Kerry visit must have substance

Although the United States has maintained a “diplomatically neutral” position regarding the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, it’s very obvious that many Asian countries and the US are concerned with the muscle flexing activities of China, the latest of which is its new Air Defense Identification Zone that is ruffling the feathers of other players in the region. The latest move of China can only escalate the tension in the region – something that Vice President Joe Biden noted during his visit to Japan a few days ago, expressing deep concern that it could unilaterally change the status quo and increase the risk of “accidents” and miscalculations. As it is, sources say Korea is also about to engage in a tit-for-tat, moving to expand its Air Defense Identification Zone.

While the Obama administration has been issuing a lot of pronouncements reiterating its renewed commitment to Asia, critics say the trip cancellations by both US President Barack Obama and then State Secretary John Kerry signaled otherwise, with attention being focused on the Middle East once again. Analysts say the lack of a senior level official as point person for Asia or even China – with former State Secretary Hillary Clinton and former National Security advisor Tom Donilon previously playing that role during the first Obama dispensation – could have a far-reaching impact as far as Washington’s rebalancing/pivot to Asia policy is concerned.

The other night we had dinner with newly installed US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, together with our friend Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-On, where Ambassador Goldberg told us that Secretary Kerry has reset his visit to the Philippines mid-December. Kerry’s visit to Manila will need to have substance and not the usual hand shake “How are you?” dialogue. We need to reinforce the strong partnership between the Philippines and its longtime ally, and avoid the impression of “tokenism.”

Philip Goldberg’s confirmation was actually fast-tracked by the US Senate because, as Secretary Kerry remarked during the Ambassador’s confirmation, they wanted to have their own ambassador “on the ground” to deal with the challenges of emergency assistance on account of Typhoon Yolanda. But it can also be concluded that the increasingly aggressive moves of China are being carefully monitored by Washington. Ambassador Goldberg will be flying back to the US after Secretary Kerry’s Manila visit to attend to a few personal matters. He said he’ll be back by end of December ready to roll.

P-Noy’s fave resto about to close

Many restaurants will be doing brisk business during the holiday season, but patrons of Makati Garden Club (MGC) – a 2,500-square meter flower and garden center with a homey café-restaurant – are disappointed to discover that the place is being ordered closed by Ayala land this coming yearend because of “re-zoning restrictions.” The MGC café (located near the intersection of Ayala Avenue and EDSA) also happens to be one of the favorite restaurants of President Noynoy Aquino.

MGC originally started out as the Forbes Park Garden Club founded by the late Doña Maria Luisa Perez-Rubio, the former wife of Ambassador Miguel Perez Rubio who is perhaps one of the best chief protocol officers Malacañang ever had. The late Enrique Zobel persuaded Mrs. Perez-Rubio to transfer the club to its present location for an annual lease of one peso. What was once an idle strip of land became a charming landscaped property with the flowering plants and trees all over transforming the place into a veritable haven.

The members eventually put up a small café in the middle of the garden, to help in defraying the increasing expenses of the club. Any profit made by the small café (with an excellent cuisine and a homey ambience) is donated to charity.  When Mrs. Perez-Rubio passed away two years ago, Ayala Land assured the MGC – which counts President Aquino among its members – of continued support. Somebody at Ayala Land must have goofed because Mrs. Lizzie Zobel as well as Kitkat and Fernando Zobel regularly patronize the place. The notice of closure was given to MGC by Ayala Land because the area has been zoned as “residential/park” – which those in the know say is curious considering that the whole of Apartment Ridge row including Gilarmi Apartments originally zoned as residential have now been rezoned to include commercial – with the exception of MGC.

Residents of Forbes and nearby villages are also wondering why Discovery Primea – which stands on the old Gilarmi premises and is a residential tower, is allowed to have substantial commercial operations while the small MGC café is not. We’re also told that the Makati City administrator has also waived its zoning restrictions to allow MGC to continue to operate –so why the insistence on closing down a good thing like Makati Garden Café? If anything, it helps in maintaining a green oasis right in the middle of Makati – which has fast become a concrete jungle.

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