Lesson in humility for Blair

MANILA, Philippines - Unlike US President Barack Obama, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair never got to use a cell phone during the 10 years he was in office.

If there’s one thing that he missed most when he became the youngest prime minister of the United Kingdom, Blair admitted it was having his own mobile phone.

So when Blair stepped down as prime minister two years ago, the first thing he did was to acquire his own mobile phone.

“Ten years ago as prime minister, they never allowed me the use of one mobile phone. So a day after I got out of office, I got my own mobile phone,” Blair said.

“So I was excited. And, as you guys here in the Philippines are into a lot of texting, the first thing I did was to text my friend,” Blair related.

Since he has never been in possession of a cellular phone, Blair said he forgot that one’s name does not appear in the phone that received text message unless the recipient has his number.

“In my technological ignorance, I sent my text to my friend who texted me back: Sorry but who are you?” Blair recounted to much laughter at the Leadership Conference Series 2 held yesterday at the Hotel Sofitel on Roxas Boulevard.

“It’s only been 24 hours!” Blair sighed in feigned dismay, adding quickly: “It’s a lesson in humility!”

Blair displayed his brand of wit and humor in the course of his speech organized by Philippine Long Distance and Telephone (PLDT)-Smart. The other partners are The Philippine STAR, the De La Salle University, the Infinity, BusinessWorld, and The Manila Bulletin.

Blair also remembered his first day in office when he was supposed to do the traditional “kissing of the hand” of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace.

It was actually a day, he recalled, after he just won the election and hardly had any sleep when he was told to go to the Palace for the traditional courtesy call.

“A very tall member of the (Palace) court says to me: ‘Mr.Blair, you don’t have to kiss the Queen’s hand but you just have to brush it lightly with your lips,” Blair said.

“I was so sleepy I tripped on the carpet and kissed the Queen’s hand. And I think she was surprised how fervent I was in kissing her hand!” 

Now 55 years old, Blair described it as a “homecoming” of sorts when he went back to become a member of the Catholic Church after he left the government where he served for 20 years. As a government official, Blair must embrace the Anglican faith.

Che-che Lazaro, as moderator of the forum, tried but failed to pin down Blair into responding to questions on the floor about his stand on population and his return to Catholicism that frowns on artificial birth control.

The veteran TV news anchor moderator reworded several times the question.

“Are you trying to get a headline?…It’s a good journalistic technique,” Blair told Lazaro. ”I got this practice of you put a brick wall and they (media) come to your side. And for a lady journalist, I have to be very careful,” he further ribbed.

Blair also sidestepped questions on giving advice to President Arroyo.

“I have a certain diplomatic training. It’s not for me to tell your leader how to run your country,” Blair pointed out.

Blair, however, noted the Philippines has its strong points which it can use to improve perceptions about the country before the international community.

“Recent studies show women’s equality in the Philippines makes it to the top,” Blair cited.

“The Philippines has also tremendous possibilities in terms of being among the top 12 countries in terms of population,” Blair noted.

But when told that this population issue is precisely the debate on national leadership bowing to the Catholic Church stand against population growth control.

“I will leave that matter to you,” Blair said smiling.

Blair conceded that UK has its own problems and challenges like any other country and even a superpower like the US.

Two years after he left Downing Street, Blair disclosed he put up his Faith Foundation which he dedicated to promote inter-faith among the peoples and countries of various religions as the designated ambassador of the Quartet, namely, the United Nations, the European Union, the US, and Russia to help promote the Middle East peace process.