Japan has conferred the Order of the Rising Sun—one of the highest distinctions given by the Japanese government—on two Filipinos.
Filipinos Antonina Oshita Escovilla and Feliciano Torres received the awards for their contributions to promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, as told by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
Retired judge Escovilla was given the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for helping trace the roots of Japanese forefathers and improving the status of Japanese descendants.
“In recognition of her contribution to the improvement of the status of Japanese descendants, including educational environment, and to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the Philippines, the government of Japan confers the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette to Escovilla,” said the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
Escovilla became the legal adviser of persecuted Japanese-Filipinos at Philippine Nikkeijin Kai when Japan occupied the Philippines from 1942 to 1945.
Meanwhile, The Japanese embassy also conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon on Torres for strengthening the economic relations between Tokyo and Manila.
“The government of Japan extends its sincere congratulations to Mr. Torres, and hopes that he will continue to take an active role in further strengthening the close relations between our two nations,” the Japanese Embassy said in a press release.
Torres has served as co-chairman of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee in 1988 and spearheaded dialogues on trade and investment between the two nations.
He is also the chairman of Yazaki Torres Corporation that made valuable contributions to Japan’s economy and automobile industry.
