The Malaysia-Philippines 60th Anniversary Logo Awarding Ceremony marked a significant milestone in the enduring friendship between the two nations. The ceremony, organized by and held at the Embassy of Malaysia in Makati, took place on May 9, 2024.
The event commenced with a warm welcome extended by the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, H.E. Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, emphasizing the significance of the occasion in commemorating six decades of close cooperation and mutual diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Philippines.
The event was attended by DFA Undersecretary Antonio A. Morales, representing the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Tourism. Representatives from AirAsia Philippines, Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries Philippines (MCCI), and other Malaysian companies in the Philippines, including Maybank, Petronas, and Berjaya Hotel, were also present.
There were also special video messages from the Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, H.E. Dato' Ahmad Rozian Abdul Ghani, and the Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Maria Angela A. Ponce.
Highlighting the creativity and talent of participants from both countries, the ceremony showcased the winning designs of the logo competition. After careful deliberation, the esteemed panel of judges, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, selected three winners whose artworks beautifully captured the essence of friendship and collaboration between the two nations.
Jayven Villamater bagged the top prize with a design featuring the sampaguita and bunga raya, the national flowers of the Philippines and Malaysia, respectively.
His design has been adopted as the official logo for the 60th anniversary. Villamater received a cash prize of ₱35,500 and a roundtrip ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, courtesy of AirAsia Philippines.
Patricia Joyce Basmayor won second place, receiving P25,000 cash prize. The third spot went to Kent Michael S. Telebanco, with a cash reward of ₱15,000.
In his remarks, H.E. Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming participation and congratulated the winners for their outstanding contributions.