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Late envoy to Philippines awarded posthumous honors
Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, a decorated former regional leader from Sulawesi and subsequent ambassador to the Philippines, has been posthumously awarded the Order of Sikatuna, an honor conferred upon foreign dignitaries, for his role in deepening Indonesia-Philippines relations.
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Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee (left) looks on as the Order of Sikatuna medal is presented to Deetje AL Tambuwun (right), wife of the late Indonesian envoy Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, at a conferment ceremony in Jakarta on Saturday. Ambassador Sinyo was posthumously awarded the order of diplomatic merit by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for his role in deepening Indonesian-Philippine relations. (Courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Jakarta)
T
he government of the Philippines has awarded Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, the late Indonesian ambassador to the country and decorated regional leader from Sulawesi, posthumous honors for his role in enhancing relations between the two countries.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the Order of Sikatuna upon Sinyo on Saturday. His widow, Deetje AL Tambuwun, accepted it on his behalf from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta in a closed ceremony.
The former governor of North Sulawesi passed away in a Jakarta hospital on Feb. 13 from an undisclosed illness.
The medal, the highest honor the Philippines gives to dignitaries other than heads of state, was awarded to Sinyo mainly for his role in fostering deeper relations between the two countries, particularly in maritime security, counterterrorism, connectivity, tourism, trade and industry, the embassy wrote in a statement.
To mark the occasion, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee recalled how Sinyo had nurtured bilateral ties from the time of his mayorship of Bitung, North Sulawesi, until his untimely death.
The Democratic Party politician served as ambassador in Manila from 2018 to 2021, but it was his significant leadership in serving his constituents in Bitung that led to the establishment of sister city relations with Davao city in the Philippines and a friendship with then-Davao mayor Duterte, said Ambassador Wee.
Sinyo was the third-longest serving mayor in Indonesia. He held the position in Bitung for 14 years starting in 1986, when it was not yet an autonomous city.
