PHL envoy receives intl award in Chicago

A Filipino envoy — Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York Libran Cabactulan — received the International Award in Public Service in Chicago last month. Via Times Publisher Veronica Leighton handed the award to Cabactulan during the 17th Annual Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in downtown Chicago on April 23. "Ambassador Cabactulan was recognized for his leadership in international diplomacy and for his role as the Philippine Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. In his keynote speech, Cabactulan emphasized the importance of promoting peace and greater understanding in international relations. "Countries must work together and come out with concrete and workable plans for international peace and security and for the prosperity and progress of all," he said. "We all share the same humanity, and, therefore, a common destiny or destruction," he added. He noted that there are several issues before the UN which are also of great interest to the Philippine government, such as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, trafficking of persons and piracy. He also noted that the Philippine initiative at the UN that led to the establishment of a global fund to assist victims of human trafficking. Other awards Cabactulan earlier received a Presidential Citation for his role in the repatriation of Filipinos from Lebanon during the Lebanon-Israeli crisis in 2006. In 2010, he was conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu, the highest Philippine decoration for exemplary achievements in foreign service and international relations. He received the Order of Sikatuna for his successful presidency of the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, the DFA noted. - VVP, GMA News