THE FILIPINO DIPLOMAT UPDATES: Fresh perspectives on PHL-US linkages.

IT'S quite rare that the country has, for an ambassador, one with a catchy name, and who is also a veteran journalist at that...

Who else could easily connect with fellow writers than the Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, constantly regaling members of the media with an inside look into America's soul, its foreign policy and the inner workings of the greatest military power in the world, among others?

These items and more used to be inaccessible to fellow snoops, deadline beaters and a generally gossipy lot, which the jolly ambassador shared with us over a cup of coffee.

But the gems that 'Babe'-the name he is called by close friends and acquaintances-dish out are not empty chatter, but rather, substantial news. His views and inside information are clear-eyed recalibration and reassessment of the Philippines's relations with the US, an ally of the country in the last seven decades.

These rare insights are the result of two years of being this country's top envoy to the heart and soul of America itself, Washington, D.C., aside from having been on first-name basis with many of the diplomats and ranking military officials he had the chance to befriend during his long and stellar career as a newsman.

Much is being said about President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China. This has roiled the country into two distinct, disruptive lines: a division between those loyal to a former colonial master; and the other, a rekindled friendship with a much older and closer kin, by affinity, geographical nearness and blood relations.

How did our good ambassador put across to the Americans this dilemma?

'It used to be that we in the media had the tendency to say, 'We want this, we want that.' But when I [assumed] my post, I endured 30 minutes of their lectures of what I'm supposed to do,' Romualdez revealed in a medley of Tagalog and English.

The Filipino diplomat said he listens with intent to everything the Americans dish out. After the 'homily,' he told them: 'You know, Senator, we respect whatever you are telling me. But our [countries' relations at this time are] more important than the two of us put together; more important than our presidents'. We've been around for 70 years. It's for our mutual interest that our relations remain stable and enduring.'

'We are not here to ask for anything,' the envoy would start his own discourse, with the image of Filipinos going to the United States in the back of his mind.

'Iba na ngayon. [It's now different.] I said, 'We're friends; let's talk about what's good for both of us.''

The key message, according to him, was always, ''Respect our sovereignty.' We're no longer ruled by Washington, D.C. We have our own democratic system, our own president. I think they understand that now more than ever.'

Having put his message across, Romualdez said he would feel an awakening of some sort from his counterparts 'precisely because of the situation. I think we should develop it in that manner where we'll have a situation [that] we are on equal footing.'

This renewed, refreshed understanding between two longtime allies would translate into more substantial reaction, so that during the last strategic bilateral dialogue, Romualdez said the result was 'one of the best, because the US is prepared to tell us how they want us to work with them.'

'Before, it used to be, 'We'll tell you what our relations are all about.' Now, it is, 'What do you really want, so that we would have a fruitful dialogue?''

From previous experiences, Filipinos attending this dialogue would always hear one side: that of the Americans. 'Now, it's more equal. Both sides are being heard, which is good for both countries. We don't take each other for granted anymore.'

According to Romualdez, former Stargate Media Corp. CEO and one-time publisher of People Asia Magazine: 'That's where we are today in our relationship with the US and other countries. We're not just following everything that they tell us anymore.'

Respect and gratitude

THE ambassador said the effect of that newfound respect was shown when Iceland proposed a resolution at the United Nations Human Right Council, which called for action against the spate of killings in the Philippines. (Recall that there were 18 countries that voted in favor of the probe. Fourteen were against it, and 15 abstained.)

'You could see that there are more abstentions than representations. That means tactically, they did not get the majority. That's our award for diplomacy now. We're trying to do things which are best for us.'

Romuladez said he followed the advice of a lawmaker of our republic that we should not get out of the UN. 'It's a forum where we can use diplomacy to counteract all the negative issues that are thrown against us.'

In one of the dialogues with an American legislator, the Filipino envoy reminded his host of his countrymen's gratitude for the help extended by members of the US military who helped in Central Visayas during the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan). 'Filipinos will never forget that. We will always appreciate it.'

'Then the senator smiled, wrapped an arm around me and said, 'Ambassador, you let me know what we can do.''

Requests and preparations

IN the course of his US posting, it is unavoidable that Romualdez would receive various forms of requests from fellow Filipinos asking for his 'connections' to bridge the gap between what is possible and the improbable.

'Some people will call me: 'Ayusin mo na 'yung 'ano,' kaibigan mo naman si 'ganun,' [Would you please arrange or solve this for me? Anyway, so and so is your friend.]'

'Oh no...