Manila – The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) honored its 44-year old service retiree with an online tribute and send off via Zoom on December 23.

Ms. Presentacion C. Torres, Labor and Employment Officer (LEO) II of the Advocacy and Publications Division, has reached her compulsory retirement last November 23. She previously worked for the Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies (ILMS), from which ILS traced its roots prior to its creation in July 25, 1987 through Executive Order No. 251 issued by then President Corazon C. Aquino.

Ms. Torres worked as the Institute’s librarian before her promotion to Information Officer I, Administrative Officer II, LEO I, before her last job posting as LEO II.

Well-wishers who shared fond memories of working with Ms. Torres included DOLE Assistant Secretary Alex V. Avila, DOLE-Greece Labor Attaché Cynthia R. Cruz, DOLE-South Korea Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, DOLE Planning Service Director Adeline T. De Castro, Deputy Executive Director Jeanette T. Damo of the National Wages and Productivity Commission, Mr. Jerome P. Yanson, Head of the Wage Board Secretariat for DOLE Region 3, Ms. Linartes Viloria, National Project Coordinator, Women in STEM Workforce Readiness Program of the International Labour Organization, Ms. Katherine Brimon, Programme Coordinator for SafeYouth@Work Philippines of the International Labour Organization, and Ms. Celia V. Cabadonga from DOLE-POLO Bahrain.

Tribute messages from her current ILS colleagues was led by ILS Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba, and Acting Executive Director Patrick Patriwirawan, Jr.

Ms. Torres or “Ate Teng,” as she is fondly called by dear friends and co-workers, was presented with a Plaque of Appreciation by ILS Exec. Dir. Satumba “in recognition of her 44 years of dedication and commitment to public service.”

The plaque also read, “Your hard work and jolly laughter while serving the public inspired us and will be remembered forever within the halls of this Institution.”