On July 19, 2023, The Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS) awarded Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V the 42nd Medal of Merit for his outstanding achievements and contributions in promoting and strengthening Philippines-Japan relations at the 42nd Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration Awards Night held at New World Hotel in Makati City.
PJS Corporate Secretary, Atty. Jose Vicente Jimenez, read the Citation which was followed by the bestowment of the Medal of Merit and the plaque of the Citation to Ambassador Laurel V by PJS President Francis C. Laurel and PJS Vice-President Gerard B. Sanvictores.
A culminating highlight of his service to the country was with his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Japan in June 2017, a post he held with distinction until June 2022. Among his major accomplishments as Philippine Ambassador to Japan were: management of high-level official visits between the Philippines and Japan, the State Visit to Japan of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2019 and the Official Visit of Foreign Minister Taro Kono, also in 2019, including three working visits of President Duterte to Japan; and the supervision of large-scale projects involving Japanese corporations such as the Metro Manila Subway project.
Aside from his term as Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, Ambassador Laurel V also served as Governor of the Province of Batangas from 1980 to 1988.
PJS President Laurel gave the opening remarks, followed by the greetings of The Philippine Society of Japan President, Ambassador Makoto Katsura and H.E. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines which was read by Minister Kenichi Matsuda, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan to the Philippines.
The Children of Ambassador Laurel V and Mr. Victor “Cocoy” Laurel delighted the guests with their own musical pieces.
Attachments:
Citation of the Medal of Merit
Opening Remarks by Mr. Francis C. Laurel
Greetings by Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa (read by Minister Kenichi Matsuda)
Program
Photo Gallery
