MANILA, Philippines - The Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross, Gold Distinction was conferred on outgoing Ambassador Velupilla Ponnundurai Hirubalan of Singapore in simple rites at Malacañang yesterday.
Hirubalan, accompanied by his wife, Manoranchitham Hirubalan, accepted the award, which was given by President Aquino in recognition of his significant contributions in strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore.
The President also cited Hirubalan for facilitating Singapore’s humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Typhoons Pablo, Yolanda and Ruby and the Bohol earthquake.
Hirubalan was also commended for arranging high-level meetings, including the state visit of Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam on April 2 to 5 last year, and the working visit of Aquino in Singapore last Nov. 18 to 19.
He was also credited for revitalizing bilateral relations by convening the 2nd Round of Informal Consultations on the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan on July 4, 2014 – 10 years after its inaugural meeting in 2004.
Aquino recognized Hirubalan for encouraging his government to support various Philippine initiatives in the regional and multilateral arena.
He cited his efforts to enhance people-to-people ties through Singapore’s offer of technical assistance under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Program, Temasek Foundation and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Hirubalan was posted to the Philippines on March 12, 2012, after stints in the Middle East, North Africa and the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Central Asia Directorate.
The ambassador also served as director of the ministry’s ASEAN Directorate in Southeast Asia, and ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.
Hirubalan will assume his post as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community on Feb. 15, succeeding outgoing Deputy Secretary-General Nyan Lynn, who is from Myanmar.