Secretary Cayetano Confers Order of Sikatuna on Outgoing Spanish Ambassador
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano (left) congratulates outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Antonio Calvo Castaño after he bestowed the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction on the envoy. (DFA photo by Nilo Palaya)
07 September 2018 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano conferred on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction on outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Antonio Calvo Castaño on 30 August 2018.
Ambassador Calvo was recognized for his outstanding and dedicated service as resident Spanish envoy to the Philippines, and for his important contributions to the further strengthening of Philippines-Spain bilateral relations. He ended his four-year tour of duty in the Philippines on 31 August 2018.
The Order of Sikatuna is the highest honor a Philippine president can bestow upon a foreign national.
“We thank you for your exceptional work towards the successful celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 2017, and the annual celebration of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day,” Secretary Cayetano said.
"As a friend to all and an enemy to none and with our long-shared history and partnership together, the Philippines and Spain are partners, all the more with your presence here," he added.
The Secretary also noted that, with Ambassador Calvo’s full support and effort, the two countries concluded various high-level visits, consultations, and agreements such as the Philippines-Spain Air Transport Agreement in June 2018.
For his part, the Ambassador expressed appreciation for the honor of being conferred the Order of Sikatuna.
The awarding ceremony was witnessed by Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and Dean of the diplomatic corps Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, European Delegation Ambassador Franz Jessen, Spanish Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Amaya Fuentes-Milani, Instituto Cervantes Director Carlos Madrid, and Anya Resort Managing Director Alfredo P. Roca.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain were established on 27 September 1947. For the first quarter of 2018, Philippines’ total merchandise trade with Spain amounted to US$316.5 million, with US$111.4 million in imports and US$70.4 million in exports.
The Philippines has made recent investments in Spain, with the acquisition by Philippine businessmen of Torre Espacio, one of the four main skyscrapers in Madrid, Spain’s largest and oldest brandy Fundador Pedro Domecq, largest and oldest brandy cellar Bodegas Fundador and Terry Centenario, Spain’s top-selling brandy.
There is an estimated 35,372 Filipinos living and working in Spain as of 2017. END
The delegation joins Secretary Cayetano and Ambasssdor Calvo (fourth and fifth from left, respectively) after the farewell call (from left) Anya Resort Managing Director Alfredo P. Roca, Deputy Head of Mission Amaya Fuentes-Milani of the Embassy of Spain, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Franz Jessen and Instituto Cervantes Director Carlos Madrid. (DFA photo by Nilo Palaya)