What words do you have for outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney?

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: She’s the kind of ambassador all countries should send to foreign lands. Simply magnificent, energetic, kindhearted and unparalleled as a diplomat.  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: If you are not to retire yet, I wish you good luck in your next assignment. I hope you enjoyed your stay.  

Well done!

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: A deeply appreciative and well-deserved “Well done!” to outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney. We will miss you.  

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Thank you, Ambassador Kenney, for a job well done.  

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: Since US Ambassador Kristie Kenney understands Filipino and, in fact, used it in some interviews, I would rather give her parting words in Tagalog. Madam Ambassador, isang magandang palatandaan po sa iyong pagkatao ay ang pagpapakita ng pagka-makatao at kababaan ng loob sa mga Filipino. Habang inuulan ng batikos ang aming Pangulo ikaw naman ay sinasabugan ng papuri ng mga Filipino na maaring ngayon lang nangyari sa kasaysayan ng bansang ito. Sa kulturang Filipino kapag tao ang dumating ay lilisan ka na ang luha at sigla ang pabaon sa iyo sinta, Kristie Kenney ng America. Mabuhay ka at sana sa iyong pagbabalik ang kadaupang palad ay mas maliliit na.  

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: Thank you and congratulations! Thank you for being and acting like you are one of us, for letting us feel that the Philippines is a partner and not a subordinate to the US and congratulations for a job well done. Mabuhay ka!  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Kudos for a job well done, Madam Ambassador! Future US ambassadors to the Philippines will be hard-pressed, nay, find it impossible to equal your remarkable achievements in the field of diplomacy in our country. Good luck on your next assignment!  

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: To US Ambassador Kristie Kenney: Your service to the US government, to the Filipino people, and to humanity was outstanding. You have touched many lives during your stay in the Philippines. Best of luck in your future endeavors.  

A highly exceptional woman

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Kristie Kenney is an exemplary diplomat-ambassador; a potential woman US secretary of State just like Hillary Clinton. Mabuhay ka, Ma’am Kenney!  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is a highly exceptional woman. Her greatness and goodness have won her respect and love. She has the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom. She leaves behind a nation that needs her motherly caring and comfort that can partlially help improve the anemic growth and persistent mass poverty.  

Digoy Coro, Batangas: Amb. Kenney is one of a kind for her courage is in her soul. We learned a lot from you and we hope you also learned something good from us. We love you.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Madam Kristie, you have done much to strengthen RP-US ties with your ever smiling, friendly, gracious, outgoing, and accommodating style.  

God bless America!

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is the epitome of an aristocrat who shed her rich wardrobe and powerful armor to mingle with and be among the poor masses to demonstrate with all sincerity her country’s and her personal concern for people in need of love and care. May her deeds affect the heart of many wealthy and powerful Filipinos whose concern for the poor are only for show, like candidates for public office. God bless Ambassador Kristie Kenney! God bless America!  

Thank you, Ma’am!

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Maraming salamat po for your dedicated tour of duty in the Philippines. We hope that we, the Filipino people, have won your heart, one way or another.  

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: On behalf of the Filipino people, I’d like to thank you for your many contributions to the peace process. You’ll be remembered by the Bangsa Moro people for your sincerity and untiring effort and contribution to the peace talks between the MILF and the government.  

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: We love Ms. Kristie Kenney. She’s the best and the most loved ambassador the US has ever assigned to the Philippines, at a time when this country needed the stabilizing hand of the great Uncle Sam. If a people’s gratitude is a memory of their hearts and minds, for sure we in the Zamboanga Peninsula has lots of pleasant memories of what she has done. Thank you, Mrs. Kenney, for working side by side with President Arroyo.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: For fostering a mutual US-Philippines relations, Amb. Kenney deservers our gratitude. She showed a profound humanism in the face of our national crises.  

Mark Kevin Santos, Nueva Ecija: I thank her for the contributions she has made to our country. In her short time as Ambassador, she went out in the streets, feeding many street children; danced in a popular noontime show; and met with Moro rebels. Out of gratitude to her, the Philippine military gave her a testimonial parade, which is normally reserved for retiring military officers and rarely given to diplomats. She has also softened the rough edges of the RP-US relationship through humanitarian support and bilateral programs. Thanks, Madame Kenney.  

Felix Ramento, Manila: Thank you, Madam Ambassador, for giving your diplomatic post another purpose  that of humanitarian service. Your unprecedented closeness to our marginalized people proved just that.  

Probably the best US ambassador ever

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: She’s probably the best US ambassador ever assigned to our beautiful country. She was always available, with humility and sincerity, and she maintained what is best for the interest of her motherland. Unfortunately, she had to deal with our corrupt system of democracy, wherein checks and balances are dead due to the collusion of the three branches of our government. I wonder how she rated President Arroyo.  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: You’re down-to-earth and you wear your heart on your sleeve. You put a human face on the otherwise bully inclination of your government. I wish you well, I wish you good luck. May your next assignment be better for you and for those who would benefit from your warm presence. More power to you!  

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney has done a great job. She was one of the nicest US ambassadors our country ever had. Instead of replacing her, President Obama should extend her stay here in the country.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Madam Kristie, thank you so much for making the Philippines a part of your life. You’re the best US Ambassador we’ve ever had and your memory will forever linger in our hearts.  

A true ambassador of goodwill

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I have not had much interest in ambassadors, knowing that their job basically borders on two aspects: To see to the interests of their country in their place of assignment and to see to it that the bilateral relationship is enhanced and preserved. All US ambassadors to the Philippines have been outstanding on these scores. But what I’ve noticed with US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is that she has not only done a good job on those two bases, she has also shown the grit of a true ambassador of goodwill, visible everywhere in our country with that charm she has been noted for. Madam Kenney, thank you and Godspeed. Please remember us wherever you may be.  

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Parting is such sweet sorrow. Outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney deserves commendation, if not full honors, for doing a splendid job. She has been the most loved, if not most popular, US ambassador the Philippines ever had. She has done an exemplary performance of her assigned duties and will be long remembered by the Filipino people. Bon voyage, Ms. Kenney, and bring with you the hearts of all Filipinos. May God bless you always.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Showing how she cares for the countrys’ poor, Ambassador Kenney showed good fellowship, particularly when raging typhoon Ondoy wreaked havoc on RP.  

She is a true public servant

Col. Dennis Acop Ret., Benguet : I think Ambassador Kristie Kenney has done an outstanding job in bridging the gap between our country and her former colonial master. Amb. Kenney was indefatigable and seemed to be all over the place all at same time. She has so much energy and would easily beat many men in being a workaholic. She obviously enjoys her job. Her dedication to her work knows no bounds. She’s married to it. And in so doing, Amb. Kenney is a true public servant to her people. As a Filipino, however, I do not agree with some of her positions on certain issues. Professional diplomats pursue and advance the national interests of the countries they represent. Kristie Kenney is certainly no exception. Between the interests of the US and the Philippines, of course she would promote those of the former, first and foremost. I would have done the same if I were in her shoes. Nevertheless, the world in this part of the region is now a much better place to live in due in large part to her. We therefore applaud her achievements and bid her farewell. There won’t be another like her in a long while.  

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: I appreciate her dedication to public service and her reaching out to people in the countryside, like Puerto Princesa City, where she met with students and local folks to show that the US government is willing to help build strong communities, together.  

More Filipino than most of us

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: I have nothing but words of deep appreciation. Amb. Kenney, you’re a real “koboy” in our lingo. From dancing “Papaya” with Edu Manzano on “Game KNB” to helping and mediating in Mindanao hands on and elsewhere in RP. Our politicians are unlike you, who are sincere in your words and actions. I’m sure a lot of us brown Americans, ethnic and expat Pinoys, will be missing you. God bless you and may the wind be behind your back, as the Irish saying goes.  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Her heart is more Filipino than most of ours. Thank you, Madam Ambassador, for a job well done. More power, long live, and God bless.  

A world-class diplomat

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: As far as I remember, all US ambassadors here in the Philippines since the presidency of Pres. Elpidio Quirino were loved and admired by all Filipinos, excluding the militant groups. Ambassador Kristie Kenney, the first US lady ambassador, seems to be most popular and best-liked among them because she had reached many poor Filipinos in depressed areas and personally talked even with rebels in remote and dangerous places in the country. I wonder what nerve she has for she seems to have no fear at all. She also socialized with Filipinos from all walks of life, feeding hungry children in calamity-stricken areas, and appearing in television shows popular to the masses. Now that she has finished her term, let us all wish her more success in her career and happiness in her personal life.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is a world-class diplomat. She is an admirable statesman.  

Best of luck

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Good luck.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City : Goodbye and good luck. She did a good job in implementing with aplomb the foreign policies laid down by Secretaries Rice and Clinton on a developing country.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Lady Kristie, you certainly did a good job as the US PR spearhead. Your predecessors, like Ambassadors Sullivan, Bosworth, and Negroponte, never appeared in shows like “Wowowee” as you did. You are truly a most charming lady. We wish you the best of luck in your career, as we hope you to take up with President Barack when you report back to the White House the apparent corruption of the government.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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