Parochial but global, vice versa

The book “Global But Parochial,” penned by the late Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Blas Ople flooded back to memory. It is a compilation book of Ople’s foreign policy essays and speeches before his demise as DFA Secretary during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In this 249-page book, Ople defined “global but parochial” as referring to the kind of mindset that we Filipinos must have, because of the diaspora or migration of our people in all parts of the world. As DFA Secretary, he sought to demystify foreign policies and to connect it to the country’s domestic interests, especially for the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the world. Ople was regarded as “the father of OFWs” while he was then the Labor Minister during the Marcos regime.

Ople joined the Arroyo Cabinet in July 2002. It was immediately after Mrs. Arroyo’s official visit to Japan when Ople succumbed to cardiac arrest while en route on board a plane to Bahrain as the next leg of her foreign trip in December 2003. Hailed a patriot, the late DFA Secretary was laid to rest with full state honors and buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

A prolific writer and statesman, Ople’s legacy book came to mind as foreign policy advisers led by DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. try to do damage control on the controversial public declarations made by President Rodrigo Duterte against the United States (US), the European Union (EU); and even the United Nations (UN).

While indeed he came out very nationalistic in staunch defense of the “dignity of Filipinos” and that of Philippine honor, President Duterte’s angry remarks against the US, the EU and the UN, however, have placed the country’s stature in the international community under clouds of uncertainties.   

Such “global but parochial” thinking was echoed by Ople’s former colleagues in previous Congresses led by Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, ex-senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, and ex-Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez. Enrile and Tatad were also Ople’s fellow Cabinet Ministers during the martial law regime of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. Enrile and Tatad served, respectively, as the defense and information ministers.

Golez was Congressman of Paranaque City off-and-on several Congresses ago. Like Ople, he also once served in the Arroyo Cabinet as her National Security Adviser.

The three veteran politicians aired their respective observations and insights into how the conduct of the country’s foreign policies seems to be in a state of confusion so far under the four-month old Duterte administration. All three expressed concern on the developing situation of the country’s traditional military and economic alliances and partnerships with the US and its allies like Japan and Australia in Duterte’s bid to rekindle Philippine-China bilateral relations.

The three gentlemen may have retired already from Philippine politics – perhaps temporarily – but they have remained concerned and updated in the affairs of the state under the new administration. As guest panelists at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay at the Café Adriatico in Malate the other day, Enrile, Tatad and Golez were one in commending  President Duterte for convening the expanded National Security Council early on and invited the four former presidents – namely, former presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III – to sit and attend the meeting at Malacanang.

While President Duterte is the chief architect on foreign policies of the country, the three of them though cited the need for the Chief Executive to consult more people not only from his circle of Cabinet members and allies in the 17th Congress to craft the foreign policy directions he wants the country to pursue during his watch in the next six years.

While he was in a state visit to China last week, President Duterte caught everyone confused, including his Cabinet delegation, when he announced “separation” of foreign policy from the US. President Duterte later on clarified “separation” did not mean cut or sever diplomatic ties with the US but pursuing our country’s “independent” foreign policy and not kowtowing or on cue by the US.

On the last day of his state visit to Tokyo yesterday, President Duterte told reporters that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe understood where he was coming from in his profanity-laced public statements against fellow allies like the US, the EU and the UN. He impressed upon the Japanese Prime Minister he was merely hitting back at US, EU and UN’s questioning his government’s illegal drugs war. He was hurting over criticisms against him as having allowed alleged extra-judicial killings of 3,700 drug suspects and viewed their criticisms as interference in the internal affairs of the Philippines as a sovereign country.

In his latest policy pronouncement, President Duterte announced he would not like to see any foreign soldiers stationed in the Philippines at the soonest time. Digressing from his prepared speech in his state visit to Tokyo last Tuesday, President Duterte vowed to make this happen during his administration even if it may require him to abrogate any treaty or agreement.

As defense minister for 17 years during the Marcos regime, Enrile believes it can be done but such will need in-depth study and consultation on how to go about it before making any off-the-cuff remarks in extemporaneous speeches.

Enrile specifically batted for the convening of the Council of Elder Advisers that will include all stakeholders to determine what are the national interests that must be taken into consideration. Such an institution, he pointed out, would help guide President Duterte to craft whatever he envisions for the Philippines.

Having dealt directly with the US while he was Defense Minister of the ousted president Marcos, Enrile branded as “over-rated” scenario and “myth” fears echoed by President Duterte of alleged US ouster or assassination plot to unseat him from power. 

While seemingly airing anti-US sentiments, Enrile backed President Duterte in pursuing what the latter believes is for the national interest of Filipinos. Like the rest of the world, it’s but natural to pursue the “egotistic” national interest of the country in the world community, Enrile opined.

President Duterte is pursuing a foreign policy like Ople’s book title in reverse, parochial but global. But the end goal is the same: national interest.