AMBASSADOR LECAROS RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo conferred on Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano M. Lecaros the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) in ceremonies held during the Filipino Community Night with the President at the Nikko Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 30 August 2007. The presidential award was in recognition of Ambassador Lecaros’ role as Spokesperson for the 12th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits hosted by the Philippines in Cebu in January 2007.
At the dinner attended by over 200 members of the Filipino Community in Malaysia, President Arroyo awarded the presidential medallion to Ambassador Lecaros. Mr. Revimarc De Mesa, Deputy Chief of Presidential Protocol, read the citation. The conferment of the award was also witnessed by the members of the official delegation of President Arroyo comprising Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Congressman Rodolfo Antonino, and Congresswomen Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Ma. Zenaida Angping, Mary Mitzi Cajayon, Dulce Ann Hofer, and Cecilia Luna.
With this award, the name of Ambassador Lecaros is now in the roster of the Order of Lakandula presidential awardees. The award was originally to be given in Manila on 14 August 2007, together with other presidential awardees. Hence, the award was conferred on him on the sidelines of President Arroyo’s visit to Malaysia to attend the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence on 31 August 2007.
Ambassador Lecaros joined the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in 1980. He has served in the Press Office, the Protocol Office, the Deputy Minister’s Office, the Office of the American Affairs, and also did a short stint as DFA Spokesman in 1991-1993. In early 2000, Mr. Lecaros was Director of the Management Information Services of the DFA. He became the DFA Spokesman for the second time from 2001 to 2003. In the Foreign Service, he served in Houston, Texas; in Jakarta, Indonesia; in Beijing, China; and in Singapore. From 2003 to 2005, he served as Philippine Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. END
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awards the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) on Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros (middle) in ceremonies held at the Filipino Community Night with the President at the Nikko Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 30 August 2007. Assisting the President is Mrs. Melissa C. Lecaros (right).
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awards the presidential citation of the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) on Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros (middle). Witnessing the conferment of the award were the members of the official delegation of President Arroyo during her visit to Malaysia on 30-31 August 2007.