President Benigo Simeon Aquino III recently conferred the Order of Lakandula Award with the rank of Gold Cross Bayani to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, along with other Cabinet Secretaries.

The President gave the award to the Secretaries to recognize their civil and political merit.  He also took the time to express his gratitude for the efficient public service rendered by the officials during his term.

In his message, the President said, “Without complaint and with boundless enthusiasm, you energized the bureaucracy and made an impact on the lives of our people. You saw the hopes and dreams of our countrymen and turned them into tangible realities. You took what many considered to be impossible, and made it possible.”

Pres. Aquino also thanked the awardees and said that as his term ends, they can all leave office with “ heads held high, because done right for the Filipino people.”

For her part, Sec. Soliman  expressed her gratitude for the recognition bestowed by the President.

“We are in public service for the Filipino people.  I, for one, am one with the President as he led the nation in instituting ‘daang matuwid’ (right path).”

“I am proud to be part of the PNoy Administration, a team composed of sincere public servants, all willing to go the extra mile to respond to the needs of the Filipinos,” added Sec. Soliman.

She also said that her time in public office may be ending by June 30, but her public service continues, in one way or another.

“My mission to render my best for the good of this nation will not end,” she said.

Aside from Sec. Soliman, other awardees were outgoing Secretaries Joel Villanueva, Bro. Armin Luistro, Rene Almendras, Janet Garin, Ramon Jimenez, Mario Montejo, Voltaire Gazmin, Rosalinda Baldoz, and Rogelio Singson. ###