Meeting Aung San Suu Kyi great expectations

MANILA, Philippines - In 1997, almost 20 years ago, my father met Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar. He was a senator from the Philippines and she was one of the world’s most known political prisoners.

At the time of their meeting she had already endured much in the service of her principles and at great personal cost. Yet she remained defiant and dignified, although uncertain of her fate and that of her country. But even before they met, he had read much about her and was closely following her plight.

Her story and example touched him deeply and he would often talk about her even to us, his family. The meeting had such a profound effect on him that he would deliver a privilege speech in the Senate on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Burmese independence, where he issued an urgent call to the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to address her safety and security, the restoration of her freedoms, the convening of the Burmese National Assembly and the holding of free elections.

Even when he was already serving as foreign affairs secretary, he would continue to speak up against her detention and deprivation. In 2007, a decade after they met, he called for “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to be immediately released without restrictions and that all parties, including her party the National League for Democracy, be part of the democratization and constitutional process in Myanmar” to the United Nations Security Council. During his term, the Philippines was at the forefront of support for her in Asia.

In 2011, in an article for The STAR that he wrote to remember the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution, he wrote: “Let us also pray that the Burmese people finally achieve the democracy they so rightfully deserve.”

He also wrote that when that happened he hoped that it would be no less than Suu Kyi to lead them. Last April 28, Suu Kyi visited the Philippines for the first time to attend the 30th ASEAN Summit as Myanmar’s head of state.

During President Duterte’s visit to Myanmar last March, she had expressed interest in learning about our country’s natural fibers, particularly the world-famous piña fiber. Because of this, it was suggested that we bring the State Counsellor to Aklan to take a look at the Spanish red pineapple fiber.

However, the Myanmar embassy advised us that due to time constraints the visit couldn’t be accommodated in her itinerary. This led Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to instead mount an exposition of Philippine natural fibers and agriculture products at the ASEAN Summit venue to showcase our products.

However, on the day of Suu Kyi’s visit, the secretary was informed that he had to be in Malacañang to sign an agriculture agreement with Indonesia. That left me as the highest-ranking official from our department present. I was given the distinct opportunity to greet her upon her arrival and take her around the exhibition. I had the honor of introducing and explaining to her the products showcased in the exhibition.

As we went around, the State Counsellor was very gracious and asked many questions. She was interested in several Philippine food items such as santol, purple corn, heirloom rice, coffee, tabon-tabon (a souring agent from the Visayas) and on how we make jams and liqueurs from our fruits. Although we knew her specific interest was piña, we thought it best to showcase other traditional weaves to give her a glimpse of the best fabrics in our country.

All in all, we had piña fiber from Aklan, hablon from Iloilo, traditional weaves from the Cordilleras, Mandaya weaves from the Mandaya tribe of Region 11 and t’nalak from the T’bolis of Region 12.  She was amazed that all the clothes of the Mandaya and T’Boli tribe were hand-woven and was especially interested in our t’nalak. One of our weavers, Yab Mann, was able to give her one of her masterpieces. On behalf of the President, we presented her with a piña top made by Len Cabili, designer and owner of Filip+Inna Clothing.

To reciprocate the gesture, she gave us chocolates, proudly telling us that it was the first time Myanmar was growing cacao. Throughout her visit at our showcase and exhibition, Suu Kyi was very much how my father had described her to me.

Though the time was brief, I had a sense of what he had said of her “spiritual strength and grace” and a very genuine interest in others.

Many times while we were talking I couldn’t help but think that I had never imagined that I would be able to meet her. That I was able to talk to her about the work of our local artisans made it even more meaningful.

After their meeting in 1997, my father wrote that, “(I)t would be my great privilege to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi again, this time as the leader of a free people.” Not too long ago, that seemed like a distant dream, even if to my father it was inevitable.

More than anything else, it was an honor to be able to know that it had been fulfilled.

The author is undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture.

Suu Kyi takes interest in the Philippine fruits as well as native weaving traditions featuring piña fibers in Aklan and the T’boli’s t’nalak.