ABOUT
the
BOOK
T
We hope this book will make the reader feel the importance given to the overseas contract workers by our father. He was always concerned about the “underdogs”, be it the OCW’s or the coconut farmers. He fought for their rights and sought ways to better their lives. —from the Epilogue
ROMAN DIARY OF A CHRISTIAN DIPLOMAT
his book is different from the rest, but the message is just as significant. This book is about things that mattered most to him, things that were more personal, a glimpse of who he was, what his life was like, and not just what he knew or thought.
ROMAN DIARY OF A CHRISTIAN DIPLOMAT
JOSE V. ROMERO, JR.
ROMAN DIARY OF A CHRISTIAN DIPLOMAT
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ROMAN DIARY OF A CHRISTIAN DIPLOMAT
JOSE V. ROMERO, JR.
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Published by the University of Asia and the Pacific. Copyright@2019 by Roxanne R. Asuncion. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information retrieval systems – without the written permission of the publishers and/or copyright holder. University of Asia and the Pacific Cataloging-in-Publication Data Romero, Jose V. A Roman Diary of a Christian Diplomat / Jose V. Romero 180 pages; cm. ISBN 978-621-8072-04-6 1. Ambassador -- Diaries. 2. Ambassador -- Philippines. 3. Christianity -- Philippines. 4. Diplomats. I. Romero, Jose V. II. Title. DS675.8A2 R66 2019
Editor: Boots Ruelos and Roxanne Romero-Asuncion Design and layout: Jaime Jim O. Hilario Printer: Apple Printers, Inc.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this book are solely the responsibility of the author and do not represent any position held by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction.................................................................................... vii Dedication....................................................................................... xi
Chapter I: Rise of Modern Diplomacy...........................................
1
The Origin of Ambassador/Approval............................................... Role of Ambassador......................................................................... Ambassadors-at-Large...................................................................... Duties of an Ambassador................................................................. Economic Diplomacy.......................................................................
2 3 5 6 9
Chapter II: Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary..... 16 Christian Democrat Envoy.............................................................. Commission on Appointments/Disappointments............................. Presentation of Credentials.............................................................. Ambassador to FAO and the IFAD.................................................. Christian Democrat Connections.................................................... The Quintessential Diplomat..........................................................
18 20 21 24 25 27
Chapter III: Filipinos in Italy........................................................
32
Bonding with the Community......................................................... The Filipino Community In Italy.................................................... The Value of the Filipino Community in Italy................................ Quaint Habits of Pinoys................................................................... Filipino Clergy.................................................................................
34 35 38 39 39
iii
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Chapter IV: The Glory that was Rome..........................................
46
Magnificent Palazzos and Famous Piazzas......................................... Rome Made Famous by Hollywood.................................................. The Vatican State............................................................................
48 52 53
Chapter V: Ambassador as Tourist Guide.....................................
58
Chapter VI: Seven Pilgrim Churches in Rome.............................
64
Basilica of St. Peter’s........................................................................ Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls........................................... Basilica of St. John Lateran............................................................. Basilica of St. Mary Major............................................................... Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls..................................... The Church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem..................................... Sanctuary of Our lady of Divine Love..............................................
65 66 67 68 68 69 69
Other Important Churches Santa Pudenziana............................................................................. Church of San Salvatore in Lauro................................................... Santissima Trinita dei Monti........................................................... San Silvestro in Capite.................................................................... Holy House of Loreto.......................................................................
71 71 73 73 74
Chapter VII: Slices of Italian Life.................................................
76
La Dolce Vita................................................................................... Italian Politics................................................................................. The Italian Economy....................................................................... Italian Gastronomy and Art of Dining............................................. Typical Meals...................................................................................
76 81 83 84 86
Chapter VIII: Consular Expeditions..............................................
89
Northern Italy................................................................................... Milan.........................................................................................
89 90
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Venice........................................................................................ Pavia.......................................................................................... Bologna...................................................................................... Parma......................................................................................... Turin.......................................................................................... Padua......................................................................................... Central Italy...................................................................................... Florence..................................................................................... Siena.......................................................................................... Assisi......................................................................................... Southern Italy.................................................................................... The Mezzogiorno....................................................................... Sicily.......................................................................................... Naples........................................................................................ Amalfi........................................................................................ Benevento.................................................................................. Salerno...................................................................................... Bari (City of Santa Claus)......................................................... Ortona....................................................................................... San Giovanni Rotondo..............................................................
94 95 97 98 100 101 103 103 108 109 110 110 112 113 115 116 117 119 120 121
Chapter IX: Sanctification of Work............................................... 122 Joining Opus Dei............................................................................. Integrated Existence........................................................................ Connectivity.................................................................................... Daily Routine in Rome.................................................................... Plan of Life...................................................................................... Mental Prayer.................................................................................. Offering of Work/Study................................................................... Eucharistic Celebration................................................................... Reading the Gospel and Spiritual Reading...................................... Best Marian Devotion...................................................................... Reining in the Senses...................................................................... Spiritual Formation.......................................................................... Cheerfulness....................................................................................
122 125 127 129 131 134 137 139 141 142 143 145 146
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Apostolate of Friendship and Confidence........................................ 147 Temporary Withdrawal from the World........................................... 148 Chapter X: An Interview............................................................... 150 Addio Roma..................................................................................... 155 Bibliographic Notes......................................................................... 158 Epilogue .......................................................................................... 165
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INTRODUCTION
THIS BOOK is a wonderful combination of a manual on “How to Be a Filipino Ambassador,” a travelogue, and a guide to the sanctification of one’s ordinary occupation in the middle of the world. Only Ambassador Jose Romero could have written such an entertaining and informative diary of a Philippine Ambassador to the Quirinale in one of the most exciting periods of modern Philippine history—just immediately after the People Power or EDSA Revolution in 1986. This should be a must reading for anyone who wants to reach the top of the diplomatic world as Chief of Mission to any country in the world. As the author observes early in the book, “the primordial responsibility of an ambassador is to represent the interest of the country in his nation of assignment. These interests may differ in priorities over time in a rapidly changing international geopolitical setting that can complicate the job of a Chief-of-Mission. Today in a world of changing alliances and steady regionalization, a country’s interest may very well lie in solidarity with regional groupings rather than bilateral ties that characterized the age of colonialism before World II.” I have known the author for more than half a century. I have followed his career as a business journalist steeped in philosophy, politics and economy (PPE), an academic training he obtained in one of the best universities in the world, Cambridge University in the U.K. Also almost from the beginning of our friendship, he had been well grounded on the dynamics of an important local industry, the coconut sector, which supports the lives of millions of farmers and other workers all over the country. Because of his having been educated in vii
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both the U.K. and the U.S., two of the global powers in the middle of the last century, thinking global was second nature to him. He knew, however, how to act local, not only because of the demands made on him by business journalism but also because of his intimate knowledge of both national and local politics. He was the head of the Congressional economic think tank, a position that exposed him to the major national issues. At the same time, he took time to interact with the local politicians of the region of his birth, the province of Negros Oriental. To summarize his multi-faceted personality, I can describe him as a “Renaissance man” who applied his comprehensive knowledge to the political economy of the Philippines. In fact, he has written volumes on the politico-economic history of the Philippines. He was one of the pillars of the Institute of Political Economy of the University of Asia and the Pacific that offers the equivalent of the philosophy, politics and economy (PPE) program of Oxford and Cambridge. I know of very few Philippine Ambassadors who were as eminently qualified to practise economic diplomacy as Ambassador Romero. It was during the term of the late Raul Manglapus at the Department of Foreign Affairs when economic diplomacy was launched. I also know the business people who followed his footsteps: top business executives who were recruited to the diplomatic corps, such as Alfonso Yuchengco, Jesus Tambunting, John Rocha and Howard Dee. Ambassador Romero had a distinct advantage of having a strong academic training in the science of economics, which was a good foundation for his understanding the intricacies of trade and investment. His having studied a great deal of philosophy in the PPE program, both in Cambridge and in Georgetown University in the United States, prepared him well for his role as one of the founders, together with the late Raul Manglapus, of the Christian Democratic Party of the Philippines. viii
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Introduction
In my book, the social market economy perfected in countries such as Germany is the model of the right type of capitalism that combines the benefits of a free market economy with the social responsibility of the State to provide for the most needy in any society. His stint in Italy cemented the ties of Ambassador Romero with the Christian Democrats of Europe. He has inspired and continues to inspire the young leaders of today with his insights into how the social doctrine of the Church, with such principles as subsidiarity, solidarity, and the common good, should be the foundation of a just and humane society that we are trying to build in the Philippines today. A most important contribution of this book is the emphasis on the key role that an Ambassador has to play in promoting the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who are spread out in more than 100 countries of the world today. I have always written that OFWs will be a permanent phenomenon in the world, even if we are able to reduce our poverty incidence to close to zero. Because of the demographic winter inflicting practically all the developed countries of the world today, there will always be a demand for Filipino workers and professionals who are given a premium over other overseas workers because of the unique traits of Filipinos. Therefore, there will always be a need for Chiefs of Mission to give a great deal of importance to the welfare of the OFWs in the countries in which they are serving. The many examples given by Ambassador Romero of the way he paid attention to the OFWs in Italy (one of the countries with the largest number of Filipino workers) can serve as an example to our future Ambassadors. As he himself has written: “The task I enjoyed the most was visiting our nationals in their area of work to see to it that they were treated fairly by their employers and that they behave so as not to give the country and our people a bad name.” Since many of the Filipino citizens in Italy then were domestic helpers, the Ambassador once quipped that one of his titles while he was Ambassador to Italy ix
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was “Domestic Prelate.” The book is peppered with many other similar humorous anecdotes about his numerous encounters with OFWs. I hope that this book will serve as an example to Filipino Ambassadors when they retire. We should have other diaries in which those who served as Chiefs of Mission, especially to the leading countries in the world, will record what they did in the area of economic diplomacy and how they promoted the welfare of OFWs. These diaries, as the present one, can serve as notes of experience to future Ambassadors. Likewise, it would be very useful for these diaries to also include what can be a travel guide to the most important destinations of the countries in which they have served. Through this book, Ambassador Jose Romero Jr. has done a great service to the Philippine diplomatic corps in presenting a checklist of the most important duties of an Ambassador and more important, how to transform the fulfilment of the duties of a diplomat into a way of living one’s faith as an ordinary Christian as he carries out his work with perfection to the littlest details, a lesson he learned from his spiritual mentor, St. Josemaría Escrivá, the Founder of Opus Dei.
Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas University of Asia and the Pacific
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DEDICATION
THIS BOOK is dedicated to tourists, pilgrims, gourmets and those who believe that ordinary work done extraordinarily well can be a worthy offering to the Lord and lead to sanctification. More important, that pious practice can be embedded in daily work, thus infusing sanctity and, when shared with fellow workers, sanctifying them and oneself. This is also dedicated to all the members of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. Without the guidance I received from Opus Dei members—the faithful in the prelature of Opus Dei without whose guidance would have made living in the Roman environment verily a tale of two cities—both religious and secular, pagan and pious more challenging. Inspired by what we learned from our exposure to Opus Dei, this piece of work is dedicated to the faithful of the prelature, colleagues in the world of diplomacy and the people I engaged with during my stint in Rome—my staff, the Filipino community and the Filipino clergy who acted as the spiritual advisers for our OFWs. Lastly it is dedicated to the Italian government whose compassion and understanding for the plight of our countrymen acted as a social security system and more important the employers of our domestic workers who treated our countrymen as part of the family.
xi
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Dedication
In writing this semi-autobiographic piece I relied mostly on a failing memory, articles on the art and practice of diplomacy, travel brochures such as Baedeker’s Rome (which contained some very useful information about Rome’s hotels and restaurants), some publications on Opus Dei such as The Secret History of Opus Dei by Maggy Whitehouse, Chronicle of the Beatification of St. Josemaría Escrivá by Sinag-Tala Publishers, and a book by the Rev. Daniel L Thelen entitled Saints in Rome and Beyond. More substantially I drew my data and inspiration from the writings of St. Josemaria Escrivá, the Founder of Opus Dei: The Way, Furrow, The Forge, Conversations, and a few of his magna opera. This piece of writing, which took a couple of years of leisurely writing, would have been very difficult were it not for my staff Jude Smith, Jamaica Gregana, and Paul Gleen Bacolocos, who painstakingly compiled the pictures and encoded the pages of the book. I would like to heartily dedicate this book to my Tres Marias— Roxanne, Annette, and Bettina.
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I Rise of Modern Diplomacy
THE RISE of the present-day diplomatic system was a product of the Italian Renaissance, dating around 1300 AD. The role of ambassadors in diplomatic affairs was altered during the 17th century to become more political in nature. Many states at this time were small and were particularly vulnerable to larger states. The ambassador system became a political tool to disperse information and protect these smaller states.
The Philippine Embassy 1
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This system, the use and creation of ambassadors during the 15th century in Italy, has had long-term effects on Europe and, in turn, the world’s diplomatic and political progression. Ambassador rights established in the 16th century are still used in Europe, including the rights of the ambassadors in host countries as well as the proper diplomatic procedures. An ambassador as a representative of the state negotiated and disseminated information in order to keep peace and establish relationships with other states. During difficult times ambassadors concentrated their efforts to maintain peaceful relations with nations and make alliances. In this modern day and age the use of ambassadors is widespread. Diplomatic representatives of states deal with any problems that occur within the international system. Normally ambassadors are assigned to countries for a period of time so that they may get acquainted with the culture and local people. This familiarization makes them more politically effective and trusted, enabling them to accomplish goals that their host country desires. The Origin of Ambassador/Approval The term Ambassador has many origins: from Middle English ambassadour, Anglo-French ambassateur, from the Latin word AmbaxusAmbactus, meaning servant or minister; and to the Old High German ambaht, “service”. The foreign government to which an ambassador is assigned must first approve and accept the person. This is called agrimont. There are cases wherein the foreign government reverses its approval by declaring the diplomat persona non grata, an unacceptable person. This declaration usually results in the recall of the ambassador to his/her home nation. 2
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Granted to ambassadors and embassy staff by the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations are diplomatic immunity and personal safety while living in the host country. In my case it took the Italian government a couple of months to sign my agrimont because of political exigencies such as mid-term elections where the chief-of-staff who receives had not yet been elected. Role of Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy. A highest ranking diplomat formally representing the head of state who is usually accredited to another sovereign state, or to an international organization as the resident representative of his or her own government or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment. An ambassador is a person who says ‘yes’ when he means ‘maybe’ and ‘maybe’ when he means ‘no’. This is of course a caricature of a diplomat. One thing sure, however, is that an ambassador is a shock absorber—he has to defend his government’s policies whether or not he personally believes they are wrong. When his host country is displeased about the actuations of the country he represents, he is the first to know. This is usually in the form of a summons by the foreign office of his post. In its most common use, the term ambassador usually applies to the highest ranking government representative stationed in a foreign country. While in the host country, the ambassador has control of specific territory called an embassy, whose territory, staff and vehicles are afforded diplomatic immunity. 3
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Among members of the Commonwealth of Nations the ambassador is known as a High Commissioner. Diplomats sent to the Holy See are known as Papal or Apostolic Nuncios. As formally defined and recognized at the Congress of Vienna (1815), ambassadors were originally regarded as personal representatives of their country’s chief executive rather than of the whole country, and their rank entitled them to meet personally with the head of state of the host country. Since 1945, all nations have been recognized as equals, and ambassadors or their equivalents have been sent to all countries with which diplomatic relations are maintained. Before the development of modern communications, ambassadors were entrusted with extensive powers. Historically, officials representing their countries abroad were termed ministers, but this term was also applied to diplomats of the second rank. This system of diplomatic rank under international law was formalized in the 1815 Congress of Vienna. Ambassadors have plenipotentiary powers (i.e. full authority to represent the government). In modern usage, these heads of mission in foreign postings carry the full title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary—their mission is permanent. The status of ambassador ordinary and non-plenipotentiary is rarely used, although they may be encountered in certain circumstances as when their mission is temporary and only for a specific purpose. Among European powers, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary (French: ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire or German: außerordentlicher und bevollmächtigter Botschafter) was historically regarded as the personal representative of the Sovereign. The custom of dispatching ambassadors to the head of state rather than the government has persisted. For example, ambassadors to and 4
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from the United Kingdom are accredited to the Court of St. James’s (referring to St. James’s Palace). Incidentally this carried some confusion among our compatriots. When my father was appointed Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the fifties, our friends and relatives could not associate this posting with the United Kingdom, which of course it was. The diplomat representing the Holy See is titled a Nuncio. In diplomatic usage, both the high commissioner and nuncio are considered equivalent in rank and role to an ambassador. Resident Coordinators within the United Nations system are accredited to the Head of State and have the same rank as ambassador. The Vatican is so zealous of its detachment and independence from the Republic of Italy that it will never allow a country to do a dual posting for an ambassador to the two political entities however convenient this may be for the posting country. The Philippines was, therefore, forced to have two diplomatic missions in Italy—one to the Vatican and one to the Republic. Ambassadors-at-Large An ambassador-at-large is a highest ranking diplomat or a minister accredited to represent his or her country in several usually neighboring countries, a region or sometimes a seat of international organizations such as the United Nations or European Union. An ambassador-at-large may even be specifically assigned a role to advise and assist the state or government in particular issues. These appointments differentiate him or her from the ambassador-inresidence, who is usually limited to a country or embassy. In the past, heads of states have commissioned special diplomatic envoys for specific assignments, primarily overseas, but sometimes also within the country as ambassadors-at-large. It is important to note, 5
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however, that the appointment is coterminous with the term of the President. Many favorite businessmen of the chief executive were appointed ambassador-at-large. To this day, they still carry the title. Duties of an Ambassador As the highest-ranking representative of the president, the ambassador once accredited has to present his credentials to the leader of the host country in a formal ceremony. His credentials duly accepted, the ambassador can go about his work of relaying the policies and goals of his country to the host country and keeping abreast his president and the Department of Foreign Affairs of significant developments in the country of his assignment. The ambassador also represents his country at state functions of his host country and attends conferences. The primordial responsibility of an ambassador is to represent the interests of his country in his nation of assignment. These interests may differ in priorities over time in a rapidly changing international geopolitical setting, which can complicate the job of a chief of mission. Today in a world of volatile alliances and steady regionalization, a country’s interest may very well lie in solidarity with regional groupings rather than the bilateral ties that characterized the age of colonialism before World War II. Apart from keeping the home office informed of significant developments in the host country, the ambassador may be involved in negotiations, be these trade or security, and in crafting joint policy statements. The promotion of cultural ties with the host country is also an important task of an ambassador who must at all times do his level best to create goodwill by attending events and facilitating cultural exchanges. During my stint in Rome I was involved with negotiations regarding freedom flights for the national air carrier—the Philippine 6
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Airlines. We were also part of negotiations on social security coverage for Filipinos working in Italy. The Philippine ambassador must attend very seriously to one of the pillars of the country’s economic diplomacy, which is the care of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs). It is an important function to oversee the safety of Filipino nationals in his area of responsibility. The arduous tasks, however, are left to the consular section’s staff who have to attend to the passport and visa requirements of our nationals as well as their safety, health, and legal problems. In effect the ambassador is like a ship’s captain who is responsible for all passengers on his ship. Apart from issuing passports as chief of mission I even had to preside over civil marriages conducted in embassy premises for our nationals and to provide legal support for those charged with crime in Italian courts. Even the transport of cadavers of nationals to the country had to be attended to by the embassy because caskets had to be opened by Italian customs for verification. The task I enjoyed the most was visiting our nationals in their areas of work to see to it that they were treated fairly by their employers and that they behaved so as not to give the country and our people a bad name. Independence Day celebrations, which allowed our nationals to get together in Rome, were the highlight of the year’s celebrations. Under my watch, this was usually held in the sprawling grounds of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino with the permission of the rector. This was marked by a food festival where Filipinos exhibited regional dishes to the delight of the foreign guests. Filipino entertainers from the Philippines also came over to give our OFWs a taste of home. Given the typically lean staff and modest budget of our missions abroad, it is the duty of the chief of mission, the ambassador, to see to it that the mission’s activities are cost-effective and that the work of 7
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his staff, comprising of diplomatic and economic officers and consular staff, and the work of heads of attached agencies such as Defense etc., is properly coordinated with that of the mission proper. This means that everyone in the mission must speak with one voice with regard to government policy. It is also the duty of an ambassador to provide his bosses—the President and immediate superior, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs—with expert guidance and frank counsel on matters relating to affairs affecting his host country. Also important is the role of the ambassador to ensure that those serving under him/her would render professional excellence, observe the highest standard of ethical conduct, and exercise to the utmost diplomatic discretion. In sum, the ambassador must also act as pater familias. In essence, an ambassador is an official envoy, the highest-ranking diplomat who represents his country as recognized by his host country or international organization. As formally defined and recognized at the congress of Vienna of 1815, ambassadors were originally regarded as personal representatives of their country’s chief executive rather than of the whole country, which entitled them to meet personally with the head of state of the host country. Since the end of the World War II, however, all nations have been recognized as equals, and ambassadors or their equivalents are sent to all countries with which diplomatic relations are maintained. Officially only chiefs of mission that have been confirmed by the Commission of Appointments of Congress as Envoys Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary are entitled to sport the title for life. Before an ambassador can function as his country’s representative, he must first be approved by the host country in the form of an agrimont. Today states and non-states use diplomatic representatives to deal with problems occurring within the international scene. Ambassadors 8
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who have stayed a long time in their post acquire a deep knowledge of the mores and culture of the people, which make them useful assets for the home government. Moreover they receive the trust and confidence of the host country, allowing them the opportunity to advance the interest of both home and host countries. They are, therefore, on occasion called to assist and advice in diplomatic negotiations. Economic Diplomacy During the term of Raul Manglapus at the Department of Foreign Affairs, he launched what was termed economic diplomacy. This was continued by his successors like Roberto Romulo, who was able to entice top chief executives of large corporations to join the department. Accordingly a few of us from the business sector were recruited, among these the likes of Al Yuchengco, Jesus Tambunting, John Rocha and Howard Dee. Economic diplomacy, facilitated by the increase in foreign travel, is the growth of trade between nations. For most countries, the national economy is part of the global economy. This means increased opportunities to sell and trade with other nations. When two nations are conducting a trade, it is usually advantageous to both parties to have an ambassador and perhaps a small staff living in the other land, where they act as an intermediary between cooperative businesses.
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
Ambassador Jose V. Romero Jr. to the Republic of Italy (1989-1992)
Ambassador Jose V. Romero Jr. beside photo of his father, Jose E. Romero, Sr., Ambassador to the Court of St. James 10
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On the way to the Quirinal Palace for the presentation of credentials to the Italian President.
The Ambassador with some clergymen.
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
Independence Day Celebration in Rome with ambassador to the Vatican Ambassador Oscar Villadolid at the Collegio Filippino.
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Speaking during Independence Day celebration
Philippine Chairs and FAO Organization
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The Distinguished Service Award The award was created pursuant to Executive Order No. 398 dated April 1990 of President Corazon C. Aquino enjoining all departments, agencies and offices of the national government to establish their respective rewards programs. The silver-plated brass medal consists of a five-pointed star, the center of which is a disc where the seal of the Republic of the Philippines is placed. The words “Loyalty and Service” are engraved around the disc. The wreath above the star consists of dark green leaves and white Sampaguita buds—the Philippines’ national flower. The tie at the base serves as a divider of the tendril and a link to the star through a metal ring. The ring around the seal signifies meritorious, loyal and valuable service to the Republic; the star represents outstanding achievements; and the wreath signifies the honor for having been appointed as Chief of Mission and for services rendered abroad as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Consul General. At the opposite side of the medal are the words “For Distinguished Service.” The ribbon has a purple background with the silver stripe at the center.
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With Ambassador Oscar Villadolid who was envoy to the Vatican.
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II Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary
AFTER EDSA I, a small group under Raul Manglapus, who almost single-handedly carried the torch of the Christian Democrats during his exile abroad, made efforts to regroup remnants of the government. During President Corazon Aquino’s time, he was able to bring to Manila officials of the Christian Democrats International (CDI), which had its headquarters in Brussels. I recall a funny incident during the occasion of the CDI conference, which was held at the Manila Hotel. President Aquino was invited to open the conference at 9 o’clock. Fifteen minutes to nine the room was only partially full. Knowing how prompt the President always was, I quickly got Manila Hotel employees, including the waiters, to fill up the room to capacity to make the conference look better attended. Subsequently, the Center for Christian Democracy was organized. I was appointed president. It was in one of our meetings of the Center that Manglapus, then Secretary of 16
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary
Foreign Affairs, suggested that I go to the Quirinale (Rome) as Ambassador so that I could liaise with the local CDI. At the time the Italian Christian Democrats was at the apex of its political strength as the dominant party under its dynamic leader Giulio Andreotti, who was prime minister for many years.
Original photo is
Public Domain
The Democrazia Cristiana (DC) was a centrist political party in Italy. The DC was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People’s Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield (scudo crociato). A Roman Catholic, centrist, catch-all party comprising both right- and left-leaning political factions,
The Quirinal Palace, also known as the Palazzo del Quirinale, is a historic building in Rome and one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic. Located at the highest of the Seven Hills of Rome, it has housed thirty popes, four Kings of Italy and a dozen Presidents of the Italian Republic. The palace sits on over 100,000 square meters of land and easily dwarfs the White House, which is only onetwentieth of its size.
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
the DC played a dominant role in the politics of Italy for 50 years from its inception in 1944 until its final demise in 1994. The party was nicknamed the White Whale (balena bianca). It was succeeded by a string of smaller parties, including the Italian People’s Party, the Christian Democratic Centre, the United Christian Democrats, and the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats. Today, former Christian Democrats are spread among the centre-right Forza Italia, New Centre-Right, Union of the Centre and Populars for Italy, the centrist Civic Choice, the centre-left Democratic Party and Democratic Centre, and several minor parties. Christian Democracy was introduced into the Philippines in the 50s and 60s by the likes of Raul Manglapus and some Jesuits such as Frs. Horacio de la Costa and Pacifico Ortiz. It flourished among intellectuals in the 70s and 80s leading to the formation of the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD). The NUCD and its counterpart, the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP), adopted Fidel Ramos as its standard bearer in the election of 1992. I was proud to be the emissary to make the offer to the future President. By a twist of fate, however, the Lakas Party under Jose de Venecia, which merged with the NUCD-UMDP, became the surviving party. Christian Democrat Envoy When I was informed by the Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus at a party caucus that he wished to send me to the Republic of Italy as Envoy to represent the country, I was pleasantly surprised. Queried about his decision, he elaborated that he wanted a partymate like myself to act as liaison officer between the local party and the CD international headquarters in Brussels. This would be cost-effective for the party since the Belgian capital was only a couple of hours of flying time from my intended posting. 18
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary
Assured that this was already a done deal since he had the complete trust and confidence of President Cory, I decided to hit the ground running—that is to get ready to face the grilling by the Commission of Appointments in Congress. I was told that the Commission asked hard questions to test the mettle of diplomatic nominees. And so I hit the books reading up on the history of the Italian people, its economy and even social mores. And then followed the tedious process of the legislative confirmation. My confirmation was delayed for almost half a year mainly because there was a standoff between the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The casus belli was the insistence of the committee chairman to approve not only the nomination of the chief of mission but also his diplomatic assignment. I also had a slight problem with a host of congressmen who had approved my nomination. It was only on this occasion that I realized what a solid fraternity the House of Representatives has. My feud with Congress started when I took on a handful of representatives who wanted the export of buko for Taiwan, which was on an export quota system, to be approved by the Philippine Coconut Authority. At the time, I could not approve the request of the members of Congress to get the export license since I had decided to distribute the quotas among coconut cooperatives so that the proceeds of the export sales could accrue directly to the farmers. After an attempted bribery by a congressman and threats to cut down my budgetary appropriation (which did not change my decision), congressmen resorted to a signature campaign among their colleagues to stop my appointment to Rome. In fact about 150 signatures appeared on the list of congressmen who were against my confirmation. Fortunately for me, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and some influential leaders of the chamber persuaded their colleagues to drop the opposition. It was 19
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
only then that my nomination papers arrived in the Commission on Appointments. Subsequently the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs were able to settle their differences regarding the matter of confirmation of chief of mission and designation by both parties agreeing to leave it to the DFA to choose the posting of the confirmed chief of mission. Commission on Appointments/Disappointments Armed to the teeth with facts about Italy I was ready to face the august body—the dreaded Commission on Appointments. The bicameral body was the upper chamber led by Senator Leticia Shahani, the sister of future President Fidel V. Ramos, while the lower house was led by my cousin Miguel “Mike” Romero. Given that Senator Shahani was the daughter of Ambassador Narciso Ramos (who was a bosom buddy of my father—a classmate in U.P. and roommate in YMCA) and Congressman Mike Romero was my first cousin, I did not really expect much shellacking from the committee. As I mentioned earlier, my confirmation was delayed because of policy differences between the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs about the committee’s insistence it has the right to determine the posting of heads of mission. The committee’s position clearly violated diplomatic protocol, which allowed the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, acting on behalf of the President, to designate the mission of the ambassador. As a result my appointment was caught in the crossfire; nominees’ appointments were delayed for months while the policy difference was being sorted out. There must have been at least three postponements of the hearings, which were announced on the same day in an empty committee room. 20
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary
Since we could not be confirmed, we nominees could not secure the agrimont from the country we were assigned to. On the third postponement, in sheer frustration I informed my cousin congressman Mike that I have had it. I was no longer interested in the position and would no longer appear before the committee for confirmation. It took some persuasion from my dear cousin to convince me to persevere, promising that the lower house delegation would move to convene the stalled committee hearing very soon. True to his word, the committee convened soon after and I finally faced the solons ready to tackle any question thrown my way. To my great surprise none came. In fact, when my name came up, all I got were winning smiles from committee members who unanimously approved my nomination. In gratitude, I invited those I knew in the committee to a hearty Lauriat in a nearby Chinese restaurant, promising to act as their guide in Rome when they visited. When we parted company, I said to myself how all that preparation was for nought. Still all that cramming about Italian history served me well as I performed my functions as chief of mission in the Eternal City. Presentation of Credentials The presentation of my credentials to the Chief of State of the Republic of Italy was delayed for weeks. The Ministero degli Esteri or Italian foreign office said there was a long waiting line of new chiefs of mission yet to be received by the President, who was out campaigning in the elections. When I was notified by the foreign office of my day of presentation, the protocol officer of the Italian government handed me a shopping list of the things to prepare for, such as the dress code and the step21
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
by-step procedure. I had a problem about the dress code as the outfit I brought with me from Manila was the very formal tuxedo with coattails, which was more suitable for ballroom dancing than the less formal Italian requirement for just a grey jacket with matching vest and tie and black striped pants. Fortunately for me, a downtown tailor loaned me the attire, which miraculously fitted me perfectly. On the appointed day, the protocol officer (who was dressed like a medieval envoy complete with plumed headdress, white gloves et al) fetched me from the embassy with a black limousine that looked like a funeral car. It was driven by a presidential guard in full regalia. The motorcycle escorts with sirens at full throttle certainly caught the attention of pedestrians as we roared off toward the Quirinal Palace for the presentation ceremonies. The Quirinal Palace, also known as the Palazzo del Quirinale, is a historic building in Rome and one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic. Located at the highest of the Seven Hills of Rome, it has housed thirty popes, four Kings of Italy and a dozen Presidents of the Italian Republic. The palace sits on over 100,000 square meters of land and easily dwarfs the White House, which is only one-twentieth of its size. From the entrance of the building, I had to pass a magnificent hall called the Sala dei Corazzieri through a line of a special force of the Carabinieri or Italian Police, which are detailed in the Palace to guard the President. Chosen for, among other things, their height, which must have averaged seven feet, these men made me feel like a dwarf as I passed through the line of Corazzieri dressed like Napoleon Bonaparte, with shiny long swords by their sides.
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At the very end of the hall, some fifty meters away, stood a very distinguished old man with grey hair, who was accompanied at his side by the Foreign Minister and the Minister of the Interior. The man in the middle—President Francesco Cossiga—gave me a wide paternal smile as he stretched out his hands to receive my credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy to the Republic of Italy. After the bowing and shaking of hands, he motioned to me to go to a small holding room for guests where we engaged in small talk. The topic centered mostly on the Filipino community in Italy. He volunteered the information that he had two Filipina domestic or household helps whom he considered indispensable. As we discussed the huge number of Filipino expats in Italy, he commented that the Filipino diaspora was not unique because in the twenties and thirties, millions of Italians migrated to the U.S. I commented how lucky the Americans were to have Rocky Marciano, Madonna and Frank Sinatra settling down in the land of promise. The short chat over, the President begged leave and I went back to the embassy, formally serving as Chief of Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Italy. As Philippine government representative to Italy I was allowed to control a specific territory—the Philippine embassy whose territory, staff, and even vehicles were afforded diplomatic immunity. Moreover an Ambassador is considered a minister of the highest rank, with plenipotentiary authority to represent the Philippines. Accordingly my full title was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Weeks later I was presented to the Pope in the Magna Aula of the Vatican, where the Pope holds regular audiences. As Pope John Paul II approached, he began chanting Cory! Cory! Cory! Kissing the hand of the Vicar of Christ was quite an emotional experience. We chatted for a few minutes, which were more than enough for me.
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
Ambassador to FAO and the IFAD To be accredited to Italy carried an automatic accreditation to such international organizations as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It was an interesting chore to be permanent representative to FAO. Formed just after the war, it is headquartered in the Italian capital—a stone’s throw from the Roman baths in Caracalla and the Circo Massimo whose oval was the scene of Ben Hur’s chariot racing. Serving both developed and developing countries, the FAO acts as a neutral forum where all member nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy regarding the transition of developing economies to modern agricultural practices. I felt at home at the FAO, fountain of knowledge for agriculture and food as the name indicates, having been an Undersecretary of Agriculture and Chairman of the Philippine Coconut Authority before assuming my diplomatic posting. The best thing about being an ambassador designate to the FAO was the PX privilege, which produced humungous savings in representation expenses. Thanks to my two cooks, one of whom was the former sous chef of the Metro Club in Makati, my tax–free imported food supplies afforded my table with five-star restaurant fare. More important, my much appreciated culinary offerings, such as the Filipino delicacies courtesy of my Filipina cook Linda and the Mediterranean cuisine prepared by my chef, won me many important friends in the FAO, who became staunch allies in many negotiations I was involved in. In fact because of their support I was elected chairman of the much coveted Intergovernmental Organization of Oilseeds, Oils and Fats (IGOOF). This was the organization that played an important role in doing away with non-trade barriers that developed countries placed on coconut and carageenan exports. All these things lent credence to the adage that the best way to a diplomat’s heart is through his stomach. 24
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The highlight of my arrival in the Eternal City was the visit to the Vatican, which houses the Holy See—the main Episcopal See of some 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents all over the globe. Before entering the Vatican square I recited the Apostles’ Creed, emphasizing the words “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints.” Looking at the window where the supreme pontiff delivers his message Urbi et Orbi to the world I picked a few words from the preces—the prayer recited daily by the faithful of the Opus Dei prelature: oremus pro beatissimo papa nostro (we pray for our most blessed pope). Christian Democrat Connections Italian politics is characterized by strong regionalism, which is part of its heritage from the time when Italy was composed of a multitude of independent states. Rome is the seat of government inhabited by a high percentage of civil servants, while Milan is the acknowledged economic capital. Turin, Genoa, Naples, and Palermo are now important industrial centers while Florence and Venice can be considered as the cultural centers of the republic. Generally speaking it could be said that during my posting, the industrial north was controlled by the leftwing parties while the least developed Mezzogiorno in the south was under the influence of rightwing or conservative parties. My posting to the Quirinale as a Christian Democrat opened doors for me, especially since the center coalition led by Christian Democrats, which was headed by Giulio Andreotti, controlled the administration. During my stay at the post, I made it a point to attend political party conventions just to get a feel of Italian politics. My trips to Bologna and Bari were memorable occasions that introduced me to the 25
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Roman Diary of A Christian Diplomat
leadership of the left, such as former Prime Minister Bettino Craxi, despite differences in political ideology. Indeed Italian communism was sui generis. It gained a lot of traction in Italy because its Founder, Antonio Gramsci, adopted a more benign and flexible type of euro communism, which allied itself with progressive forces in media and academe. He even reached out to the bourgeoisie. This moderate approach allowed the party to reach a historic compromise with my party, the Christian Democrats, giving rise to the program of gradualism leading to approximately a welfare state in Italy. This was the political ambience that surrounded my posting in the Quirinale. I benefitted greatly from the close connection of my boss Secretary Raúl Sevilla Manglapus with the Christian democratic leadership in the country. Secretary Manglapus joined the Christian Democrats while in exile in the US, allowing him to travel a lot to Europe, where he became an official of Christian Democrat International. The fact that he spoke Italian fluently was a big advantage. When he visited I usually hosted a small dinner at the embassy for the top guns in the Christian Democratic hierarchy. A few times we were invited to party celebrations, such as those in Villa Madama, which was the venue for socializing by top Italian politicians. One unforgettable incident was a dinner I hosted in my official residence for Christian Democrat brass, which included a very portly gentleman—the Secretary-General of the party. He was so huge that when he sat down on one of my antique chairs, a Chippendale that was acquired in London while my father served as ambassador, the chair just collapsed under him. He was not hurt but I am sure that a little of his ego must have been slightly bruised.
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary
The Quintessential Diplomat Apart from savoir faire a good ambassador needs to manifest negotiation expertise, integrity, and social graces as well as communication skills. Not all of these qualities can be found in a single ambassador but at the very least he/she must possess a modicum of such traits. First and foremost he must have table manners. Attending one of those official dinners can be daunting for a first-time diplomat, who must be adept with all that silverware used for the variety of dishes served, not to mention all those wine glasses into which different kinds of wines are poured. Here’s a faus pax in Manila: apparently a local politician drank the water in the finger bowl to the consternation of President Manuel Quezon, who having noticed the indiscretion let out with his famous expletive. I was lucky that I was what they call a diplomatic brat who grew up in the chancery of the Philippine mission to the Court of St. James where my father served as head. I was, therefore, schooled in the social graces early in life. It helped that my extroverted mother was a gracious host who was forever having guests for lunch or dinner where we children were often invited. Early in life we were, therefore, taught the proper use of cutlery, silver utensils, and cut glass drinking glasses. These quickly intimidate a first-time user, especially if he has to use a knife and fork, British style, instead of spoon and fork, Pinoy style. Later in life, however, I was not prepared for the etiquette of foreign guests whom I invited to the Rome embassy chancery. In the first place my cook did not foresee that the Indian diplomat was a vegetarian and secondly that he preferred to eat with his hands. When I joined him, to my chagrin I discovered that I should use the right hand in shoving the food into my mouth. 27
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The moral of the story for aspiring diplomats—if in doubt, consult Emily Post. A good ambassador is maka-tao—one who is mindful of the conditions and morale of his staff, being the pater familias so to speak. Some chiefs of mission are sometimes rude and arrogant if not overbearing. Unfortunately when the morale in a mission breaks down, the people they serve suffer. Often heads of mission do not realize that embassy staff uprooted from their national surroundings and cut off from kith and kin can sometimes feel lonely and isolated, posted as they are in countries far away from home. There are times when they also face some discrimination and alienation. The ideal ambassador is the one who appreciates and manages to operate amidst a new cultural setting. If he can speak the language, settling in the new environment would be much easier. In this connection I am forever grateful for my school, which insisted on our learning not only the classical but also the modern languages. Knowing the language is such a boon when performing diplomatic duties. To start with, being able to understand what is contained in the communications media is a huge advantage, for how can one know what is going on around one’s posting or appreciate the current issues if one cannot follow the newspapers, television, publications and so forth. The ambassador must be a good and clear communicator if he is to be able to deliver the message of his government effectively. Governments often form opinions or perceptions of countries on the basis of the demeanor and behavior of their representative. A rude, crude and boorish representative will surely court the displeasure of the host-country administration.
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I was involved with negotiations as representative of the government on quite a few issues during my stint at the Quirinale. Issues ranged from social security coverage for our workers, to additional freedom flights for our national airlines, or fighting nontrade barriers for our agricultural exports. I had to draw on my reserves of patience and perseverance when these negotiations just dragged on and on without any apparent breakthrough. In all of these there was no substitute for homework and study. In international negotiations I discovered that when the people across the negotiating table feel that one was less than prepared or did not do due diligence on the subject, they are quick to pounce on one’s jugular or solar plexus, which to a fighter is a weak point. As an academic economist with business experience I was not easily pushed around when the subject revolved around trade issues but admittedly I had to rely heavily on my deputies when the subject matter was legal. It was essential, therefore, that before any negotiation I had to buckle down to some serious study on the subject matter. Finally an ambassador must interact well not only with his staff but also with the various personalities with whom in the course of his duties he has to engage. This means that he has to develop an encyclopedic knowledge about a lot of subjects; otherwise if he cannot converse intelligently at the dinner table he will look like a square peg in a round hole. Moreover it would help if the mission chief would take pains to learn the culture of the host country and try to integrate himself into its social framework, thereby enriching his conversation with his table mates.
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Presenting credentials to Italian President Francesco Cossiga
Audience with St. John Paul II
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Presenting Credentials to the President Idriss Jazairy of IFAD
Presenting Credentials to Director General Edouard Saouma of FAO
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III Filipinos in Italy
I USED to joke that my job in Rome was that of a “domestic prelate” that oversaw some quarter of a million Filipinos—documented and undocumented. Due to the advent of modern travel, today’s world is a much smaller place in relative terms. With this new reality, it is as important as ever that the nations of the world have at least a small staff, living in foreign capitals, in order to aid travelers and visitors from their home nation. As an officer of the Foreign Service, an ambassador is expected to protect the citizens of his home country in the host country. When my father was assigned as Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the United Kingdom, to save money the Philippine government also assigned him as Envoy to the Scandinavian countries. He was needed in the latter post to attend to the concern of our citizens, like the sailors in Scandinavian ships, as well as business interests of the nation in that part of the world.
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Filipinos in Italy
Upon my arrival in my post, little did I realize that the problem of caring for the quarter of a million Filipino workers was enormous; quite a few of these were undocumented. Truly the face of the Filipino diaspora was never so obvious as in the Italian Republic. Italy hosts the largest population of overseas Filipino workers in Western Europe, according to Department of Foreign Affairs statistics. The Italian Ministry of Interior reports that there are 155,945 registered or documented Filipinos with valid permits to stay and work in the country. An estimated 10 percent of the Filipinos are undocumented, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics. Batangas province is reputedly the biggest source of Filipino OFWs going to Italy. The barangay Ayao-Iyao in Lemery is said to have sent 40 percent of its total 500 households. Filipinos were among the first immigrant groups to work in Italy, starting in the early 1970s. They constitute the sixth largest foreign community after the Romanians, Albanians, Moroccans, Chinese, and Ukrainians. Most Filipinos are concentrated in major cities like Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence, and Turin. Some 20.4 percent are found in other municipalities. They are mainly employed as domestic helpers or family caregivers. Others have found work in shops, factories and in various service industries. Given the employment opportunities available, Filipino women outnumber Filipino males—70,000 vs. 50,000— with valid work permits. The rest Original photo by Lalupa,
CC-BY-SA 3.0
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