The Japanese government announced that four Filipinos would receive the 2023 Spring Conferment of Japanese Decorations for their contributions in enhancing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan.
(From left) Delfin Lorenzana, Alberto Romulo, Gamaliel Cordoba and Cynthia Neri Mayas
In an announcement on Saturday, April 29, Japan named former Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo for the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, former Defense secretary and now Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) chairman Delfin Lorenzana for Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson and former National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba for for Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, and maritime anthropologist and foremost Japanologist Dr. Cynthia Neri Zayas for Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
The announcement said Romulo was conferred the decoration because of his contribution to the formulation of the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement, entitled "Partnership between Close Neighbors for Comprehensive Cooperation”, which former the basis for today's "Strategic Partnership" between the two nations.
Lorenzana, for his part, would receive the honor for enhancing the defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Philippines during his term as defense chief from 2016 to 2022.
He was credited for the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in joint exercises between the Philippines and United States military.
“Former Defense Secretary Lorenzana’s strong leadership paved the way for the further deepening of Japan-Philippines defense relations,” the announcement added.
Cordona also made “significant contributions to advancing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines in the field of telecommunications.”
In particular, Japan recognized his efforts to bring the ISDB-T, a terrestrial digital television broadcasting standard devised by Japan, to the Philippines.
Zayas, the Philippines’ leading maritime anthropologist and foremost Japanologist and who received her master's and doctoral degrees in Japan, was credited for collaborating with Japanese anthropologists in pioneering maritime anthropological studies in the Philippines.
Her work on cultures of disasters and free women divers, or “ama”, in Japan “have deepened understanding of Japanese society worldwide” and earned international recognition.