Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace
5 December 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III honoured 29 distinguished overseas Filipinos and organizations from 14 different countries at the awarding ceremonies held at Malacañan Palace.

President Aquino admired the awardees for taking part in the collective task of nation building. In his speech, he said that the Filipino people whether raised locally or abroad have become ambassadors of the Filipino creativity and skill.

“More than that, our awardees today have shown that despite great distances, our people are united in the spirit of bayanihan – the idea that the true measure of our humanity is defined not by what we have built alone, but rather, by what we have achieved on solidarity with our fellowmen,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President assured that the government shares the same goals with these migrant workers.  “Our common aspirations come to the fore: empowering the citizenry by investing healthcare; fighting for the human rights of Filipino migrant workers; and making certain that our culture and heritage etch their rightful mark in the global arena,” he added.

The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas is an award issued under former President Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order No. 498. It is granted to outstanding Filipinos and organizations abroad who have contributed to the country’s relief, rehabilitation and development through various programs and endeavours.

The award has four categories namely: Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Award with three recipients; Kaanib ng Bayab Award with two recipients; Banaag Award with thirteen recipients; and the Pamana ng Pilipino Award with eleven recipients.

 

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