Seasoned with salt

Let your words be seasoned with salt. Colossians 4:6 in the Bible means that whenever we speak, we must do so with grace, wisdom and flavor, so that whatever we communicate is received pleasantly and is relayed effectively, rather than speaking in harsh or tasteless language. When we season our words with salt, we recognize that, just as salt enhances food and preserves it, so do our words when we apply them with grace, tact and wisdom.

Most recently, the Philippines has formally conveyed its displeasure over the Chinese embassy in Manila’s continued quarrel with lawmakers and other Philippine officials, saying that the increasing public exchanges may jeopardize diplomatic efforts, as well as noting the derail in diplomatic spaces needed to manage the tensions in the maritime domain and constructively collaborate in the non-sensitive areas of cooperation. As we all should know, the Philippines and China have some non-sensitive areas of cooperation that are put at risk. On Jan. 22, China summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing and pushed for Manila to “undo the negative statements” of Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, and to “stop tolerating the smear campaign and provocations.”

Since then, Tarriela has fired back, saying threats “will not intimidate us.” Yet, in spite of the recent events between Beijing and Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has most recently expressed his support for a “firm with diplomacy” approach in dealing with the word war between Philippine and Chinese officials over the West Philippine Sea conflict. According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, President Marcos is aware of the back-and-forth exchanges between Filipino officials and the Chinese embassy, resulting in calls from certain lawmakers to declare some Chinese diplomats as persona non grata.

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the declaration of persona non grata is “one of the most severe forms of diplomatic action” that can be imposed by the government against foreign diplomatic personnel and should just be “an option of last resort.” More importantly, the DFA has also said that it remains committed to resolving disputes through dialogue, also stating that it is in “direct communication with the Chinese government on various bilateral and international issues that are of great importance to the Philippines.” Having said this therefore, and as expressed by the DFA, “it is hoped that the Department of Foreign Affairs will be provided with the ample space to perform its functions and to sort out issues with foreign counterparts through dialogue and consultation rather than through public discourse in accordance with the President’s vision and guidance as the architect of Philippine foreign policy.”

Undersecretary Castro said it right when she expressed that the Chief Executive wants the government to remain firm but in a diplomatic manner. To me, this is exactly what we mean when we say our words matter and that we need to season them with salt and, in the case of our diplomatic relations, so that we preserve it. Words matter and they are used as a means to communicate ideas or issues that should enhance conversations and not ruin them.

Words that are seasoned with salt require speech that is wholesome and truthful in order to preserve relationships and not corrupt them. It also brings forth healing – something we as longtime neighbors (China and the Philippines) need today. Something that even our DFA hopes for, considering we have other areas of cooperation.

As President Marcos and our Department of Foreign Affairs ensure clear rules, with the Philippines as Chair of the ASEAN in 2026, noting the push for a binding South China Sea Code of Conduct with China, the balance on maritime conduct and a strong defense for national interests coupled with diplomatic engagement must remain thoughtful, engaging and considerate, in order to make the truth more accessible and secure. As Colossians 4:6 in the Bible says, “Let your words be seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”