331 Phl peacekeepers get UN medals

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the 3rd Philippine contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were awarded the UNDOF medal during a Medal parade held at Camp Ziouani in the Golan Heights, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

A total of 331 Filipino peacekeepers were awarded medals. The ceremony on Monday was attended by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia, Force Commander Major General Natalio Ecarma III, commanding officers of UNDOF troop-contributing countries Austria, Canada, Croatia, India and Japan, as well as other officers and support staff of UNDOF. Members of the Filipino community also witnessed the event.

Commanding officer of the 3rd Philippine battalion Lt. Col. Sanny Gadot lauded the soldiers for their good work and exhorted them to maintain their momentum while avoiding resting on their past accomplishments.

Ambassador Garcia also congratulated the peacekeepers and highlighted the importance of maintaining peace in the region. She expressed confidence that UNDOF would do its utmost to meet the challenges it faces.

Force Commander Maj. Gen. Ecarma, who was the guest of honor of the ceremony, noted that the Medal Parade was held at a very busy time for UNDOF, and commended the troops for their hard work in keeping up with the demands of their duties in the mission.

Following the ceremony, the guests were given a tour of the Philippine Battalion’s Tradition Hall, a structure that housed memorabilia from the previous Philippine battalions. The Hall contains photographs, medals, badges and trophies earned by the current and past Philippine battalions, as well as memorabilia from the Polish contingent from whom the Philippine battalion assumed its duties.

Another area of attraction for visitors was a display organized by the Philippine embassy to showcase Filipino culture. The display included Philippine literature, national costumes, accessories and promotions material on tourism sites. Guests were also treated to lunch and a cultural presentation showcasing the skills of the members of the Philippine battalion in kali (knife-fighting), singing, and traditional dances like the pandango sa ilaw and tinikling.