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(12 Jun 2021, Jakarta) ‑‑ Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Leehiong T. Wee presented the Order of Sikatuna (Grand Cross, with Gold Distinction) to Madame Deetje Adeline Laoh Tambuwun, widow of the late Indonesian Amb. Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang in a conferment ceremony before noon today at the chancery of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Jakarta.

In attendance were officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia who witnessed the event along with Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN H.E. Amb. Noel Servigon, friends and members of the Sarundajang family, and officials of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta. 

(Above) Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong T. Wee (third from left) presents the framed Presidential Citation and medallion of the Order of Sikatuna (Grand Cross with Gold Distinction) to Madame Deetje Adeline Laoh Tambuwun (sixth from left), wife of the late Indonesian Ambassador to Indonesia.

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the posthumous conferment of the Order of Sikatuna on the late Amb. Sarundajang on 17 March 2021 in recognition of the late ambassador’s achievements in strengthening Philippines-Indonesia bilateral relations. During his tenure as the Republic of Indonesia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of the Philippines, Amb. Sarundajang worked to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation particularly in areas of maritime security, combatting international terrorism, connectivity, trade, industry, and tourism, before his untimely death on 13 Feb 2021.

The Philippine President and Amb. Sarundajang enjoyed a close personal friendship dating all the way back to the establishment of sister city relations between Bitung and Davao when both were its respective municipal chief executives.

Amb. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang joins the exclusive list of awardees of the Order of Sikatuna, an order of diplomatic merit bestowed upon diplomats and officials of foreign states who have rendered exceptional and meritorious service in fostering and developing bilateral relations between their country and the Philippines. The Grand Cross (rank of Datu) with Gold Distinction is the highest category of the Order of Sikatuna that may be conferred upon a foreign dignitary/diplomat who is not a former/incumbent Head of State.

(L-R) Dir. Mirza Nurhidayat (MoFA), PHL Permanent Representative to ASEAN H.E. Amb. Noel Servigon, Amb. Leehiong T. Wee, Madame Deetje Adeline Laoh Tambuwun, Madame Marichu Servigon, Dir. Akio Tamala (MoFA) and Mr. Agus Buana (MoFA) pose with the medallion of the Order of Sikatuna.