Tom, Gwen get medals from Arroyo for Summit
Mayor Tomas Osmeña has received the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Gloria Arroyo for his part in the success of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit here last January.
Aside from Osmeña, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and former
Osmeña said that while he was honored by the award, it was not necessary because he was just doing his job as mayor of
“It is very thoughtful of the president to give the medal but I think it is not necessary because it is our responsibility, we are just doing our job,” he said.
But the mayor was not able to personally receive the award in Malacañang because he was busy last Wednesday. He requested Vice Mayor Rama to take his place but Rama was also unavailable, so city information and protocol officer Nagiel Bañacia was sent to accept it instead.
“I’m honored by the medal, but my God I had so many things to do yesterday,” Osmeña said.
He said it was Bañacia who worked very hard for the ASEAN Summit and that his only important contribution to the effort was to convince the militants not to create trouble. With this, he also lauded the militant groups for not being unruly which was what many people expected of them.
Established in 1949, the Presidential Medal of Merit is conferred upon those who have gained prestige for the country through international recognition of excellence in a particular field of endeavor. — Wenna A. Berondo/BRP
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