1. History of Philippine Diplomacy
Beginnings
The Department of Foreign Affairswas created on June 23, 1898 through a decree of Emilio Aguinaldo, who appointed Apolinario Mabini as the Philippines’s first Secretary of
Foreign Affairs. In effect, the DFA became the first government department to be established following the proclamation of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos City in
Bulacan. Realizing the need for international recognition to support the legitimacy of his government, Aguinaldo assigned Mabini the difficult task of establishing diplomatic
relations with friendly countries.Membersofthe Hong Kong Junta, a group ofFilipino exiles in Hong Kong, served as the country’s envoysfor this purpose.
Post-War Philippines
During the period when the Philippines was a colony of the United States, the Government did not take an active role in the crafting and execution of its foreign policy. Thiswas
also the case during Japan's occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1944. The country regained full control of foreign affairs and diplomatic matters on July 4, 1946, when
Commonwealth Act No. 732was passedcreating the Department ofForeign Affairs. On September 16, PresidentManuelRoxas issued Executive Order No. 18,which provided
for the organization and operation of the DFA and the Foreign Service. The main tasks of the DFA then were to assist in postwar rehabilitation, formulate policies for the
promotion of investment, and re-establish diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. The DFA also proposed amendments to the Bell Trade Act, the RP-US Mutual
Defense Treaty, and the Laurel-Langley Agreementwith the United States,which helped to strengthen trade and military relations with the US, and at the same time initiating
the Philippines into the arena of independent foreign policy. The DFA had its heyday during the post-war years,with its increased participation in the international arena. At that
time, the international environmentwas beginning to change, requiring that new thrusts and priorities in Philippine foreign policy be determined. During the Cold War, against
the backdrop of the Korean War in 1950 and rising communism in China, the Philippines projected an increasing internationalist foreign policy. The Philippines helped forge
the General Agreement on Tariffs andTrade or GATT in 1949, became a foundingmember of the United Nations and one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, andwas among the early proponents of disarmament and non-interference in the internal affairs of free peoples. The Philippines' greater participation in global matters
culminated inCarlos P. Romulo’s election as the first Asian President of the UN General Assembly in 1952. Realizing the importance of foreign relations, President Elpidio
Quirino pushed for the passage of the Foreign Service Law in June 1952, as embodied in Republic Act(RA) No. 708. During the post-war period, the Department of Foreign
Affairs focused on institution-building,while simultaneously increasing Philippine global exposure. In 1953, Secretary Raul S. Manglapus instituted the Foreign Service Officers
examination to professionalize the ForeignService and improve the recruitmentand selection ofnew FSOs.
Macapagal Administration
Sabah claim – On September 12, 1962, during President Diosdado Macapagal's administration, the territory of North Borneo, and the full sovereignty, title and dominion over
the territory were ceded by the then reigning Sultan of Sulu, HM Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I, to the Republic of the Philippines. The cession effectively gave the
Philippine government the full authority to pursue their claim in international courts. The Philippines broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the federation had included
Sabah in 1963. Itwas revoked in 1989 because succeeding Philippine administrations have placed the claim in the back burner in the interest ofpursuing cordial economic and
security relations with Kuala Lumpur.To date, Malaysia continues to consistently reject Philippine calls to resolve the matter of Sabah's jurisdiction to the International Court of
Justice. Sabah sees the claim made by the Philippines' Moro leader Nur Misuari to take Sabah to International Court ofJustice (ICJ) as a non-issue and thus dismissed the
claim.
Maphilindo – In July 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal convened a summit meeting in Manila. Maphilindo was proposed as a realization of Jose Rizal's dream of bringing
together the Malay peoples, seen as artificially divided by colonial frontiers. Maphilindo was described as a regional association thatwould approach issues ofcommon concern
in the spirit of consensus. However, itwas also perceived as a tactic on the parts of Jakarta and Manila to delay, or even prevent, the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.
Manila had its own claim to Sabah (formerly British North Borneo), and Jakarta protested the formation of Malaysia as a British imperialist plot. The plan failed
when Sukarno adopted his plan ofkonfrontasiwith Malaysia. The Konfrontasi, or Confrontation basically aims at preventing Malaysia to attain independence. The idea was
inspired onto President Sukarno by the Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI), or literally the Indonesian Communist Party.The party convinced President Sukarno that the Formation
of Malaysia is a form of neo-colonization and will later affect tranquility in Indonesia. The subsequent development of ASEAN almost certainly excludes any possibility of the

2. projectever being revived.
Vietnam War – Before the end of his term in 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal persuadedCongress to send troops to South Vietnam. However this proposal was blocked
by the opposition led by Senate PresidentFerdinand Marcoswho deserted Macapagal's Liberal Party and defected to the Nacionalista Party. TheU.S. government's active
interest in bringing other nations into the war had been part of U.S. policy discussions as early as 1961. President Lyndon Johnson first publicly appealed for other countries to
come to the aid of South Vietnam on April 23, 1964–in what was called the 'More Flags' program. Chester Cooper, former director of Asian affairs for the White House,
explained why the impetus came from the United States instead of from the Republic of South Vietnam: "The 'More Flags' campaign…required the application ofconsiderable
pressure for Washington to elicit any meaningful commitments. One of the more exasperating aspects of the search…was the lassitude…of the Saigon government. In
part…the South Vietnam leaders were preoccupied with political jockeying….In addition, Saigon appeared to believe that the program was a public relations campaign directed
at the American people."
Marcos Administration
PresidentFerdinand Marcos redefined foreign policy as the protection of Philippine independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, and emphasized increased regional
cooperation and collaboration. He placed great stress on being Asian and pursued a policy of constructive unity and co-existence with other Asian states, regardless of
ideological persuasion. In 1967, the Philippines launched a new initiative to form a regional associationwith other Southeast Asiancountriescalled the Association or ASEAN. It
was also during this period that the Philippines normalized economic and diplomatic ties with socialist countries such as China and the USSR, which he visited in 1975 and
1976, respectively. The Philippines also opened embassies in the eastern bloc countries, and a separate mission to the European Common Market in Brussels.Throughout the
1970s, the DFA pursued the promotion of trade and investment, played an active role in hosting international meetings, and participated in the meetings of the Non-Aligned
Movement. The Foreign ServiceInstitute wascreated in 1976 to provide in-house training to Foreign Service personnel.
Post-EDSA1986; Aquino Administration
The 1986 EDSA Revolution saw the re-establishment of a democratic government under President Corazon Aquino. During this period, the DFA once again pursued
development policy, in the active pursuit ofopportunities abroad in the vital areas of trade, investment, finance, technology and aid. The DFA also revived its efforts to boost the
Philippine’s role in the Asia-Pacific region. During this period, the Philippines became one of the founding members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC in
November 1989, and an active player in regional efforts to establish the ASEAN Free Trade Area. In 1990, the DFA proposed the establishment ofmore diplomatic missions to
the Middle East to improve existing ties with Arab states and to respond to the growing needs of Overseas Filipino Workers in the region. In 1991, the Philippine Senate,
heeding the growing nationalist sentiments among the public, voting against the extension of the Military Bases Agreement. This symbolized the severance of the political and
ideological ties which had long linked the country to the United States. Also in 1991, President Aquino into law R.A. 7157, otherwise known as the New Foreign Service Law,
which reorganized and strengthened the Foreign Service. It instituted a Career Minister Eligibility Examination as a requirement for promotion of FSOs to the rank ofMinister
Counsellor, thereby ensuringthe professional selection ofthose who would eventually rise to the level ofcareer ambassadors.
Ramos Administration
The Ramos administration from July 1992 to June 1998 defined four core areas of Philippine foreign policy: the enhancement of national security, promotion of economic
diplomacy, protecting Overseas Filipino Workers and Filipino nationals abroad, the projection of a good image of the country abroad. The Migrant Workers and Overseas
Filipinos Act of 1995 provided the framework for stronger protection of Filipino workers abroad, with the creation of the Legal Assistance Fund and the Assistance-to-Nationals
Fund, and the designation in the DFA of a Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, with the rank of Undersecretary. Among the other significant events in foreign affairs
during the Ramos years were the adoption by ASEAN in 1992, upon Philippine initiative, of the Declaration on the South China Sea, aimed at confidence-building and the
avoidance ofconflict amongclaimantstates; the establishment of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP)-EastAsia Growth area in 1994; the establishment
of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 as the only multilateral security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region conducted at the government level, and the signing between
the Philippine Governmentand the MNLFon September2, 1996 of the Mindanao PeaceAgreement.

3. Estrada Administration
The Estrada administration upheld the foreign policy thrusts of the previous administration, focusing on national security, economic diplomacy, assistance to nationals, and
image-building. The Philippines continued to be at the forefront of the regional and multilateral arena. It successfully hosted the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998 and
undertook confidence-building measures with China over South China Sea issue through a meeting in March 1999. President Estrada strengthened bilateral ties with
neighboring countries with visits to Vietnam,Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The DFA also played a major role in the forging of a Visiting
Forces Agreementwith the United States, which was ratified in the Senate. The country also sent a delegation of 108 observers to the Indonesian parliamentary elections, and
engaged in cooperative activities in the areas ofsecurity,defense,combating transnational crimes,economy,culture,and the protection ofOFWs and Filipinosabroad.
Arroyo Administration
At the start ofits administration in 2001, PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo pursued foreign policy based on nine realities:
First, the dynamicsofrelations between China,Japan and the United States determine the security situation and economicevolution ofEastAsia.
Second, Philippine foreign policy decisionsare, increasingly,being made in the contextofthe Association ofSoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN).
Third, Europe will continue to play a significantrole in promoting international prosperity and stability.
Fourth, the international Islamic community remainscrucial to the country's search for lasting and permanentpeace in Mindanao.
Fifth, inter-regional organizations will become increasingly influential in the global context.
Sixth, the protection ofthe environment, natural resources and maritime territory.
Seventh, the drive for foreign markets and foreign directinvestments will form a focal concernofeconomicdiplomacy efforts.
Eighth, international tourism will be a major driver ofnational growth.
Ninth, overseas Filipinosplay a critical role in the country'seconomicand social stability.
The DFA is also guided by the three fundamental pillars ofPhilippine foreign policy. These are:
1. Preservation and enhancementofnational security;
2. Promotion and attainmentofeconomic security;
3. Protection ofthe rights and promotion ofthe welfare and interestofFilipinos overseas.