Manila, May 4 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. paid tribute to four iconic Filipino women who he said shaped the country's soul through art, music, film and food, as he posthumously conferred them the Presidential Medal of Merit for their lasting contributions to Philippine culture.

In a solemn ceremony at Malacanan Palace on Sunday, Marcos honored National Artist for Film and Broadcast Nora Aunor, music legend Pilita Corrales, film icon Gloria Romero, and internationally acclaimed chef Margarita Fores, calling them "undeniably icons" who gave voice and identity to the Filipino spirit.

"To Gloria, to Margarita, to Pilita, to Nora-it seems very little but the best we can do, maraming, maraming salamat po (Thank you very, very much),"...