DFA mourns passing of former envoy
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) mourned the passing of former ambassador Apolinario Lozada Jr, Tuesday.
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“I join the men and women of the Foreign Service in mourning the passing of an astute diplomat and legislator in Ambassador Lozada,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. “I send my condolences and prayers to his family and friends in this time of great sadness.”
Cayetano said that Lozada’s contribution as a diplomat and legislator to the country and the Filipino people would not be forgotten.
Lozada , 68, had a storied career in the Foreign Service, serving as ambassador to Palau in 1998, the Holy See, Vienna, and Baghdad.
In recognition of his contributions in the Foreign Service, Lozada was bestowed the Felipe Agoncillo Distinguished Service Award in 2014.
In 1998, Lozada was elected as representative of the 5th District of Negros Occidental, where he served as the voice of the DFA and overseas Filipinos.
As chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Lozada sponsored the bills that became the Dual Citizenship Law and the Overseas Absentee Voting Law.
It was during Lozada’s term as congressman that he became friends with Cayetano who was then the representative of Taguig-Pateros.
“Ambassador Lozada and I were good friends and seatmates during the 11th Congress in 1998. I will always remember him as one who championed the welfare of our diplomats and kababayan [citizens]abroad,” Cayetano said.
Ambassador Lozada also served in Malacañang as appointments secretary and chief of protocol to then president Fidel Ramos.
Born on August 17, 1949 in Quezon City, Lozada holds a master’s degree in Physics from the Silliman University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and bachelor of science degree in Mathematics from De La Salle University.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014. He is survived by his wife and four children. JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA
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