MOPC Diplomatic Night: A cocktail reception for Ambassador Goldberg

The Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) hosted a cocktail reception in honor of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, during which he was presented with Conversations With the Country’s Movers — a book detailing MOPC’s history, its contributions to journalism and how it has driven the discussion on issues of national importance through its various forums. 

Over the years, the MOPC has made it a tradition to formally welcome the US Ambassador as a tribute to renowned Life magazine photojournalist Carl Mydans who is acknowledged as the man who started the Philippines’ and perhaps even Asia’s oldest press club. According to the club’s annals, Mydans — who took that famous photograph of General Douglas MacArthur wading knee-deep in the waters of Lingayen Gulf — was going inside the ruins of the “Tent City” located at the University of Santo Tomas when he chanced upon fellow media men David Boguslav and Dave Sternberg. The sight of the emaciated men caused Mydans to exclaim, “It’s Dave! This has got to be the MOPC!”

Although the Philippines obtained full independence from the United States in 1946, it was only in 1951 when American “colonial rule” at the Manila Overseas Press Club ended with the election of Rodolfo Nazareno as the first Filipino president, with the first five presidents being Americans starting with William Wilson followed by John Grover, David Boguslav, Ralph Teatsorth and Dave Sternberg.  

Perhaps what also makes the MOPC very distinct from other press clubs in the country is the fact that membership is not confined to media men, and neither is it a dour gathering where intellectual discussions are confined to the serious or contentious. “The MOPC is a conglomerate of the most irreverent, caustic, bloodless subversives in the land” was the tongue-in-cheek description of Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, one of the ladies who first sat in the MOPC Board of Governors.

Indeed, over the years the composition of the MOPC has expanded to include industry giants, diplomats and government officials who enjoy the spirit of camaraderie and fellowship that permeates MOPC’s gatherings or “nights,” where a speaker can expect to be praised, challenged, lambasted or supported.

One of the most anticipated events of the MOPC is the “Diplomatic Night” with prominent members of the diplomatic circle taking center stage.