On 25 November 2022, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Ambassador KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun upon Former Senate President and Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr., during a conferment ceremony held at Malacañang Palace in the presence of President Marcos.
The award recognizes Honorable Villar’s indispensable contributions to strengthening the economic and bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines.
In his congratulatory message, Ambassador Koshikawa lauded the leadership of Honorable Villar during his time as the Senate President and the House Speaker. He also expressed appreciation for Honorable Villar’s leading roles in the ratification of the “Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement” (JPEPA) and the “Japan-Philippines Tax Treaty Amendment Protocol” in 2008, followed by the “Japan-Philippines Technical Cooperation Agreement” in 2011.
Ambassador Koshikawa warmly noted that Honorable Villar’s “steadfast commitment to nation building and exceptional leadership skills have laid the groundwork for deepening the friendship and bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines.”
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