President Benigno S. Aquino III on
Tuesday (March 3) conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Raja or
Grand Collar, on the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta
Fra’ Matthew Festing.
“As a gesture of appreciation for all the support we have received from the Order, we will confer upon His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Raja,” President Aquino said.
“This is the highest order of diplomatic merit our people can bestow upon the leader of a sovereign state; may it stand as a symbol of our gratitude for the Order’s friendship and assistance throughout the last half century,” he added.
Fra’ Festing was honored for his “invaluable support” to the Philippines during times of national calamities, particularly Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009, Sendong in 2011, Pablo in 2012, and
“As a gesture of appreciation for all the support we have received from the Order, we will confer upon His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Raja,” President Aquino said.
“This is the highest order of diplomatic merit our people can bestow upon the leader of a sovereign state; may it stand as a symbol of our gratitude for the Order’s friendship and assistance throughout the last half century,” he added.
Fra’ Festing was honored for his “invaluable support” to the Philippines during times of national calamities, particularly Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009, Sendong in 2011, Pablo in 2012, and
Yolanda in 2013, as well as the earthquakes in Bohol
and Cebu, through the facilitation of humanitarian assistance programs.
He earlier presented to President Aquino the symbolic key of the 700 new houses donated by Malta to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
In 1979, the 77th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Cologna received the same order of diplomatic merit when he visited the Philippines.
Fra’ Festing, the 79th Grand Master, in return conferred on President Aquino the Collar of the Order of Merit, Pro Merito Melitensi in recognition of “a pursuit that gives honor and prestige to the Sovereign Order of Malta”.
During his toast at the luncheon in honor of Fra’ Festing, the President said the conferment of the order by the Sovereign Order of Malta was meaningful to him.
“On a personal note, the Sovereign Order of Malta has long been part of my family’s history. My maternal grandparents, Jose and Demetria Cojuangco, and my paternal grandmother, Aurora Aquino, were members of this noble order,” he said.
He earlier presented to President Aquino the symbolic key of the 700 new houses donated by Malta to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
In 1979, the 77th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Cologna received the same order of diplomatic merit when he visited the Philippines.
Fra’ Festing, the 79th Grand Master, in return conferred on President Aquino the Collar of the Order of Merit, Pro Merito Melitensi in recognition of “a pursuit that gives honor and prestige to the Sovereign Order of Malta”.
During his toast at the luncheon in honor of Fra’ Festing, the President said the conferment of the order by the Sovereign Order of Malta was meaningful to him.
“On a personal note, the Sovereign Order of Malta has long been part of my family’s history. My maternal grandparents, Jose and Demetria Cojuangco, and my paternal grandmother, Aurora Aquino, were members of this noble order,” he said.
“I accept the conferment of this
order on behalf of the Filipino people, as a symbol of our shared commitment to
serve the poor,” President Aquino added.
Fra’ Festing meanwhile conveyed his “deepest appreciation for the warm welcome, which we have received here in Manila." (PCOO News Release)
Fra’ Festing meanwhile conveyed his “deepest appreciation for the warm welcome, which we have received here in Manila." (PCOO News Release)
No comments:
Post a Comment