A candid interview with Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr.

ASSUMING the post as chief Philippine envoy to Japan for the second time in less than ten years is like a homecoming for Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr.

Although ensconced in a vastly changed environment -- an elegantly furnished office in Roppongi -- everything else for the ambassador is familiar ground. Married to Japanese national Kazuko, a former United Nations officer, the ambassador himself is often mistaken for a Japanese. And not only because of his looks: he is one of the two or three ambassadors assigned to Japan with working-level Japanese proficiency. It is actually his third time as a diplomat in Japan. He was first dispatched here as Third Secretary and Vice Consul in 1964.

Ambassador Siazon, 62, has a checkered personal history, both in terms of education and professional background. He graduated with flying colors from the Political Science Department of Ateneo de Manila University, and then proceeded to finish his Bachelor of Science in Physics as one of the pioneering Monbusho scholars at the Tokyo University of Education, now the University of Tsukuba.

Straddling a background both in the liberal arts and sciences easily enabled him to pursue Economics at the University of Colorado and Public Administration at Harvard University.

Highlighting his likewise colorful diplomatic career is a stint as Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the highest-ranking Filipino executive in the United Nations System.

He also has the distinction of serving three presidents successively as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, namely Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The ambassador expresses unabashed pride as a career diplomat, which has shielded him from the rough-and-tumble of Philippine politics. Away from the hot seat in Manila, the ambassador is clearly in his element, inspired in his mandate to bring Philippines and Japan to a new age of cooperation and friendship.

Early last month, the ambassador sat down with PT publisher Benigno D. Tutor, Jr. and PT Editor Butch N. Talorete for a freewheeling and candid interview on topics ranging from Philippine-Japan relations to how the ambassador spends his free time.

In this issue, we present Part 1.

	PT publisher Benigno D. Tutor, Jr. (right) interviews the Ambassador. BNT photo.

For the second time around, how does it feel to be back in Tokyo?

Well, okay....ah...things have changed drastically. The economy is much worse. Dito parang very somber. Lahat ng nakausap mo very pessimistic. But if you look at the personal assets of people, it's quite high.

Talagang hinihigpitan lang nila ang hawak.

Pero marami silang problema, lalo na iyong aging population. It's a serious problem kasi walang solution iyan. And it's quite rapid.

It might be an opportunity for us.

Pero it will take time. I think they will not change their visa policy that quickly. Probably in 3 to 5 years' time.

I was just wondering about your current adjustment, Ambassador, from being the one giving orders as Foreign Affairs Secretary to receiving orders now?

I'm a career person, so it's like a cycle. And sometimes, it's good to receive orders. But in our system, it's a very liberal setup in the DFA. You can also make your suggestions.

Did you have any special assignment or task when you were assigned to Japan?

Essentially, it's to make sure that we have very close relations with Japan, particularly in trade and investments, ODA (official development assistance), and people to people contact. At least, the President knows my background. I studied here... mga kaklase ko, kaibigan ng misis ko, mga kaibigan namin bago sila sumikat...

So madali lang para sa inyo...

Oo... normally, dito, hindi ka pwedeng tumawag lang.

Was your stint as foreign affairs secretary helpful in your job now?

Well, what is happening now in East Asia is that we are moving towards an East Asian free trade area and maybe an East Asian community, and during my time as Secretary of Foreign Affairs ? I took over on May 1, 1995 ? ASEAN was only six members. Then we accepted Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in April 1999. And I was also the host of APEC in 1996. We also hosted the ASEAN plus 3 Summit in 1999, which was also for the first time that we had a meeting with the prime ministers of Japan and China and the president of Korea. They had time to talk about the future of East Asia. And it was in Manila that we decided that the ASEAN plus 3 should have cooperation in various sectors of industry and finance. Then after that, we had the Chiang Mai Initiative, and in Singapore in 2000, we took a decision to move towards an East Asian community.

Do you think you will still be able to exert a region-wide influence in your capacity as ambassador?

Sure, because, one, of my experience for over 6 years as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and also, if you remember, before that time, I was Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, which is a global organization. I was running about 2,000 to 3,000 people. So having the global and regional hands-on experience, and at the same time, being Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, which is a major player in East Asia, my inputs would be useful.

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