Malacañan Palace
4 April 2016

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) to Luen Thai Philippines Chief Executive Officer Willy Tan in Malacañan Palace.

Through his clothing and accessories company, Tan was able to connect the country to global manufacturing and expand the role of garments and apparel industry. He also provided thousands of jobs in just a span two decades, employing 21,000 Filipinos in Clark, Tarlac, Cebu, Bataan and San Fernando. Similarly, Luen Thai Phils. fishing venture business gave employment opportunities to Filipino seafarers.

President Aquino recognized Tan in partnering with Filipino people through community development, livelihood programs and disaster relief operations at the wake of Super Typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).

Tan was also cited for bridging economic and cultural divides between China and Philippines by chartering direct flights and by establishing travel and leisure business in 2014. He served as one of the ardent ambassadors of the Philippines to the private sector and was also the first to participate in the investment roadshow in Beijing and Shanghai in 2011.

Joining the President’s side were Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian Cristobal, among others. Tan was also accompanied by his family during the conferment ceremony.

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