A recognition dinner-dance entitled Parangal kay Lea Salonga was organized by the Associazione Pilipinas Overseas Filipinos’ Society for the Promotion of Economic Security (Pilipinas-OFSPES), a Filipino non-profit organization based in Rome. OFSPES was organized in 2003 and primarily aims to promote and facilitate economic empowerment and security of overseas Filipinos, inter alia, through leadership and social entrepreneurship traineeship programs.

At this recognition dinner-dance, Ambassador Manalo, on behalf of the Filipino community in Italy, conveyed his congratulations and support to Ms. Salonga for her new role as FAO's Goodwill Ambassador, and thanked her for dedicating her personal and professional lives to help in the global fight against hunger. The Ambassador further noted that, in her new capacity as FAO Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Salonga also accepted to be an advocate for the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance initiative led by FAO.

The Philippine Embassy, led by Ambassador Romeo L. Manalo, joined the Filipino community in Rome in giving recognition to internationally-acclaimed Filipino singer and actress Ms. Lea Salonga for her recent appointment as United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador.

In response, Ms. Salonga wholeheartedly accepted the recognition and thanked the Filipino community for their support and warm reception accorded to her and her husband Rob Chien. To express her gratitude, she gifted the audience with the song, “Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan”.

Just last week, Ambassador Manalo led the Philippine delegation to the 36th Session of the FAO's Committee of World Food Security (CFS) and witnessed, with pride,Ms. Salonga’s nomination as an FAO Goodwill Ambassador during the celebration of the World Food Day on 15 October 2010 at the FAO Headquarters in Rome.

FAO Goodwill Ambassador Program is dedicated to promoting FAO's vision of a world without hunger. The FAO chooses as its Goodwill Ambassadors only the most distinguished of men and women, who have so excelled in their respective fields and thus command global attention and respect. Through its Goodwill Ambassadors, the FAO recognizes the importance of the role played by private individuals in promoting food security and to convey the message that governments alone cannot end hunger and malnutrition.

Aside from Ms. Lea Salonga, Italian actor Raoul Bova,Canadian singer Céline Dion and American actress Susan Sarandon were also nominated as FAO Goodwill Ambassadors.