Ambassador Hernandez with the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (First Class) award “Gwanghwa Medal”.

Ambassador Hernandez receiving the citation from Ambassador Choi Hong-Ghi.

H.E. Raul S. Hernandez, former Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and current Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, received the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (First Class) award “Gwanghwa Medal” from H.E. MOON JAE-IN, President of the Republic of Korea, through Korean Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Choi Hong-Ghi in a ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ankara on 29 June 2020.

Ambassador Hernandez receiving the award in a ceremony at the Korean Embassy in Ankara on 29 June 2020.

The Citation reads: “In recognition of and appreciation for his outstanding and meritorious services rendered towards the promotion of friendly relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of the Philippines, I hereby present, in accordance with the powers delegated to me by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, THE ORDER OF DIPLOMATIC SERVICE MERIT, GWANGHWA MEDAL, to HIS EXCELLENCY RAUL S HERNANDEZ,  REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, 2 June 2020, MOON JAE-IN, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA.”

In his Sponsorship Speech to seek concurrence of the Philippine Senate in House Resolution No. 5 for Congress to grant consent to Ambassador Hernandez’s acceptance of foreign government decorations, Senator Koko Pimentel said that “During his almost five-year tenure as our country’s top envoy to the ROK from 28 May 2014 to 30 April 2019, Ambassador Hernandez served with  distinction. He fostered stronger bilateral relations with the ROK, a country that is emerging to be one of the most important bilateral partners in trade, FDI, ODA, Defense, tourism, and even culture and people-to-people exchanges.”

Ambassador Hernandez with Korean Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Choi Hong-Ghi and Madam Ana Algabre-Hernandez.

Ambassador Hernandez, Ambassador Choi Hong-Ghi and Madam Ana Algabre-Hernandez with representatives from the Philippine Embassy and Korean Embassy in Ankara.

Ambassador Hernandez thanked the Korean government for the honor accorded him and assured continued support for the strengthening of Philippine-Korean relations. END