Top 100 Cebuano Personalities: Francisco “Frank” Benedicto

CEBU, Philippines — In a span of 25 years, businessman Francisco “Frank” Benedicto was appointed as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to various countries by Presidents Corazon Aquino, Joseph Estrada, Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The top diplomat from Cebu was the Honorary Consul of Belgium from 1982 to 1986. From 1986 to 1993, he served as Chief of Mission and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Singapore. In the same period, he was also the Dean, Diplomatic and Consular Corps of Singapore.

In the next years, Benedicto would be posted in the Republic of Korea (1993-1995), the Federative Republic of Brazil, concurrently accredited to the Republic of Venezuela, Republic of Colombia and to the Republic of Suriname (1996-1998), Canada (1999-2005), India and concurrently to the Federal Democratic of Nepal (2008-2010), and to the People’s Republic of China and concurrently to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Mongolia (2010-2011).

Benedicto also served as Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary from 2005 to 2008.

For his achievements, he was granted several accolades such as the Outstanding Individual award conferred by the Cebu City government in 2010 for exemplary service as a top diplomat and for being the longest-serving politically appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

In 2000, he was named Outstanding Cebuano in the field of foreign service by the Cebu provincial government, while in 2007, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry conferred him with the Grand Chamber Award of Distinction for his commendable leadership, integrity and service as a responsible diplomat in national and international affairs.

Currently, Benedicto is the chairman of B. Benedicto and Sons Co. Inc, FLB Industries Inc., FLB Prime Holding Inc., and Benedicto Development Corporation. He is also the founding chairman of Benedicto College, Inc. (FREEMAN)