A Monday visitor

The art of diplomacy sometimes requires using a lot of words to say next to nothing or, conversely, saying a lot without saying much. Aside from the nearly hour-and-a-half conversation US Ambassador Philip Goldberg had with STAR editors last Monday being off the record, there was some pretty fertile ground if one read between the lines – and not a few barren spots, too.

From mangoes and potatoes to Tubbataha, from the FAA Category 1 upgrade to the increased rotational presence agreement – both of which, the amiable ambassador insisted, have nothing to do with the forthcoming visit of US President Barack Obama (since there is no official announcement yet from the White House or Malacañang, “we don’t know anything about it” was US embassy public information head Kurt Hoyer’s answer to persistent questions on the visit) – from Bubba Watson winning the Masters (a golfer himself – though he says not very seriously – the ambassador watched the final holes of the tournament early morning Monday, as he did the Pacquiao-Bradley fight the day before) to where he would spend the Holy Week break (this, I guess, is classified information, for security reasons), from the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea to Tacloban to Baguio to Subic, the ambassador was open and candid, as forthright as I suppose he could be. Perhaps sometimes a bit too forthright, judging from Mr. Hoyer’s facial expressions and body language in reaction to some of the questions – and even the answers – leading to his having to remind all of us – with a smile but firmly, as the session wrapped up – that the entire conversation was off the record and nothing could or should be attributed to the ambassador. The caveat, not surprisingly, drew a howl of protest from us – and some on the spot bargaining – since we would have had quite a few juicy stories for the next day’s paper. Killjoy!

 The ambassador had very kindly granted STARweek his first interview (see STARweek, Jan. 19, 2014) shortly after he arrived in Manila, swept in, as it were, by Super Typhoon Yolanda. His confirmation in the US Senate was rushed so that he could oversee the massive relief and rehabilitation efforts. After presenting his credentials, he hit the ground not just running but flying, rushing to Tacloban and Palo, in Leyte, and has since returned several times. 

 With an eye on the history of Philippine-American relations (“some of it good, some of it not so good going back before World War II,” he said in the earlier interview) and another on the “partnership of the 21st century” that he is helping to forge, the 57-year-old Boston native is indeed fitting right in.

The fiercely anti-American cabal in my on-and-off Chinese history class will probably take me to task for consorting with the enemy, but such are the perks – or the pitfalls, depending on where you’re coming from – of a journalist’s life. But enough said, as I would not want to cause the kind Mr. Hoyer’s blood pressure to spike.