President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday honored two career diplomats with the Order of Sikatuna for their contributions in the Philippine foreign service.

Marcos confers diplomatic merit award on two ambassadors

Marcos bestowed the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu), Gold Distinction on Ambassador Antonio Manuel Lagdameo and Ambassador-designate Bernadette Therese Fernandez in a ceremony in Malacañang.

Lagdameo, a seasoned diplomat who served the country for nearly two decades, was recognized for his numerous contributions, including his tenure as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York.

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He was also recognized for facilitating or co-facilitating the adoption of various resolutions in the UN that favored the Philippines, and for building and strengthening bilateral relationships with the United Kingdom, Spain, and Mexico during his tenure as ambassador.

Lagdameo also facilitated the signing of an agreement between the Philippine Embassy in London and the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in 2017 to enhance Philippine studies workshops, publications, research, and travel grants.

Fernandez, a career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), was recognized for her track record in the foreign service as a distinguished career diplomat and her significant contributions to the advancement of Philippine foreign policy.

These include serving as the Chief Coordinator under the Office of the DFA Secretary, maintaining a thriving engagement with the Filipino communities in northern Italy, arranging the repatriation of more than 300 Filipinos during the pandemic, improving consular services, and mobilizing partner agencies in assisting Filipino nationals, especially those who died of Covid-19 and those who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Fernandez is the Philippines’ incoming ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

The Order of Sikatuna is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines.

This is granted to diplomats, officials, and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

The rank of Grand Cross (Datu) may be conferred upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, or the equivalent, foreign minister, or other official of Cabinet rank, ambassador, undersecretary, assistant secretary, or other persons of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.