Outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg may soon be leaving Philippine shores to set sail for his next assignment, but this widely respected diplomat is to thank for the strengthened — and enduring — ties between this country and the United States of America.
By KAP MACEDA AGUILA
Whether it’s the 50 stars of the American ag or the three stars (and sun) of the Philippine flag, one will find all of them shining gloriously in the same sky nowadays. And this is largely due to the efforts of one respected diplomat.
From his office, on a good day, you can make out the island of Corregidor jutting proudly like a sentinel of Manila Bay. Today’s a good day.
“The reason we’ve been historically close is that, in 1898, we sailed into that bay right over there,†he points toward the distance, eyes squinting past the picture windows of the attached sunroom and the deep blue of the waters in the horizon.
We’re at the highly secure (surely an understatement) United States Embassy compound on Roxas Boulevard. Its principal occupant at the moment, Ambassador Philip Goldberg, is well aware of the sometimes tested but undeniably close ties of his country and ours. “That’s a testament of the years and years of our alliance, our friendship. What’s happened over time is that there now is a people-to-people relationship much different than 50 years ago,†he begins.
From conflict to cooperation
The closeness of our nations today is remarkable when viewed through the lens of history. Hard to believe now that three years of outright war from 1899 to 1902 — sparked by the debacle that was the Treaty of Paris — plus a period of American occupation, preceded the unmistakable affinity of our citizens.
This is not lost on Goldberg, and rightfully doesn’t take the kinship lightly. “It’s a double-edged sword in some ways because on the one hand, yes, there’s a tremendous affinity between the two countries, between the two peoples,” he says.
“At the same time, because of that history — and especially the history from the early part of the last century — the Philippines’ historical memory of first Spanish and the American (colonization), I think people’s views are sometimes very much influenced by that as well. So the Philippines, like many countries, is very understandably sensitive about sovereignty and about a national identity,” he continues. Perhaps it is not so much walking on eggshells as it is respecting whatever we have gone through.
Hitting the ground running
Despite being well-traveled, the diplomat hadn’t set foot in the Philippines prior to his assignment as the US’ chief emissary. And his arrival couldn’t have happened at a more eventful time — after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). “Two days after I arrived, I went to Tacloban. It was two weeks after (the typhoon struck). That was an amazingly impactful visit, an incredibly emotional moment for people in this country and for our efforts in trying to help the Philippines during that immediate relief period,†he shares.
Goldberg keenly remembers it was Thanksgiving Day (“A Thursday in late Novemberâ€) when he went to have dinner with sailors on a ship anchored off Tacloban. “That was incredibly meaningful,†he says. “Three weeks after I arrived, Secretary (John) Kerry visited — also in part motivated because of the typhoon relief, but also he had very much committed to come to the Philippines by the end of 2013 because President Obama had to postpone his trip which had been scheduled for that fall.â€
When asked for his marching orders, the ambassador predicates 52 his reply by describing the bond between countries as “on the rise for several years.†It’s thus about building on an already strong foundation of economic growth to “bring about better governance (and) modernization in many aspects of the delivery of services — the kind of things that the government here is trying to do.”
Another avenue for cooperation, continues Goldberg, is a second millennium Challenge Corporation compact. “That program is specifically designed for countries that are building on their democracy and better governance. We have worked together very well on issues like climate change. We’ve worked very well together on a whole range of issues, so I would say we are now at the point, as Secretary (Albert) del Rosario who just recently retired said, (where our) relationship is probably the best it’s ever been.â€
Ambassador Philip Goldberg will freely admit to enjoying his tour of duty in the Philippines. And it shows, too, in his enthusiasm about various embassy programs and advocacies.
He even willingly goes around the country to deliver talks on diplomacy to eager university students. “The first thing I always say, and I truly will take from the Philippines with me, is the welcoming and warm feeling of the people,†he maintains. “People here are just very generous and very nice people to us and very open. That’s the first thing I tell people — the Filipinos are wonderful.”
(Photography by MARK CHESTER ANG | Grooming by SARI CAMPOS)Â
Ambassador Philip Goldberg was awarded a PeopleAsia Men Who Matter award this year. The full article can be read in PeopleAsia‘s special June – July Men Who Matter issue.Â
