech during the DFA&#x27;s 118th foundation anniversary, his last as president. Aquino, whose term ends on June 30, said it was an honor serving the country.&quot;Isang linggo na lang nga po, at matatapos na ang aking termino. Patibayin pa sana natin ang pagkakaisa at nawa&#x27;y patuloy nating itaguyod ang ating ambisyon: Ang iwan ang bansa sa di hamak na mas magandang kalagayan kaysa sa atin pong dinatnan,&quot; he said.&quot;Hanggang sa huli, isang malaking karangalan para sa aking paglingkuran ang Pilipino at ang Pilipinas.&quot; Speaking to reporters, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said Aquino is ready to leave office as he has long been packing his belongings.&quot;Ang batid ko ay matagal nang naumpisahan ito at handang handa na siyang lumisan sa araw ng Huwebes, ika-30 ng Hunyo sa susunod na Linggo,&quot; Coloma said. Coloma said one of the last public events Aquino will attend as office is the graduation rites of the Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday, where he will be guest speaker. DFA PERSONNEL CITED Aquino on Thursday thanked the DFA and lauded former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario as he conferred presidential awards on 17 personnel of the agency.<div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/23/16/pnoy-lauds-del-rosario-dfa-employees">WATCH: PNoy lauds Del Rosario, DFA employees</a></div>Among the personnel recognized were those who helped repatriate and assist Filipinos in conflict areas, like Undersecretary for Migrant Workers&#x27; Affairs Jesus Yabes and Ambassador Nestor Padalhin, charges d&#x27;Affairs, en pied, at the Philippine Embassy in Syria.Yabes and Padalhin were both awarded the Order of Sikatuna, Grand Cross (Gold Distinction). DFA Chief Coordinator Ma. Theresa de Vega was awarded the Order of Sikatuna.Cited for their role in assisting affected Filipinos in the Lahad Datu crisis were Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduardo Malaya III (Gawad Mabini, Dakilang Kamanong), assistant and attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia Norren Joy Calip (Gawad Mabini, Kasugo), and Social Welfare Attaché Bernard Bonina (Gawad Mabini, Dakilang Kasugo). Also lauded for efforts in repatriating Filipinos in Syria was Gladys Perey, assistant and attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon (Gawad Mabini, Kasugo) and Dennis John Briones for &quot;crafting, updating, and implementing the contingency plan&quot; for evacuating Filipinos in Syria. Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who was cited for her role in strengthening diplomatic relations with Asia-Pacific countries, was given the Gawad Mabini, Dakilang Kamanong. She served as Assistant Secretary of the DFA&#x27;s Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2011-2014. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Siegfred Masangkay of the Philippine Embassy in Syria was particularly cited for his role in implementing the authentication services e-registry system and document management system as acting director of the DFA Office of Consular Affairs (Gawad Mabini, Dakilang Kasugo).<figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1lmLLtVNNiU?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="510"></iframe></figure>

MANILA - President Aquino is at peace with the thought of stepping down from office in seven days, saying the country is in better shape than when he came in.