日本驻达沃总领事石川义久于2022年七月16日在达沃市正式向棉兰老国际大学校长伊内斯山之内马拉里博士授予了旭日金缕奖和颈带奖。照片由伊内斯马拉里提供
马尼拉——上周末,被暗杀的前首相安倍晋三(安倍晋三)正式接受了日本政府颁发的奖项,达沃一所学校的校长向她表示了敬意。
去年11月,位于达沃市的棉兰老国际学院院长伊内斯山之内马拉里被授予"旭日金缕"勋章。她于上周六在D2达沃酒店接受了该奖项。
日本为前国防部长、棉兰老岛学校校长加斯明颁奖
"我个人非常感谢安倍首相对我们日本人(在菲律宾的日本后裔)的友好和慷慨,"马拉里在她的演讲中说,她的演讲副本分享给了ABS-CBN新闻。
去年七月8日,安倍在日本奈良发表竞选演讲时遭枪击身亡。
"op-related-articles">Japan's longest-serving prime minister visited Mallari’s school in January 2017, during which, according to her, “he was able to do some high five, selfies or shook hands with” the students.
Mallari, who is also president of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. which helps post-war Filipino-Japanese descendants regain their Japanese citizenship, recalled that in 2015, Abe accommodated her group in his office in Tokyo “to listen to our appeal to help fast-track the recognition of our remaining stateless members who are already in the twilight of their existence.”
“The Nikkei community was saddened by the way PM Abe died… The world lost a great leader, while the Philippines including the Nikkei community, lost a great friend and supporter,” she said.
“To preserve PM Abe’s legacy and to reciprocate the generosity of the Japanese government, I, as one of the young recipients of this prestigious award, commits to continue working hard to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community,” the 51-year-old recipient added.
"I shall make use of this award as my driving force, to be able to continue all the worthy activities that our organization have started, and since my mission is not over yet, I shall embark on new worthy projects and activities that will further improve the lives and condition of the Nikkeijin."
Mallari’s award is the the third of 6 classes in the Order.
It is "in recognition of her valuable contributions in vigorously promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the Philippines," Yoshihisa Ishikawa, consul general of Japan in Davao, said in his remarks during the awarding ceremony.
The Order of the Rising Sun has been conferred on several Filipinos in the past, including former President Jose Laurel and several Philippine ambassadors to Japan, according to the government's Official Gazette.
The Japanese embassy had said that Japan's awarding of honors, including decorations and medals is an act performed by the Emperor with the advice and approval of the Cabinet, based on Article 7 of the Constitution of Japan.
Aside from Mallari, former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was also awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, which he formally received at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence last May 6.
Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa conferred the award on behalf of Emperor Naruhito. It was given in recognition of Gazmin's contribution to strengthening the relations between Japan and the Philippines in the defense sector.
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