Filipino receives award from Queen Elizabeth II

MANILA, Philippines - Former Finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo has been awarded an honorary OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his significant contribution to the development of UK-Philippines relations for over four decades.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie recently hosted a dinner in his honor and presented him with the medal from Her Majesty The Queen for his appointment as an honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations.

Lillie acknowledged De Ocampo as “a tireless and influential advocate for friendship, business and co-operation between our two island nations.” He also paid tribute to De Ocampo’s “unstinting and unpaid service” as chairman of the British Alumni Association (BAA) in the Philippines, which he has led for more than 12 years.

“Under his chairmanship, the BAA has developed the annual UK-Philippines Friendship Day into an annual week-long celebration of the links between the UK and the Philippines… This has significantly raised the reputation and prestige of the UK in our host country. The Friendship Week also has a strong charitable component, involving annual fundraising and outreach to disadvantaged communities in the Philippines,” said Lillie.

De Ocampo acknowledged that his “association with and affection for the UK” started in 1971 when he was accepted to a post graduate program in Development Administration at the London School of Economics.