Tokyo, Japan — The Government of Japan has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin M. Drilon.
Japan has acknowledged Drilon’s contributions to strengthening relations and promoting friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines.
The decoration was bestowed on Drilon by His Majesty Emperor Akihito, in solemn Autumn Conferment Ceremonies held recently at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Also in attendance was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who presented the official certificate accompanying the decoration.
Drilon joined five other distinguished non-Japanese Grand Cordon awardees, who included former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, former ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Sung-joo, and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Drilon is currently President of the Philippine-Japan Parliamentarians’ Association (PJPA), a post to which he was first elected in 2011.
In this capacity, Drilon has championed the advancement of Philippine-Japan ties in and outside the halls of the Philippine Congress, and has been at the forefront of cultivating strong inter-parliamentary cooperation with key members of the National Diet of Japan, particularly those affiliated with the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians’ Friendship League (JPPFL), the PJPA’s counterpart.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. This award is a testament to Japan and the Philippine’s strong relation that is rooted on mutual understanding, respect and cooperation,” said Drilon. “I will continue to take an active role in maintaining and strengthening close relations between the Philippines and Japan.”
Established in April 1875, the Order of the Rising Sun was Japan’s first official decoration and its creation marked the institution of Japan’s honors system. It remains one of its highest honors, and the principal decoration awarded to foreign nationals who had contributed to Japan’s relations with other countries.