Duterte honors foreign services awardees for exemplary service to people, nation

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday led the conferment of the Order of Sikatuna and Gawad Mabini Decorations on several Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials and personnel as he recognized their exemplary service to the people and nation.

“Your unwavering sense of duty and unrelenting efforts have contributed much in upholding our country’s independent foreign policy and in ensuring the welfare of Filipinos at home and abroad,” Duterte said during the conferment ceremony in Malacañang.

Awardees include Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez (Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu, Gold Distinction); Antonio Villar, Administrative Officer, Office of the Undersecretary for Multi-lateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Kasugo); Bernardo Bagalay, Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Kasugo); Katrina Isabelle Borja-Martin, First Secretary and Consul, Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., (Gawad Mabini, with the Rank of Dakilang Kasugo, Commander); Noel Novicio, Special Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations in Asean Affairs, (Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Dakilang Kasugo, Commander); Robert Borje, Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Office of the President (Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Dakilang Kamanong, Grand Cross); and Enrico Fos, Assistant Secretary, Office of the Undersecretary Migrant Workers Affairs (Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Dakilang Kamanong, Grand Cross).

The Chief Executive cited their contributions in real terms to securing our national security and political, economic and socio-cultural goals, and to furthering international amity and cooperation.

“With the weight of Apolinario Mabini’s legacy on your shoulders and the interests of our nation in your minds and deeds, you have done our nation proud,” according to him.

Duterte said he hopes that officers and employees of the Foreign Service will continue to serve the Philippines to the best of their ability and without reservation.

“The Filipino people deserve nothing less,” he added.

The Order of Sikatuna is an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines. Along with the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Order of Lakandula, it is one of three senior honors of the Philippines.

Gawad Mabini, on the other hand, is named after Apolinario Mabini, the first secretary of foreign affairs in the First Republic of the Philippines.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)