Alberto Romulo

Romulo's career is marked by a rare combination of fiscal expertise and diplomatic finesse. He is one of the few Filipino officials to have served in four different cabinet posts, and his tenure as foreign secretary saw the Philippines take a more active role in regional affairs. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, awarded by Japan in 2023, is among the highest honours that country bestows on foreigners, and it places him in an elite group of Filipino statesmen recognized for strengthening bilateral ties.