Order of Sikatuna, ipinagkaloob ni PBBM kina outgoing Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Antonio Manuel Lagdameo at dating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief coordinator Bernadette Therese Fernandez

PINAGKALOOBAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ng Order of Sikatuna sina outgoing Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Antonio Manuel Lagdameo at dating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief coordinator Bernadette Therese Fernandez.

Ang conferment ceremony ay idinaos sa joint courtesy call nina Lagdameo at Fernandez kay Pangulong Marcos sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang, araw ng Huwebes.

Ang Order of Sikatuna ay national order ng diplomatic merit, ipinagkakaloob sa mga indibiduwal na nagbigay ng kanilang ‘exceptional at meritorious service’ sa Republika ng Pilipinas.

Si Lagdameo, nagpahayag ng kanyang hangarin na magretiro mula sa government service noong Mayo, ay papalitan ni dating DFA secretary Enrique Manalo, kung saan ang pinakabagong appointment ay kinumpirma ng Commission on Appointments, araw ng Miyerkules.

Si Lagdameo ay itinalaga bilang permanent representative ng Pilipinas sa UN sa Estados Unidos noong September 2022.

Nanungkulan siya sa ilang diplomatic posts, nagsilbi bilang Philippine ambassador to London, United Kingdom, at Northern Ireland mula July 2009 hanggang September 2010 at mula June 2016 hanggang July 2022.

Nagtrabaho rin siya bilang Philippine ambassador to Madrid, Spain at Andorra mula August 2008 hanggang July 2009.

Itinalaga rin siya bilang ambassador to the US at Mexico na may concurrent jurisdiction sa Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, at Panama mula January 2007 hanggang 2008.

Sa kabilang dako, si Fernandez naman ay nagsilbi bilang consul general ng Pilipinas sa Milan, Italy at deputy consul general sa Toronto, Canada.

Itinalaga rin siya bilang minister at consul general ng Philippine Embassy sa London mula 2006 hangagng 2012, at second secretary at consul sa Philippine Embassy sa Beijing mula 1997 hanggang 2003.

Sa Maynila, siya ang executive director at acting assistant ng Office of the UN and International Organizations sa pagitan ng 2014 at 2016, director ng Office of European Affairs mula 2013 hanggang 2014, acting director at director ng Office of Personnel and Administrative Services mula 2003 hanggang 2006, at assistant director at acting director ng Office of Asia-Pacific Affairs noong 1997. ( Daris Jose)