FAO awards GMA with Ceres Medal

President Arroyo joins a number of distinguished Asian women honored with the Ceres Medal of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for commitment to agricultural and social development in their respective countries.

Dedicated to Ceres –the Roman Goddess of Agriculture – the medal honors the president for ìher commitment to the welfare of the landless farmers as she promotes social justice and moves the nation towards vigorous rural development and industrialization and establishes owner cultivatorship of family-sized farms as the basis of Philippine agriculture.

The medal was conferred by Jacques Dious, director general of the FAO at ceremonies held at Malacañang last February 20.

Former Asian personages and leaders awarded with the medal (with citations) are Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (VII Congreso Forestal Mundial, Buenos Aires); Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Food for All – Holy Year 1975); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Peace and Food for All); Thailand Queen Sirikit (To Give without Discrimination, International Council of Women, 1978-1988).

The others are: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina. (Right to Vote and Food Are the Key to Poverty Alleviation); Iceland President Vigdis Finnbogadottir (The Nation which Does not Honor its Past Has No Future): Panama President Mireya Moscoso (Combatiendo el Hambre y la Pobreza para Benificio del Mundo); and Belgium Queen Fabiola (L’ amou espere tout).

The most recent awardees are New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark followed by President Gloria Arroyo.two days ago.

The Ceres Medal was conceived in 1971 to give importance to the role of women in the task of increasing food production as an expression of solidarity with millions of people suffering from hunger.

The portrait of the awardee representing Ceres is shown in the medal with her name and the inscription "FAO ROME". The obverse side relates to the interest of the person portrayed (e.g. nutrition and agriculture), the social problems and development of the Third World. Since the year 2004 has been declared by the UN as the "International Year of Rice" at the initiative and sponsorship by the Philippines in Rome and New York, the obverse side bears the inscription "International Year of Rice, 2004".

The medals minted in three sizes and in different metals. The standard size is 50 mm in diameter and is made in bronze, silver and sometimes in gold while the smaller versions–19mm and 28mm in diameter – are minted only in gold.