Legarda named 83rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, fifth Filipino honored since 1991

Senator Loren Legarda has been named the 83rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, becoming the fifth Filipino to receive the distinction since the Fellowship was founded in 1991. The Fellowship is a private, non-political and non-profit organization established to honor the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

The Fellowship invites outstanding individuals from across the globe whose work advances national progress and fosters international goodwill. The purpose is to engage them in dialogue, share their expertise, and strengthen international cooperation between the Singapore and their countries.

Legarda visited Singapore under the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship. Her official itinerary included a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong; delivered a public lecture at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute with its Philippine Studies Programme and Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme; and meetings with senior Singaporean officials, among them are Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Trade Relations Grace Fu.

“I am deeply honored to join a distinguished roster of leaders who have contributed to national progress and international goodwill,” Legarda said. “This Fellowship is an opportunity to exchange ideas on governance, sustainability, and resilience. I carry with me the stories of the Filipino people, and I look forward to learning from Singapore’s vision while also sharing our own experiences in climate action and cultural resilience.”

The four-term Senator has long been recognized as one of the Philippines’ foremost champion of environment, climate action, culture, and resilience. Through the Fellowship, Legarda is expected to engage in dialogues on climate resilience, sustainable development, education, and regional cooperation, contributing to ASEAN’s agenda for a more sustainable and inclusive future, while further deepening the Philippines-Singapore partnership. (30)

Legarda, kinilalang ika-83 Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, ikalimang Pilipino mula 1991

Kinilala si Senador Loren Legarda bilang ika-83 Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, at naging ikalimang Pilipino na tumanggap ng prestihiyosong pagkilalang ito mula nang itatag ang Fellowship noong 1991. Ang Fellowship ay isang pribado, non-political at non-profit na organisasyon na nagbibigay-pugay sa unang Prime Minister ng Singapore, na si Ginoong Lee Kuan Yew.

Inaanyayahan ng Fellowship ang mga natatanging indibidwal mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo na ang mga gawa ay nagsusulong ng pambansang kaunlaran at pandaigdigang pagkakaisa. Layunin nitong lumikha ng makabuluhang talakayan, pagbabahagi ng kaalaman, at pagpapalalim ng ugnayang internasyonal sa pagitan ng Singapore at iba pang mga bansa.

Bilang bahagi ng Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship, bumisita si Legarda sa Singapore at nakipagpulong sa mga matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan, kabilang sina Deputy Prime Minister at Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong; Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan; at Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Trade Relations Grace Fu. Nagbigay rin siya ng public lecture sa ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, sa ilalim ng Philippine Studies Programme at Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme.

“Lubos kong ikinararangal ang mapabilang sa hanay ng mga lider na nag-ambag sa pambansang kaunlaran at pandaigdigang pagkakaisa,” pahayag Legarda. “Ang Fellowship na ito ay pagkakataon upang magpalitan ng kaalaman ukol sa pamahalaan, pagpapanatili ng kalikasan, at katatagan. Bitbit ko ang mga kwento ng sambayanang Pilipino, at sabik akong matuto mula sa bisyon ng Singapore habang ibinabahagi rin ang ating karanasan sa aksyon sa klima at katatagan ng kultura.”

Bilang four-term na Senador, kinikilala si Legarda bilang isa sa mga pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng kapaligiran, aksyon sa klima, kultura, at katatagan sa Pilipinas. Sa ilalim ng Fellowship, inaasahan siyang makibahagi sa mga talakayan ukol sa climate resilience, sustainable development, edukasyon, at rehiyonal na kooperasyon, na mag-aambag sa layunin ng ASEAN para sa isang mas inklusibo at matatag na kinabukasan, habang pinapalalim ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Singapore. (30)