By Robina Asido

Jose Rene Gregory Almendras, a former cabinet member of late President Benigno Aquino III, will receive his award at the Imperial Palace in Japan this month.

In a message to the Philippines Shimbun, Almendras said he vows to "continue to work for a deeper relationship" between the Philippines and Japan.''

"I am very very grateful for the recognition and will continue to work for a deeper relationship between our two nations," he said.

"I will fly to Tokyo for the conferment ceremonies on November 10 at the Imperial Palace with the Emperor," he added.

Early this week, the government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2026 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.

Based on the announcement, Almendras is one of the two Filipinos who will be honored together with a local staff member of the Japan Embassy in the Philippines, Efren Tanghal Manalo.

Almendras will be awarded with "the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star" while Manalo will receive "the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays".

The Embassy of Japan noted that Almendras, realized the early approval of the "Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard" when he served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

"He also signed the Exchange of Notes for the Japanese Grant Aid concerning "The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)"," it stated.

"By supporting young Filipino government officials in pursuing graduate studies and obtaining degrees at Japanese graduate schools, he helped strengthen the Philippines' efforts to address its priority development challenges while contributing to the establishment of bilateral human networks between Japan and the Philippines," the Embassy added.

Furthermore, during his tenure as Cabinet Secretary from 2012 to 2016, the Embassy stressed that Almendras also "contributed to the introduction of the Japanese digital terrestrial television broadcasting system (ISDB-T standard) in the Philippines, as well as the passage of the bill to liberalize the entry of foreign banks, thereby helping to revitalize the financial activities of Japanese banks in the Philippines."

"Additionally, as Secretary of Energy from 2010 to 2012, he implemented the introduction of the Japanese digital terrestrial television broadcasting system in the Philippines, contributed to the enactment of the bill to liberalize the entry of foreign banks, and promoted the financial activities of Japanese banks in the Philippines," it stated. Robina Asido/PHS