The Japanese government on Thursday announced the conferment of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Franklin Drilon, Senate president pro-tempore, and Cesar Virata, former prime minister. It said Drilon is being recognized for promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. Tokyo, in a statement, said the senator has dedicated himself to nurturing the Philippines-Japan Parliamentarians Association (PJPA) since 1999. In 2011, Drilon became PJPA president and contributed “significantly” to deepening the friendship between the PJPA and its counterpart, the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League. Virata is being honored also for promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Manila Times November 03, 2016 12:54 UTC