Legarda conferred French order of merit
Sen. Loren Legarda was conferred the title of Officier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur (Officer in the National Order of the Legion of Honor) by the French Government, with the distinction presented by France Ambassador Marie Fontanel in a ceremony at the Ambassador’s residence on Sept. 19.
This award follows Legarda’s previous conferment as Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2016, further solidifying her invaluable contributions to fostering Philippine-French relations, cultural diplomacy and climate action.
In her acceptance speech, Legarda expressed her deep gratitude and humility, emphasizing that the award is not just a “recognition of her past efforts” but also “a call to action … a reminder that our partnership knows no bounds and will persist in the face of shared global challenges.”
Legarda reflected on the importance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations. “I always consider cultural diplomacy as the Philippines’ fourth pillar of foreign policy, a key that opens doors to political and economic initiatives,” she said.
Among her notable contributions in this field was her support for the establishment of the Philippine Studies Program at Sciences Po and the 2013 Philippine exhibit at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.
Beyond cultural diplomacy, Legarda highlighted the enduring partnership between the Philippines and France, underscored by shared values and a strong commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change. She recalled key milestones in this collaboration, including the 2015 Manila Call to Action for Climate Change and her sponsorship of the Paris Agreement in the Philippine Senate in 2017.
The four-term senator also noted her support for the Philippines’ participation in the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, an international effort aimed at protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. The two countries further bolstered their cooperation on maritime and climate issues through the “Blue Nations” initiative, ahead of the 2025 UN Oceans Conference in Nice. The high-level conference, supported by Legarda, aims to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14, focused on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
As a UNDRR Global Champion for Resilience, Legarda reaffirmed her dedication to climate resilience, sustainability and deepening the Philippines’ partnership with France.
The Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur is France’s esteemed distinction awarded for outstanding service to the country.
