MANILA -- Former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo has been awarded by Queen Elizabeth II an honorary OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his efforts to promote relations between the United Kingdom and the Philippines for over four decades.
According to the UK embassy here, British Ambassador Stephen Lillie recently hosted a special dinner in de Ocampo’s honor and presented him with the medal from Her Majesty The Queen for his appointment as an honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Among the guests were business leaders and high-level government officials.
The Order of the British Empire recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the civil service, and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.
“This award is not only an immeasurably precious one to me for my lifetime but a treasure for my family to have and keep and to pass on to the next generations. The fact that this is all taking place during the Queen’s Jubilee Year, the London Olympics, and the 250th anniversary year of the first British presence in the Philippines makes the memory of this event more compellingly special to me,” said de Ocampo when he accepted the award.
Ambassador Lillie acknowledged de Ocampo as “a tireless and influential advocate for friendship, business, and cooperation between our two island nations.” He also paid tribute to de Ocampo’s “unstinting and unpaid service” as chairman of the British Alumni Association (BAA) in the Philippines, which he has led for more than 12 years.
“Under his chairmanship, the BAA has become much more than an alumni association, but a truly effective body for the promotion of bilateral friendship and understanding,” said Ambassador Lillie.
“In particular, under Bobby’s leadership, and with his very personal and hands-on involvement, the BAA has developed the annual UK-Philippines Friendship Day into an annual week-long celebration of the links between the UK and the Philippines… This has significantly raised the reputation and prestige of the UK in our host country. The Friendship Week also has a strong charitable component, involving annual fundraising and outreach to disadvantaged communities in the Philippines,” he added.
De Ocampo acknowledged that his “association with and affection for the UK” started in 1971 when he was accepted to a post-graduate program in Development Administration at the London School of Economics.
“I benefitted from being there at a time of substantial historical significance for the UK as it was in the process of transitioning from a longstanding Welfare State System towards the Margaret Thatcher era. The experience was both an exciting one and a profound influence on me,” he explained.
A former secretary of finance during the presidency of Fidel Ramos, de Ocampo is a product of both De La Salle and Ateneo Universities. He received his MBA from the University of Michigan, a post-graduate diploma from the London School of Economics and has been conferred four Doctorates (Honoris Causa) different universities in the Philippines.
source: interaksyon.com
