President Benigno Aquino III has conferred the Quezon Service Cross, the highest honor the government can bestow on an individual, on the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.
A medal for the posthumous award was given to Robredo's widow, Leni, in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace's Rizal Hall Monday.
The award, Aquino said, is in recognition of Robredo's "humble love for family, countryman, community and nation," as reflected in his life's work in "transforming the city of Naga and in instituting reforms in the DILG."
Robredo died in a plane crash off the island of Masbate Aug. 18, along with pilots Jessup Bahinting and Kshitiz Chand.
"'Sic Floret Respublica': iyan po ang tatlong salitang Latin na nakaukit sa medalyang ipinagkakaloob natin ngayon. Sa Filipino, 'Pagsibulin ang Republika.' Iyan din po ang nagawa ni Jesse Manalastas Robredo..." Aquino said in his speech.
Robredo is only the fifth person to be given the award, which is bestowed by the President with the two chambers of Congress enacting separate resolutions concurring with the conferment.
The late Cabinet official joins the ranks of diplomat Carlos Romulo, who was the first to receive the award in 1951; former President Emilio Aguinaldo, 1956; and former President Ramon Magsaysay, who was posthumously conferred the recognition in 1957.
The last recipient of the Quezon Service Cross before Robredo is the President's father, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, who was posthumously given the award in 2004.
"Kinakatawan ni Jesse ang mga katangian ng isang tunay na lingkod-bayan: matapat, masigasig, at mapagkumbaba (Jesse embodies the qualities of a true public servant: honest, persevering and humble)," the President said.Prior to the Quezon Service Cross, the President has also conferred on Robredo the Legion of Honoraward during the Cabinet official's funeral in August.
The Legion of Honor is the highest recognition the President can bestow on an individual with Congress approval.
Quoting Robredo himself, Aquino meanwhile urged Filipinos to remember Robredo's example, saying: "For this country to succeed, we need to make heroes of the ordinary people. We need to make heroes of ourselves."
This, as he announced that a recently published biography of Robredo will be posted online to "hopefully serve as a guide to Filipinos."
article from http://ph.news.yahoo.com/robredo-gets-highest-national-award-080717169.html
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