Ambassador Jaime S.
Bautista, Doctor of Laws
PAFI ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
The Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Incorporated (PAFI)
invites all Philippine Ambassadors/Chiefs of Mission to take part in its Annual
General Meeting on Tuesday, 14 January 2013 at 2:00 PM at the Department of
Foreign Affairs’ 14th Floor, to discuss its program of activities
for 2014 and a vision of the Philippines’ place in the 21st
Century. The invitation includes all
those in the active service.
Throughout 2013, PAFI looked into relevant issues relating
to foreign affairs such as the conflict in Sabah last February where there was
a standoff between the Malaysian and Sulu Sultanate forces resulting in actual
use of force. On this sensitive issue,
PAFI adopted a Resolution, advocating three principles: First, PAFI expressed its concern for the
safety of Filipinos and loss of lives in Sabah.
Second, PAFI called on the Malaysian Government and the Sultanate of
Sulu to engage in peaceful dialogue and exercise maximum restraint instead of
use of force. And third, PAFI urged the
Philippine Government to resume talks, in accordance with the Manila Accord of
1963, to resolve the issue of the historic and legal rights to Sabah of the
Republic of the Philippines and the Sultanate of Sulu.
Apart from press releases by Ambassador Clemencio T. Montesa,
the PAFI position was also communicated by its Chairman, Ambassador Lauro L.
Baja, Jr., at the roundtable discussion hosted by the Asian Institute of
Journalism and Communications and the Now Planet TV Internet Program moderated
by Ambassador Jose V. Romero, Jr., at interviews with UNTV and GNN, and at a UP
forum sponsored by the Asian Center, UP Political Science Department, and the
Institute of Islamic studies, where the former also expressed his own personal
views.
In May, with the election of H. E. Hassan Rouhani as Iran’s
new President, PAFI’s Chairman was approached by the Iranian Ambassador with
the proposal that PAFI and Iran’s counterpart association establish ties in
order to encourage bilateral trade and economic cooperation in view of the new
political climate in Iran. Recently,
the British have been active to upgrade their relations with Iran, for
strategic and economic reasons. PAFI is
open to establishing such ties with Iran’s association as well as with relevant
associations of other countries, in accordance with PAFI’s mission.
PAFI examined other issues, particularly migration, peace
and development, the subjects of a symposium last June co-sponsored by PAFI and
DFA/OUMWA (Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs headed by
Undersecretary Jesus Yabes). As a
prelude to the symposium, Ambassador Rosalinda V. Tirona (the Symposium’s
Chairman) interviewed Ambassadors Montesa, Willy Gaa, and Baja in her Kalinga
TV Internet Program on their experiences in assisting Filipino nationals during
their tours of duty abroad.
The signing of the “Agreement
on Mass Media Cooperation between PAFI and the
Manila Times” last May has allowed PAFI to be more visible and
productive. This was an initiative of Mr.
Dante Ang II, Manila Times president and CEO, and Ambassador Jose V. Romero,
Jr. Through the publication every
Saturday of the “Ambassadors’ Corner”, PAFI’s members have expressed their
personal opinions on a wide range of subjects, including Sabah, the Framework
Agreement on Bangsamoro, the Syrian crisis, the Visiting Forces Agreement and
the US Pivot to Asia, the Russian Pivot to the New Asia, the West Philippine
Sea/Spratlys and Arbitration by ITLOS (International Tribunal of the Law of the
Sea), the evolving concept of Sovereignty over natural resources, the ASEAN
Economic Community 2015, ASEAN- China Cooperation in the Mekong River,
Development Diplomacy and Poverty Alleviation, Obamacare and the RH Bill, the
Perils of Privatization creating monopolies and restrictive policies increasing
the cost of electricity, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Ambassador Amado S. Tolentino’s series of three articles
relating to climate change suggests the need for more effective environmental
diplomacy in response to Yolanda. More
directly, Ambassador Jose M. Zaldarriaga took charge of PAFI’s donation to the
Yolanda victims, purchasing at a discount the 28 packs of food consisting of
rice, sardines and assorted goods, and entrusting them to LDC for quick
delivery to the super-typhoon victims.
With respect to protecting our nation’s historic buildings,
the year 2013 finally saw the approval by the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines of a historical marker for the Fujimi property in Tokyo. This was a special project of Ambassador
Macario Laurel IV, which was followed up with the Commission by Ambassador
Eusebio Abaquin. PAFI has commended Senator
Aquilino Pimentel and Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima for their particular
roles in preserving this historic cultural heritage.
Last November, PAFI entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation
(MOC) with the Philippine Council on Foreign Relations to cooperate in the
organization or sponsorships of conferences, seminars, public dialogue and
lectures and exchanges of relevant information and expertise on certain fields,
in view of their mutual interests in the fields of diplomacy and international
relations. PAFI also has a Memorandum of
Understanding on Academic Cooperation with the Foreign Service Institute of the
Philippines. Ambassador Gaa drafted the
MOC and the Commendations.
PAFI’s Board of Governors is composed of the following:
Chairman Emeritus, Alfonso T. Yuchengco (Immediate Past Chairman); Chairman,
Lauro L. Baja, Jr.; President, Jose M. Zaldarriaga; First Vice President, Jose
V. Romero, Jr.; Second Vice President, Rosalinda V. Tirona; Auditor, Amado S.
Tolentino; Legal Counsel, Willy C. Gaa; Press Officer, Clemencio F. Montesa;
Members/Governors, Jose Macario Laurel IV (Immediate Past President), Antonio
P. Villamor, and Estrella A. Berenguel; Secretary General, Jaime S. Bautista
(Acting Treasurer).
The present
Officers/Governors of PAFI were sworn in by Foreign Secretary Albert del
Rosario last 24 May 2013, on which occasion he shared information on the latest
international developments affecting Philippine interests. The members of the Board offered comments.
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