Jose David Lapuz

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José David Lápuz is one of the 45 member-commissioners of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM), on the Committee of Social and Human Sciences and is a member of the UNESCO Advisory Committee on Human Rights and Poverty based inParis. He also teaches international relations and political science at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Career

Lapuz finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of the Philippines and his post-graduate studies in International Politics and Foreign Policy at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He started teaching at University of Santo Tomas in 1970.

José David Lapuz attended and read papers before the Annual Conference of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom, theAmerican Political Science Association in Washington, D.C. and the International Studies Association of New York. He lectured in the following schools: Eastern Washington University, Harvard, East Carolina University, UCLA, and the

University of London, L.S.E., Glasgow University and Oxford University. He has also lectured at the Leningrad State University, now St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; and the then USSR Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow. He also delivered formal lectures at the Humboldt Universitat Zu Berlin (University of Berlin) in Berlin, Germany.

Appointment as Presidential Consultant in 2009

In March 2009, President Arroyo appointed José Lápuz as Presidential Consultant. The professional specialization of Lapuz lies in international relations, global politics, comparative foreign policy, moral and humanitarian issues in international affairs, and the changing nature of world politics. As consultant of President Arroyo, Lápuz is expected to share his views, comments and observations, whenever asked by the President, on matters and issues affecting the government's international positions.

National Historical Institute appointment 2009

In November 2009, José David Lapuz was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as commissioner / board member of the National Historical Institute. The National Historical Institute promotes Philippine history and cultural heritage through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and heraldry works. It aims to inculcate awareness and appreciation of the noble deeds and ideals of heroes and other illustrious Filipinos, to instill pride in the Filipino race and to rekindle the Filipino spirit through the lessons of history.

2010 Appointments

Jose David Lapuz was a participant in the 2010 Preparatory Committee of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference held in February 2010 at the New World Hotel in Makati, Manila. The Philippines was the country elected to be President of the N.P.T. Review Conference which took place in May 2010 in New York. The President-elect of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (N.P.T.) of New York is Philippine Ambassador Libran Cabactulan.

In March 2010, Lapuz was made a member of the Philippine delegation to the special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting on interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace and development at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) which was attended by foreign ministers of 118 NAM Member-States. This SNAMMM Conference was the second biggest gathering in Manila of high-level government representatives, second only to the Ministerial Conference on Trade and Development in 1979. NAM represents the interests and priorities of developing countries in international affairs. It has its origin in the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 (briefly known as the Bandung Conference).

Lapuz argued that through the steady promotion of interfaith dialogue, and respect for diverse cultures, traditions and practices in Mindanao, in Southern Philippines, the government of the Philippines was able "to build roads that opened up remote areas into the mainstream of economic activities and to construct irrigation systems in farm-lands that used to be impenetrable to construction companies because of conflict." Lapuz maintained that in Philippine Foreign Policy, the Philippines and Pakistan, with the full support of non-aligned movement member countries, have vigorously pursued in the U.N. the promotion of interfaith, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding, and cooperation for peace since 2004. In a similar vein, The Society Of Catholic Social Scientists (SCSS), with headquarters in Steubenville, Ohio, USA, invited José David Lapuz to deliver a lecture-address on "The Eve of the Quadricentennial Anniversary of the Pontifical and Catholic University of Santo Tomas (1611-2011): The Millennial Challenge of Catholic Higher Education in the Philippines", which was held at Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana, East Central, USA in October 2010.

José David Lapuz was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as member of the board of trustees of the National Museum of the Philippines in March 2010.

In May 2010, Jose David Lapuz joined some 300 representatives from international human rights organizations that converged in Geneva for the 44th Annual Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The purpose of the conference was to strengthen and reinforce global cooperation in efforts to protect human rights and protect victims of violations of human rights and human dignity. Also, the conference discussed real concrete proposals on ways to reinforce cooperation between the human rights system and regional human rights mechanisms. The conference also tried to identify strategies to overcome obstacles to the promotion and protection of human rights not only at the national and regional levels but, also especially on international levels. Professor Lapuz participated as a Delegate and Representative of the Republic of the Philippines.

Achievements

•Member, Royal African Society (Patron -Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II).

•Member, Foreign Policy Association of New York, New York City, USA.

•International Leader Grantee, under the Cultural Visitors' Program of the U.S. State Department, 1971.

•British Council Scholar of the United Kingdom to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, 1969.

•Member, Honor Society of Pi Gamma Mu, University of the Philippines Chapter.

•Member, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of the Philippines.

•Member, Rizal Center Honor Society, founded by Justice Jesus Barrera of the Philippine Supreme Court.

•Member, Claro M. Recto Memorial Foundation.

•Knight Grand Cross Of Rizal, the highest and greatest rank of the Knights of Rizal.[7]

•British Council Travel Fellow of the United Kingdom.

•Named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men[8] in political scientist[9] 1971.

•Best Educator Awardee given by the Auxiliary National Headquarters of the Philippine Veterans' Legion, 1978.

•Named Lecturer of the Year by the Times Journal in 1979.

•Academic guest of USSR Academy OF Sciences and Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow and Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Russian Federation), October - November, 1987.

•Published "Perspectives in Politics: Public and Foreign Affairs', U.S.T. Publishing House, 2005"

•Fellow of the International Council of Leaders in Washington D.C., U.S.A, 1971.

•Academic Visitor, Socialist East Germany, 1989.

•Member, Francisco Balagtas Circle, founded by Senate President Blas F. Ople.

•Lifetime Member Of The National Press Club, Magallanes, Intramuros, Manila.

•Member of the International Visitor Program - Philippine Alumni Foundation, Inc. (IVP-PHILS)

•CUM LAUDE GRADUATE of the University of the Philippines, Major in Political Science and History, 1964.

Reviews of Work

Dr. Ofelia A. Dimalanta, Ph. D. and Director of the UST Center for Creative Writing has said that José David Lapuz's voice had resounded quite powerfully and arrestingly in the halls of the academe all these many years and one couldn't help not only hearing but listening. "Lapuz certainly has been one prodigous fountain spouting forth brilliant, fresh ideas and insights on sundry subjects particularly Rizal, foreign policy, international news and affairs, his formidable yield always rich, enriching, and boundless. This book of essays (Perspectives in Politics: Public and Foreign, UST Press, 2005) has long been overdue, but this result is certainly well worth the wait. Now we do not only have to listen to him pour away, whether we like it or not, willingly or willy-nilly, but we may sit down and read and ponder and contemplate and read over and over or pause to refresh before taking him up again, all in our own good time. We may then more fully savor his words, his rapier-sharp wit, his clever turns of phrase, his neatly couched sarcasm, his carefully contained vitriol, his intellectual vigor. In Lapuz's lectures and speeches, he would display the force and irrepressible energy of Juvenal (Roman satirist) one moment and the next, the urban savoir-faire of Horace (Roman writer). Certainly, all this is best captured by the readers when they finally have all the time to read him and absorb the quality of his mind, a mind vividly alive and alert to catch every flow and flux of the goings-on in the contemporary historico-political scene and beyond. Finally, the dynamic voice of José David Lapuz is impaled on print for the pleasure and intellectual enlightenment of readers and posterity." Professor Ofelia A. Dimalanta who wrote the above-cited review is a consistent Palanca winner in poetry and is a most highly esteemed professor of World Literature in the Pontifical and Catoholic University of Santo Tomas, Asia's most ancient university having been founded by the Dominican Friars (Fr. Miguel Benavidez) in 1611. Similarly, in 2005, the Very Reverend Father Tamerlane R. Lana, OP, Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas (1611), España, Manila, Philippines, wrote of Lapuz the following: "This collection of essays and comments on political issues (Perspectives in Politics: Public and Foreign, UST Publishing House, 2005) written by Comm. Lapuz over the past years is the result of his studies, reflections and life-experiences of political concerns which he shared with his students and various audiences here and abroad. Known to many of us as the "Professor of Political Science," Comm. Lapuz shares in this endeavor the commitment of the University of Santos Tomas to imbibe among her students the Catholic social doctrines and political thoughts that would permeate the way they will conduct their lives and thus hopefully effect a transformation in our society. Considering the current political events haunting our country and the characters that play a major role in our nation's political drama, I convey my gratitude to Comm. Lapuz for the many fruitful years he spent as a Thomasian educator and I gladly commend him for this lasting contribution to the growing discourses on the political realities affecting our present lives." Sr. Don Professor Guillermo Gomez Rivera, Member of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language and Premio Zobel de Hispanidad in 1975 and Chairman for Spanish and Culture of Adamson University, located in Marquis de Comillas Street, Manila, said of Lapuz: "Jose David Lapuz is the many-sided diamond that cuts out new highways in the darkened glass of world-wide culture... He is the brilliant voice that sings of the Filipino feelings in 'his different tokens, in his doubts and in all that makes him sad.' It is voices, it is pens, it is sounds like that of Jose David Lapuz that must come forth and demand, or struggle if necessary, that the embodiment of what is Filipino be respected. This is the summary of the life, thoughts and works of Jose David Lapuz. This quest for the respect due the Filipino as attested by his own personal history. A review of all that he has written and said, point to the same direction that his beautiful life has taken. It is because of all these day-to-day struggle and labor of Jose David Lapuz that 'a plaque of honor and distinction' was given to him by Adamson University, then represented by Atty. Marcos Herras, Fr. Rolando de la Goza, CM, and Fr. Augusto Goecoechea, CM. This plaque of honor calls Jose David Lapuz "A genius of the race and the pride of his people because he possesses a vast erudition and an enviable culture."

Achievements or Attainment of Prof. Jose David Lapuz

•Advocate, International Visitor Program-Philippine alumni (IV-Phil) Inc.

•Radio Political commentator, with his program, Ang Propesor ng Bayan, Radio Veritas (846)kHz.

•Delivered 14 Interventions or Speeches on The Ethics of Science and Technology, Human Rights, Gender Quality, "The Flight Against Discrimination", Intolerance and the Fight Against Bigotry and the "Draft Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Genetic Data" during the 32nd International Conference of UNESCO held in September–October 2003, Place the Fotenoy, Paris, France.

•Attended the 12th Annual Meeting Conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. October 29-October 30, 2004. During the Lunch Sessions and Panels of this learned professional Society. Professor Jose David Lapuz delivered a talk on "Social Sciences, Human Rights and Extreme Poverty: A New Response".

•Recipient of USA International Cultural Visitor Program to observe the November 2004 U.S. Presidential Election in San Francisco,USA. Professor Jose David Lapuz was assisted by Michael Cain of the US State Department and the "Diplomacy Council of San Francisco".

•Prof. Lapuz attended academic meetings and seminars with professors and academicians and experts of the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado, November 10-November 12, 2004.

•Prof. Lapuz discussed with experts and savants on international affairs at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, South Michigan Avenue,Chicago. He also conferred with the specialist of the International Association of the Chicago-Cuba Coalition on Wabash Avenue, Chicago, November 13-November 15, 2004.

•Consulted with experts and specialists of the NEW YORK COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS on "US Foreign Policy, Historical Setting, the President, Congress, Foreign Affairs,the role of the "Public and the Economics of Foreign Policy Making",68th St. and Park Avenue, New York, USA, November 20, 2004.

•Met and Consulted with some professors and experts of the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA, November 22-November 24, 2004.

•Addressed the THOMASIAN-USA, an organization of U.S.T. Alumni on "The Ruby Anniversary of the UST Arts and Letters" held on Ocean Drive, San Francisco, California, November 21, 2004.

•In KENYA, EAST AFRICA, Prof. Jose David Lapuz attended the series of discussions, meeting, hearing interviews and deliberations, of the INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND POVERTY OF UNESCO as regards the small grants that were awarded to East and West Africa, Latin America and some countries in Asia, May 7–11, 2004-2005.

•Addressed a civic organization on "UNESCO Management of Social Transformation and the Issue of Human Migration", Athens, Greece, June 1, 2005.

•Spoke on "Dr. Jose Rizal as the First Filipino International Overseas Contract Worker" before an assembly of Filipino overseas contract workers, Athens, Greece, June 2, 2005.

•Visited and conferred with academic friends at the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria,June 4, 2005.

•Conferred with professors, experts' scientists and academics, as well as friends at HUMBOLT UNIVERSITAT ZU BERLIN (University of Berlin). Professor Lapuz, as Knight Grand Cross of Rizal, the highest rank, also delivered a talk on Dr. Jose Rizal at Rizal Garten or Rizal Garden, in Potsdam, Germany. The convocation on Rizal was organized by Manfred Hans Schnell, a devoted, ardent and caring German Rizalist, June 5, 2005.

•Addressed, on invitation extended by Ambassador Romeo A. Arguelles, Filipino envoy to Amsterdam, the advanced celebration of the 107th Anniversary of Philippine Independence which was held on Embassy Grounds at Lann Copes Van Cattenburch 125, the Hague, Netherlands, Professor Lapuz spoke on "The Challenge of Poverty and Human Rights to the Filipinos and Our Collective Response After 107 years", June 8, 2005.

•Honored and extolled as an Acclaimed Jubilarian by the International Honor Society of PI GAMMA Mu for Social Science (UP Alpha Chapter), Ang Bahay ng Alumni, U.P., Diliman,Quezon City, February 25, 2004.

•Addressed and Actively Participated in a Conference with Dr. Stephen Hill, Director of UNESCO-Jakarta Office in Indonesia held at the Dulce Fontana Restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan, August 2004.

•Delivered a formal address on "Philippine Foreign Policy Objectives: Towards a Framework of Dignity" to the Political Science Forum of the University of Santo Tomas, UST España Campus, August 24, 2004.

•Attended and actively participated in the 8th International Conference of the South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for education innovation and Technology that brought together leading educators, policy makers and other top educational stakeholders from all over the world in a 3 day interactive forum on the topic of "The Challenge to Educational Innovation and Technology" held at the Seameo-Innotech, Diliman, Quezon City. December 9–10, 2002.

•Addressed as Guest of Honor and Speaker, The Diamond Jubilee Celebration THE INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI on the topic "Sustaining a Culture of Excellence" at the Bulwagang Claro M. Recto, UP Deliman, Q.C, February 11, 2003.

•Guest of Honor and Speaker of the makati Business Club (Not related to the businesss club of makati) to speak commemorating the 108th death anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal held at the Max's Restaurant, Greenbelt, Makati City, December 30, 2004.

•Active participant and discussant in the UNESCO National Conference on "Education for All and Conquering Poverty and Other Emerging Challenges for UNESCO" Mabini Hall, Department of Foreign Affairs, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City, February 2005.

•Guest of Honor and Speaker of the Montessori College Faculty Assembly on the topic of Dr. Jose Rizal Thoughts on "Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre La Patria" held at the Montessori Center O.B. at Greenhills, San Juan on January 28, 2005.

•Speaker at the Grand Alumni Homecoming of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters marking the Ruby Anniversary of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, Manila Hotel, Rizal Park, November 30, 2004.

•Official delegate and representative of the Philippines to the International General Conference of UNESCO, UNESCO headquarters, Paris, September 29, thru October 17, 2003. Prof. Jose David Lapuz represented both the NATURAL SCIENCE and SOCIAL SCIENCE at Place de Fontenoy and Miollis St., Paris France.

•Delivered the keynote address at the 4th National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute Seminar of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, at the Teacher's Camp, Baguio City, December 10, 2003. Professor Lapuz talked on "Rizalism: Unity, Solidarity and Fellowship in the Ideas, Precepts and Teaching of Dr. Jose Rizal".

•Delivered the Necrological Address eulogizing Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople during a necrological service by the Writers' and Artists' group held at the Mabini Hall, department of Foreign Affairs, Roxas Bldv., Pasay City on December 17, 2003.

•Invited to deliver a lecture on "Sustainable Technological Development in a Globalizing World" held in May 2004 at the Budapest University of Technology, Budapest, Hungary. Because of pressing family problems, Professor Lapuz was unable to go.

•Invited by the Center for Social concern and Action of De La Salle University in a partnership with la Salle's History Department to deliver two seminars-open forums on August 12 Friday 2005. The first seminar-open forum was on "Rizal's Concept of Globalization in Light of the current National Crisis" from 10:30am at the De La Salle Yuchenco Seminar Rooms. The second seminar-open forum is on "The Idea of good and transparent Government and Administration and our National Predicament" which was also held on Friday, August 12, 2005.

•Invited as participant and interrogator in the seminar of the Asian Institute on "The Global Oil Situation: what is it to the Philippines?" Held at the 5-Star New World Renaissance Hotel Makati on August 10, 2005-2-5 o'clock p.m.

•Named Kagawad or trustee of the Samahang Balagtas, an association of Filipinologists devoted to the propagation of Filipino as official language, August 14, 2002 at Club Filipino,San Juan, Greater Manila.

•Active discussant in the forum of the Asian Institute of Management on "the United Nations and the war on Iraq" held at the SGV hall,3/F, AIM Conference Center, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

•Lectured on the Life, Works and Commitments of Dr. Jose Rizal before the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies, held at the CCWS and Conference Room, faculty of Arts and Letters, St. Raymund bldg. UST, December 7, 2002.

•Addressed the faculty and students of Pamantasa ng Makati on "The Quest of the Filipino for Truth, Justice and Democracy and his Crusade for Good Governance," held at the Audio-Visual room of bldg. 2, Pamantasan ng Makati, J.P.Rizal Extension, Makati on February 15, 2001.

•Active participant and contributor in the "Interfaith Conference on Building Bridges Between Peoples" jointly sponsored by the Asian Institute of Management and the British Embassy that brought together various sectors and religions to increased and heightened understanding and dialogue among peoples of diverse faiths, held at the SGV hall, 3/F AIM Conference Center, October 28, 2002.

•Delivered a formal address on "The United Nations: Prospect and Retrospect-War or Peace" before the faculty and students of Immaculate Conception Parish School, #1 St. Michael St., Cubao, Quezon City, October 17, 2002.

•Delivered a speech-lecture on "The Basic Principles and Future of Modern Democracy" before the forum of UST political science students, Jose Rizal Auditorium, UST, April 2, 1999.

•Invited to attend an exclusive closed-door seminar on "Iraq and the World" arranged and organized by the AIM POLICY CENTER held at the SGV Hall, 3/F, AIM Conference Center, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, February 17, 2003.

•Principal Speaker during the commemoration of Rizal's Death Anniversary held in front of Municipal Building of Taytay, Rizal, on December 30, 2001. The Rizalist Professor Jose David Lapuz talked on "The Relevance of Rizal on National and International Developments".

•Meeting and discussion with Zimbabwean journalist GEOFFREY NYAROTA, editor of ZIMBABWE's only independent newspaper, THE DAILY NEWS, May 2, 2002.

•Invited by the United States Ambassador FRANCIS J. RICCIARDONE as Corporate Communications Director of the International Visitor Program-Philippines Alumni Foundation, Inc., August 16, 2002 at the US Embassy Ground Roxas Blvd. Manila.

•PARTICIPANT IN THE GLOBAL RESEARCH EFFORT TO "LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT OPINION LEADERS THINK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE CONDUCTED BY THE PRINCETON SURVEY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, an independent research firm requested by the WORLD BANK, Washington DC, United States, November 8, 2002.

•Addressed the faculty and students of San Beda College on "Rizal-Nationalist and Internationalist" held at the Audio-Visual Room, San Beda College, Calle Chino Roces, Manila, on March 19, 2003.

•Has been invited and professor Jose David Lapuz has accepted to attend the 13th ANNUAL CONVENTION AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of the SOCIETY OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SCIENTISTS OF AMERICA, held October 28–29, 2005, at STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, USA. Professor Lapuz attended the "Session on Catholic Reflections on International Politics" held at St. Joseph Center, Tortino Room, FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, USA. He also participated in the "UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT PROBLEM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING" to be presented by AMBASSADOR JOHN R. MILLER, US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, held at the Finnegan Field House, Ohio, USA, Thursday, October 27, 2005.

•This coming October 28–29, 2011, Professor Jose David Lapuz will address the 2011 meeting-conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists of America on the topic of "The Quadricentennial Anniversary of the Catholic and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas: Interfaith Dialogue and Intercultural Conversation and the Transnational Role of UST in the International Interchange of Knowledge". UST is the oldest Catholic University in the whole of Asia, having been established in 1611, in the 17th Century.

•During "Proceedings of the International Seminars and Public Lectures" Organized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, October 18–19, 2004, Fontenoy building, 125 Avenue De Suffren, Paris, France, Professor Jose David Lapuz, Professor of International Relations, Politics of Development and Comparative Foreign Policy of the University of Santo Tomas, Chaired the panel on "REQUIREMENTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY" participated in by several United Nations agencies; such as, the UNDP, ILO, UN-HABITAT, the WORLD BANK, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), LABORATOIRE D' ANTROPOLOGIE JURUDIQUE DE PARIS (LAJP), France; Centre for Development and the environment, Norway (Studies of South Asia and Latin America); and finally, the several UNESCO's assistant Directors-General for education, FOR SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES, FOR NATURAL SCIENCES, FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION, AND FOR CULTURE.

•ev. Father Paul Egli of the Fraternita San Pio X in the Vatican, Roma, commended Professor Jose David Lapuz, Herrn Professor Und Kommissar Von UNESCO, concerning the work on human rights and poverty in the following words: " Your(Professor Lapuz) Your work in the Committee on Human Rights and Poverty is most praiseworthy, commendable and admirable as it redounds to the good of humanity, and of your country in particular. You

represent, in my opinion, the finest qualities of your people and of diplomacy. You are an effective ambassador of your country."(Paul Egli,Fraternita San Pio X, Via Trilussa 45, I-00041 albano laziale, Roma.)

•The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in awarding the Distinguished Mentor Award thru the Faculty of Arts and Letters cited Professor Lapuz in the following words: "It is in grateful appreciation for faithfuly serving the Faculty of Arts and Letters as Distinguished Mentor inspiring your colleagues with your commitment to excellence, nurturing your students with your dedication to liberal education, and enriching your community with your adherence to Thomasian values." The plaqueta de honor y reconocimiento was signed by Prof. Armando de Jesus, Ph. D., Dean of the College and by Rev. Fr. Rodel E. Aligan, Regent of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

•Journalist Jose Mari Mercader, Executive Editor of the Filipino Times and Asian Review that circulates in the Greater New York Area including New Jersey, said of Prof. Jose David Lapuz, after Lapuz addressed the "Kapihan sa New York" held at the Lourdes Restaurant at the corner of 37th avenue and 54th St., Woodside, Queens, NYC, the following words: "Like Don Claro Mayor Recto whom Lapuz idelizes immensely, he (Lapuz) is also an intellectual aristocrat with an enviable reputation. With the eloquence of a Churchill and the brilliance of a Demosthenes, he waxed erudition of his topic. His luminous wisdom left no doubt we were listening to an authority, may, an intellectual giant. We readily felt that today no Filipino speaker commands greater respect by sheer force of logic and mastery of the classics than our guest last Saturday at the Kapihan sa New York, Professor Jose David Lapuz." In said speech, Prof. Lapuz argued for a foreign policy consistent with the dignity and stature of an independent Philippines. Specifically, some of Lapuz's main points were: 1) that the US, Japan, China and the Middle East will influence our foreign policy; 2) That our foreign affairs formulations would be in the setting of ASEAN; 3) That we will see more the decisive importance of multillateral and regional organizations; and 4) that the over 9 million overseas Filipino workers will play a critical role in the country's foreign and economic policies. This talk, attended by at least 400 Kapihan Members and Guests, was entitled "The Angels' Game: My Outlook of Philippine Foreign Policy" and here in this address, Prof. Lapuz presented his perspectives and insights on international affairs and international politics.

•Commended by the County of Los Angeles, California, in a Formal Plaque in "Recognition of dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all the citizens of Los Angeles County and in recognition of numerous visits to Los Angeles, California, USA to deliver lectures and address forums in various universities, in different years, since the '70s, '80s, '90s and onwards to the 21st Century comprising the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The well-travelled PROF. JOSE DAVID LAPUZ has been journeying to the USA, GREAT BRITAIN, WESTERN EUROPE, and the former USSR since 1969. a period of 37 years. PROF. JOSE DAVID LAPUZ es realmente un ciudadeno verdaderamente cosmopolita or "a true citizen of the world." The Commendation of the County of Los Angeles was signed by MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH, Supervisor, Fifth District of the County of Los Angeles, California, May 30, 2007.

• Professor Lapuz was awarded a Plagueta de Honor y Reconocimiento for "being a nationalist and internationalist educator, giving the great number of Fil-Americans in the US rare and brilliant discernment of the life and works of Rizal, thereby enabling the Fil-Americans to re-discover their own roots and history in the context of the world's struggle for freedom.", Given by the Western Greater Area chapter of the Knights of Rizal during its conference-forum held on May 30, 2007 at the Fil-Am Center on Temple St., Los Angeles, California, USA.

•From November 15 to November 20, 2004, Prof. Lapuz was in New York City to meeth with some experts of the New York Council for Foreign Relations to pursue materials on "US Foreign Policy", Historical Setting, the President, Congress and Foreign Affairs, the Role of the Public and the Economics of Foreign Policy Making." He was ably helped by Ms. Aysha Ghadiali of the Fellowship Program at 68th St. and Park Ave, New York, New York.

•From Paris, France, Prof. Lapuz flew to Ann Arbor,Michigan, USA on October 29, 2004, to attend the 12th Annual Meeting Conference of the SOCIETY OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SCIENTISTS. During the lunch sessions and panels on October 30, 2004, Prof. Lapuz was invited to talk on "Social Sciences Human Rights and Extreme Poverty: A New Response."

•On November 7, 2007, Prof. Lapuz was the guest of honmor and speaker in a Felicidades-Tertulla tendred in his honor by the Ars Nobilis Foundation at the Philippine Consulate and Center at 556 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.

•In June 2007, Prof. Lapuz discussed "Human Rights and Dignity as the Basic Foundation of Justice, Democracy and Peace in the World", sponsored by the "Kapihan sa New York" at Angeline's restaurant at the corner of Roosevelt Ave. and 59th St., Queens, New York City. After this forum address of Prof. Lapuz, Jose Mari-Mercader, executive vice-president and executive editor of Filipino Times and Asian Review, wrote in his column: "Professor Jose David Lapuz rules the minds of Filipinos through eloquence. The kapihan speech of Lapuz shows the inex of his mind. His speech from his golden tongue sparked the atmosphere at the "Kapihan sa New York" for one thing, Lapuz triggered the audience to participate actively. The forum was transformed into a discourse among great minds. It was evident from the large crowd that Kapihan would require a bigger place to accommodate everybody."

•President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines, appointed Professor Jose David Lapuz as Member of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM). In Her Excellency's appointment, the President wrote: "Pursuant to the provision of existing laws, you are hereby appointed ACTING MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES, REPRESENTING THE NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION [NGO], UNESCO NATIONAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES [UNACOM] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. / By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office." Signed GLORIA ARROYO, the Appointment coursed thru the Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, DFA Building, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City.

•Attended and delivered lecture address on the "Quadricentennial Anniversary (400th Year) of the Pontifical and Catholic University of Santo tomas (UST): The Trasnational role of UST in the International Interchange of Knowledge and the Place of Inter-faith Dialogue and Inter-Civilizational Conversation in University Curriculums", presented at the 2011 Annual National and International Meeting Conference of the learned, scholarly SOCIETY OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SCIENTISTS (SCAA)held at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OHIO, USA, October 29, 2011.

•Caught and attended the tail-end of the APEC International Conference hosted by US President Barack Obama and held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, from November 7 up to the 13th of November 2011. Prof. Lapuzwas also invited to attend the "Parangal kay Pangulong Aquino" hosted by several Fil-American Organizations and held at the 5-star Hilton Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii USA, November 13, 2011.

•Prof. Lapuz was a guest at the IOLANI PALACE during the birthday of former King of Hawaii, King Kamehameha, Honolulu, USA, November 16, 2011.

•Professor Jose David Lapuz addressed the venerable KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS MYSTIC LODGE No. 2, at their headquarters at 826 Kaheka Street, Suite 304 Honolulu Hawaii, United States of America. Prof. Lapuz spoke on "The Similarities and Parallelism between the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Rizal: Friendship, Benevolence, Charity, Freedom, Justice, Chivalry, and Human Rights and the Equality of Men and Women." After his 25 minute lecture address, Prof. Lapuz was presented a "Diploma of Reconocimiento y Honor" by the Mystic Lodge No. 2 of

the Knights of Pythias, the International Fraternity, and signed by Sir ANDREW GIESER, Chancellor Commander, and by Sir Benjamin Sanchez, Jr, Past Chancellor and Pythian International Committee Chairman, November 16, 2011.

•Prof. Lapuz was guest of the radio program broadcast on the Hawaiian Radio Station KNDI, Broadcast of the Pacific, 1,279 kHz, 9:00am, Honolulu Hawaii, USA. Prof. Lapuz talked on controversial aspects of Philippine American Relation, both political and economic, November 19, 2011.

•Prof. Lapuz was, similarly invited, as Guest Interviewee on KNDI, Ethnic program schedule, Visayan Hour by radio anchor men Rene dela Peña and Erwin Gabrillo, KNDI Radio, Honolulu Hawaii, USA, 5:00pm, Novv 23, 2011. Prof. Jose David Lapuz discussed and had a dialogue on "Historical Values and Asian Heritage of the Filipinos."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited as International and Thanksgiving Speaker of the St. Paul Episcopalian-Philippine Independent Church on invitation extended by Rev. Father Raymond Albano, vicar and canon of the Philippine Independent Church, 9:00am, Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011, Queen Emma street, Downtown, Honolulu Hawaii, USA. Professor Lapuz delivered a formal address on "Helping Us to Interpret the Meaning of Thanksgiving Day: An Attitude of Thankfulness for the Good of Our Society and Peace in Our World."

•Professor Jose David Lapuz was guest Speaker of Ms. Emmy Anderson, former Queen of Hawaii Beauty Pageant and anchor woman of Pinoy Power on KPHI Radio, Honolulu Hawaii, USA, 4:30pm, Friday, November 25, 2011. Prof. Lapuz was asked to talk on "POLITICS, DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS,ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND OTHER CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ISSUES."

•Prof. Lapuz was the Principal Guest of Honor and Speaker of the ancient Balaan Catalina Society in ther Fiesta in honor of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, 6:00pm to 11:30pm, Friday, November 25, 2011, at their Club-Headquarters, 94-065 D Waipahu Depot Road Waipahu, Hawaii 96797, USA. Prof. Lapuz delivered a formal address on "PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF WAR: Peace is a state of spirituality, a state of virtue and a Disposition for Justice and Liberty." This important Event-Meeting in Honolulu was attended by at least 895 members and guests.

•Professor Jose David Lapuz was a Guest of Honor of the much sought-after and crowd-pleasing singing and performing soloists and artists known as "Society of Seven" in their gig-performance at Outrigger Hotel, Waikiki, Honolulu, USA, 8:30-10:30pm, Saturday, November 26, 2011.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited to address the Multi Cultural Studies Seminar organized by Prfessor Clement Bautista held Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the Multi Cultural Studies of the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII at MANAO, Honolulu, Hawaii USA. Professor Lapuz presided on a "Discussions on Rich and Poor States, Foreign Military Intervention, Global Government, Aims of Foreign Aid, The Arms Race, Theory-Building in Foreign Policy, Basic Human Rights, Universities in world affairs etc., etc. Guests and students in the School of Pacific and Asian Studies of the University of Hawaii at Manoa also attended.

•Invited, as Guest of Honor and Speaker, to deliver a formal address commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of the Philippines natioanl Hero-Martyr, Dr. Jose Protasio Rizal, the convocation being part of the Fall 2011 Colloquium Series of the University, held 12:00am to 3:00pm, December 2, 2011, Friday, Tokioka Auditorium, UNIVERSITY of HAWAII at MANOA, 1890 EAST-WEST Road, Moore 416, HONOLULU, HAWAII, Zip Code 96822, UNITED STATES, Prof. Lapuz talked on "DR. RIZAL, THE RENAISSANCE ARTISTIC GENIUS, HIS NATIONALISM AND FILIPINISM AND THE IMPELLING CAUSE OF HIS IDEAS ON INTERNATIONALISM." Dr. Belinda Aquino, distinguished professor emiritus and Dr. Lilia Quidoza Santiago were the other distinguished and noted scholars who presented other facets in Rizal's life and works and shared their thoughts on the relevance of Rizal today in the 21st Century.

•Professor Jose David Lapuz was recipient of a DIPLOMA DE HONOR Y RECONOCIMIENTO given by the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the STATE OF HAWAII in recognition of "his commitment to humanity and for selflessly working to help those in need and for his pasionate commitment to the study of International Affairs which have brought International Honors to the Philippines". The DIPLOMA was signed by SPEAKER CALVIN K.Y. SAY, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, REPRESENATATIVE JOHN M. MIZUNO, and witnessed by Patricia Mau-Shimizu, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. The Diploma was given on November 25, 2011 at the Balaan Catalina Society of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

•On November 3, 2011, Thursday, The name of Prof. Jose David Lapuz, distinguished and well-known expert-savant on the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' National Hero, was inscribed and imprinted on the podium-platform or dais of the sculpture of Dr. Jose Rizal's head, shoulders and chest, which bust-memorial-statue stands on the left side of the Fil-American Center of Los Angeles or FACLA HQ at West Temple Street, East Los Angeles, USA. The words inscribed on the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal read: " PROF. JOSE DAVID LAPUZ whose contributions to the spread and dissemination of Dr. Rizal's heroism and legacy have been his priceless and valuable lectures on the life of Rizal which he had been giving annually since 1973 up to 2008 (a continuous period of 35 years) and still counting".

•From 2009 up to June 30, 2012, Prof. Lapuz served as top Presidential Adviser-Consultant on International Politics and International Organization to Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines. As Presidential Consultant-Adviser to President Arroyo, Lapuz's job specifications included the following: (1) Analyze Philippine foreign relations, relevant legislation and state practices and positions on relevant global issues; (2) Monitor political, social and legal developments in the international scene and preparing executive reports containing detailed analyses of current global developments; (3) Prepare comprehensive analyses and reports with the aim of assessing trends and identifying issues which might affect the Philippines, in political, economic and policy terms; (4) Review the Philippine position vis-a-vis bilateral, regional, and international relations and agreements; (5) Establish channels of contacts with various sectors, especially the academe, international and local organizations and learned societies with the aim of enriching the participatory nature of the international policy position of the Philippine government; and finally (6) All other tasks that maybe needed by the Office of the President.

•Last Holy Saturday or Sabado de Gloria April 7, 2012, Prof. Jose David Lapuz, member of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists of America (SCAA) based in the Franciscan University of Steubeville, OHIO, USA, was the guest of the most Rev. Fr. Paciano Aniceto, Archbishop of the Diocese of the province of Pampanga. His Grace, Archbishop Aniceto commended Prof. Lapuz for remaining as a steadfast Filipino and for always remembering and cherishing his native provincial roots as a son of Teodora David, a Capampangan, and Andres Lapuz, also a native of Capampangan, both parents of his were native residents of Pondong Asukal, Barrio San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga, a province in Central Luzon, Philippines.

•Areas of Studies of Prof. Jose David Lapuz: (1) International Politics and Security Studies; (2) Conflicting Methodologies in International Politics & Foreign Policy which he specialized in postgraduate courses University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK, as a British Council Scholar under the supervision of Dr. WJM Mackenzie, C.B.E., Classics Don at Magdalen College, Oxford and James Bryce Chair of Politics at University of Glasgow, and also the head of its Department of Politics and Moral Philosophy; (3) Ethical Foreign Policy: Where does the Ethics Come From; (4) Nationalism in Contemporary Perspective: Insightful Overview about the extent of Ethnic COnflict in today's world; (5) Globalization and Development and; (6) Development of International Relations Theory and the Great Debates.

•Elected Trustee or Regente del La Junta Directiva y El Consejo de Administracion of El Premio Gusi de la Paz or Gusi World Peace Prize for International Relation chaired by Amb. Barry Melo Sotejo Gusi, Forbes Park, Makati, Metro-Manila, Philippines, February 2012.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz addressed recently the ancient and historic civic ALOHA Shiriners Provost Guard Unit in Waipahu, Honolulu United States. Prof. Lapuz discoursed on the "Vulnerable Planet Earth: How Production is Connected to Environmental Degradation". In his talk Prof. Jose David Lapuz argued that "our world is finite and therefore, there are definitely potential physical limits to economic growth. Economic expansion necessitates increased extraction of resources from the environment and this fat leads to ecological problems. And ofcourse, ecological problems put restrictions on economic expansion. After his speech, Lapuz was awarded a pin, a medallion, and a diploma by the officers of the Shriners Provost Guard that traces its history to 19th Century.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was also the Guest of Honor and Speaker of the INSTITUTO CERVANTES, Padre Faura, MANILA, FILIPINAS, in a formal convocation-conference on the subject of "DR. RIZAL, El Magnifico Ejemplar de Humana Grandeza: The Cogency of the Teachings of Rizal on the Present Transnational Global Economic Crisis and Meltdown." The forum was held on 19th June 2009 attended by College Administrators, Latin American Diplomats, City Officials and Student Leaders and Followers and Admirers of Dr. Jose Protasio Rizal, The Greatest National Hero of Filipinos.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz delivered the lecture-address on "Keeping Alive the Dynamic Friendship Between Dr. Jose Protasio Rizal and Prof. Ferdianand Blumentritt" at the 4th European Assembly, at CLAM GALLAS PALACE, Thursday, September 17, 2009, Litomerice, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC. Present the audience was the illustrious Mayor of the City Litomerice, Mayor, Ladislav Chlupec.

•Prof. Lapuz addressed the Philippine Historical Commission, of the Republic of the Philippines, on the occasion of the 115th Death Anniversary of the foremost National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, at Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, Manila, December 30, 2011. Prof. Lapuz talked on "Rizal and the Meaning of his Life in the 21st century".

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was guest of Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, Mayor of City Government of Puerto Princesa, to observe the remarkable Tourism Program of Puerto Princesa City, from May 25th up to May 28, 2012. Particularly, Prof. Jose David Lapuz was privileged to have been invited to see the PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK (Underground River) which is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE and is now OFFICIALLY A NEW 7 WONDER OF NATURE, by popular cyberspace votes world wide. Prof. Jose David Lapuz was also invited to attend the reception for 71 Mayors from all over the Philippines in their 49th National Executive Board Meeting, held at the Legend Hotel, Puerto Princesa, May 27, 2012. Prof. Lapuz commented that "The more we see and cherish the gifts of Mother Nature to Puerto Princesa and the more we put a value on them, the more we see the face of God. Such gifts as the climate, the carbon-neutral Puerto Princesa's Greenhouse Gas Inventory, the long-snouted spinner dolphins, the indigenous groups that include the Tagbanuas and the Bataks, etc. etc. are all like a ladder, natural structures that climb up higher and higher to a Creator or Brahma or Allah or, to quote Albert Einstein, to a 'superior reasoning power xxx revealed in the incomprehensible universe.' "

•Member of the Board of Editors of the FOREIGN RELATIONS JOURNAL, the official journal or publication of the PHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS (PCFR).

•Addressed the Board of Advisers of the Episcocal and Philippine Independent Church, a vibrant, well-informed and faithful congregation in the Diocese of Hawaii, headed by Rev. Canon Randolph V.M. Albano, Vicar and Canon for Filipino Ministry in the Diocese, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 2011, at St. Paul's Church, 229 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Zip 96813.

•Conferred with and conducted seminar with Higinio Buddy C. Mednoza Jr., Vice-Admiral, PCGA (Phil. Coast Guard) & Director of the Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum at Rizal Avenue Ext., Bancao-Bancao, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines, May 26, 2012. Prof. Jose David Lapuz viewed the five outstanding galleries (highlights of the Museum) which profile the major countries that participated during the World War II: UNITED STATES, JAPAN, GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. Prof. Jose David Lapuz, as professor of History, commented on the relics, weapons, aircraft carrier & bomber plane models, uniforms, bayonets and other significant relics of World War II.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited as Guest of the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Foundation during the Magsaysay Ceremony honoring the 2012 Awardees, and he was also invited to attend the Gala Dinner in honor of the Magsaysay Awardees held at the Ramon Magsaysay Center at Roxas Blvd., August 31, 2012.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was a delegate to the Biennial International Conference of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization on 9-11 December 2002 held SEAMEO INNOTECH Building, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. The Conference brought together leading educators, policy makers and other key education stakeholders from all over the world in a three-day interactive forum discussing relevant issues affecting the education enterprise, carrying the theme of "Reaching Out to Learning Communities: THe Challenge to Educational Innovation and Technology". The Conference focused on current issues that are of common interest to the SEAMEO Region and other learning communities all over the globe, regardless of loacation, culture, creed or value system.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited to be a member of the INTERNATIONAL VISITOR (IVP) PROGRAM organized by the recipients of International grants from the United States Department of State. The gathering took place in the ballroom of the U.S Embassy, 1201 Roxas Blvd., Manila on Saturday, February 17, 2001. The theme of the Founding Conference was "Building International Bridges through Volunteerism". The organization hoped to encourage IVP Allumni to further serve their communities and generally to build on their shared Philippine and U.S experiences.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz attended as a guest of the 36th Founding Anniversary of the Asian Institute of Management held on March 4, 2004 at the ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT 123 Paseo de Roxas, 1260 Makati City, Philippines. The Conference reach out to as many members as possible including Alumni from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with the Philippines acting as host. Emerging for Breakthrough Thinking to create and sustain Leadership and how these apply to both local and international settings were discussed. The Conference also aligned itself with the AIM's vision of taking a Leadership Difference to the less fortunate segment of Philippine Society.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was elected as MEMBER, COUNCIL OF ADVOCATES of the International Visitor Program-Philippines Alumni Foundation Inc. His Membership to the Council of Advocate was subscribed and sworn to on the Sixteenth day of August, 2002 before Francis J. Ricciardone, Ambassador of the United States of American,United States Embassy Roxas Blvd. Manila.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited to a dinner discussion with Dr. Gary Weaver, October 10, 2001. The event took place in the multi-purpose room of the Public Affairs Section, Chancery Annex Building, American Embassy, Roxas Blvd., Manila. Dr. Weaver is a professor of the International Relation at the school of the International Service, American University in Washington D.C. The topic of discussion was on "Cross-Cultural Understanding and Conflict Resolution".

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited by the Asian Institute Management Policy Center, the British Embassy and the British Council to a discussion on "Interfaith Conference and Building Bridges Between Peoples". The Conference

was held on October 28, 2002, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the SGV Hall, 3/F, AIM Conference Center, Makati.The Conference convened together various sectors and religions to increase understanding and dialogue among peoples of diverse faiths to promote genuine understanding and unity. Of particular interest was the participation of Dr. Farzan Nizami who is the Director of the Ozxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was made a member of the MANILA OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB on July 11, 1999 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila, Philippines. Prof. Jose David Lapuz was nominated as Member of the MANILA OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB by the renowned writer, MRS. CARMEN GUERRERO NAKPIL who is regarded as the country's most distinguished essayist.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was invited as Guest Lecturer and Speaker of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies on December 7, 2002 held at the Conference Room, 1/F St. Raymond Building, UST Campus, Espana Manila. It was the celebrated novelist, F. Sionel Jose who suggested to Dr. Ofelia Dimalanda, Chair Person of the CCWS to invite Prof. Jose David Lapuz to lecture at the Center, December 7, 2002, at 3pm. Lapuz Talked on "Dr. Jose Protasio Rizal: A Diamond of a Man and Orgullo de su Pueblo."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Speaker and Guest during the Commemoration of Rizal's Death Anniversary on December 30, 2001, 7:00 a.m, Sunday in front of the Municipal Building of Taytay, Rizal. Prof. Lapuz spoke on "Make Way for Dr. Jose Rizal: El Justo."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz has always been the Lecturer/Speaker of the ANNUAL RIZAL INSTITUTE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR of the KNIGHTS OF RIZAL and the MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS in Baguio City, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978,1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 (Tagaytay), 1985, 1986, 1987.

•Prof. Lapuz was a BRITISH COUNCIL TRAVEL FELLOW in 1973, 1975, 1956, and 1977.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Representative for Asia of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges in 1976 and 1977.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was Assistant to President Sotero H. Laurel for Academic Affairs, Lyceum of the Philippines, 1968-1973.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Chairman of the Department of the Political Science of the Lyceum of the Philippines, 1967-1973.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Consultant-Expert on Higher Education in the Senate of the Philippines, 1971. Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Philippine Senate.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was named BEST EDUCATOR BY THE AUXILLIARY NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS of the Philippines Veterans' Legion, 1978.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz meet with ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALIST, Geoffrey Nyarota at a Malacanan Palace Ceremony where UNESCO's Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for 2002 was awarded to Nyarota by UNESCO Director General KOICHIRO MATSUURA with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as guest of honor at the event. At this affair which was held on May 3, 2002 Prof. Jose David Lapuz observed the "Contemporary International Political Events, starting with the September 9 Terrorism in New York, highlighted the need to investigate and scrutinize questions and problems cropping up from media coverage of terrorism."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Recipient of the PLAQUE of RECOGNITION and DISTINCTION given by the San Beda College, Plaza Mendiola, Sampaloc, Manila. The Plaque cited Prof. Jose David Lapuz for "Promoting Intellectual Rizalist Cooperation through the sharing of Rizalian ideas and thoughts; for promoting Rizalist Education as an instrument of nationalist and internationalist culture towards the achievement of World Peace and Human Understanding; for reaffirming his belief in the freedom of human expression and human dignity through the advocacy of justice and human rights for all regardles of race, color or creed; and specially, for addressing the faculty and students of San Beda College." The Assembly was held March 19, 2001 at the Audio Visual Room, San Beda College, Calle Chino Roces, Manila.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the Guest/Lecturer/Speaker of the University of Asia and the Pacific in a symposium/open-forum on Dr. Jose Rizal and His Influence on the Filipino Youth of today, held at the PLDT Lecture Hall in the University of Asia and the Pacific 1:00 - 4:00 pm, March 9, 2001. In his lecture, Prof. Lapuz applied Rizal's idea of education and showed Rizal's relevance to the Filipino youth in the new millennium.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz address the Immaculate Conception Parish School at 39 Lantana St. Cubao, Quezon City in a Symposium-Convocation on the topic of "The United Nations: Prospect and Retrospect: War or Peace. At this Convocation held on October 17, 2002, 1:30-3:30pm at the Audio-Visual Room of the College, Prof. Lapuz shared his expertise and knowledge about the present condition of the United Nations and how our membership in the U.N is so important in the foreign affairs of the Philippines.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz is the recipient of a letter-citation from the world-renowned DR. W.J.M MacKENZIE, M.B.E,(Member of the British Empire), EDWARD CAIRD PROFESSOR OF POLITICS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, which document is dated February 27, 1973 where Prof. W.J.M MacKenzie wrote, regarding the post-graduate studies of Prof. Lapuz on the methodology of International Politics and Foreign Policy: "He(Lapuz) worked on the Literature of International Relations under the supervision of the Dr. C.M. Mason, who is at present on secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London; he(Prof. Lapuz) attended regularly at graduate seminars offered by this Department and others in the Sub-Faculty of Social Sciences; and he made regular contacts with members of staff.¶ In addition, he(Lapuz) was active in studying the teaching of International Relations in other Universities in the United Kingdom, and he attend a number of Inter-University Conferences concerned with these and related matters. ¶ We were glad to have Professor Lapuz with us for the session. Signed by W.J.M. MacKenzie, Edward Caird Professor of Politics, University of Glasgow.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz is the author of numerous and various researches, essays and monograms and studies on Philippines foreign Policy, especially RP-US relations, Mutual Defense Treaty, Military Bases Agreement, the Parity Question, assistant pact, economic trade and cultural relations, Red China, USSR, the United Nations, political parties, neutralism, and Dr. Jose Rizal. In all these publications, Prof. Lapuz stressed in the Rizal and Recto traditions the urgent need for an independent Philippine posture in foreign and military affairs worthy of our sovereign republic and for asserting enlightened, assertive and militant nationalism and humane internationalism, Philippine sovereignty and self-reliance.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz is a much sought-after Speaker and Lecturer of such civic clubs and professional organizations as Rotary Clubs, Lions, Jaycees, Public School Teachers's Association, Faculty Clubs, Social Action Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, Management Association, International Clubs, Womens' Groups, Student Organizations, etc, etc.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was inducted last August 19, 2002 as an Advocate of the International Visitor Program-Philippines Alumni Foundation Incorporation at simple ceremony at the U.S Embassy, Roxas Blvd. IVP Philippines is

an organization of more than 190 Filipino Participants of the International Visitor Program of the United States launched in the 1960s. On the RP-US mutual understanding, Professor Lapuz expounded: "We are sincerely concern about the safeguarding and upholding of the close friendship, goodwill and amity between the Philippines and the US. And we believe that that friendship is base on mutual respect, esttem and meaningful interdependence."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz is the KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF RIZAL, the highest rank, of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, an organization created by Philippine Congress through Republic Act 646 whose objective is "to study and to spread the ideals, teachings and exemplary life of Rizal specially to the youth of the land."

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was the recipient of a Diploma of Honor given by Fr. Paul Egli of the FRATERNITA SAN PIO X, VIA TILUSSA 45, 00041 ALBANO LAZIALE, of Roma, Italy. It reads in German, later to be translated into English; "FUR DEN LIEBEN UND SEHR QESCHATZTEN, HERRN PROFESSOR UND KOMMISSAR VON U.N.E.S.C.O. JOSE DAVID LAPUZ // IHRE SEHR WICHTIGE ARBEIT IM KOMMITTEE FUR, HUMAN RIGHTS AND POVERTY/ 1ST SEHR LOBENSWERT UND BEWUNDERUNGSWURDIG, WEIL IHRE ARBEIT ZUM GROSSEN WOHL DER MENSCHHEIT UND BESONDERS THRES LANDES PHILIPPINEN. SIE SIND NACH MEINEM URTEIL EIN REPRASENTANT DER BESTEN QUALITATEN IHRES VOLKES, DER PHILIPPINOS, UND VON DIPLOMATIE. SIE SIND EIN SEHR EINFLUSSREICHER UND AUCH ERFOLGREICHER AMBASSADOR IHRES LANDES.// -MAY THE BLESSED MOTHER OF GOD, UND IHR LIEBER SONN, UNSER ERLOSER JESUS CHRISTUS SIE IMMER SEGNEN UND BEHUTEN AUF ALL IHREN WELTREISEN. HUTEN AUF ALL IHREN WELTREISEN. UNSERE LIEBE FRAU VON FATIMA, UNSERE LIEBE FRAU VOM HL. ROSENKRANZ BITTE FUR UNS! IN SWEET JESUS NAME, SIGNED FR. PAUL EGLI VIA TRILUSA 45 00041 ALBANO LAZIALLE OF ROMA. This is translated thus; Professor Commissioner Jose David Lapuz, your work on the committee on human rights and poverty is most praised worthy commendable and admirable as it redounds to the good of humanity, an of your country, Filipinas in particular. You represent, in my opinion, the finest qualities of your people and of diplomacy. You are an effective ambassador of your country. I give you the blessing of the Perpetual Lady of Fatima and of the Lady of Holy Rosary. Signed FR. PAUL EGLI VIA TRILUSA 45 00041 ALBANO LAZIALLE OF ROMA. This Diploma-Document was given on May 24, 2005 during the visit of Professor Jose David Lapuz at the Vatican City.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was featured as a personality in the Lifetime Section of the FILIPINO TIMES and ASIAN REVIEW, a newspaper of record that circulates in and around the greater New York area, USA. The interview was featured in the newspaper FILIPINO TIMES and ASIAN REVIEW, October 27- November 3, 2007 at page 18. The article was entitled "A Biographical Statement On UNESCO Commissioner & Professor Jose David Lapuz.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was a participant at the Annual Congress of the POLITICAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM held at CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY where Professor Lapuz sat in the panel on Political Theory and Foreign Policy 1970.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz attended and actively participated in the 19th annual conference of the ROYAL INSTITUTE of INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS held in EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz attended as a delegate and vigorously participated in the 12th Annual Conference in International Relations held at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, England 1969.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was elected as Vice-President of the International Social Science HOnor Society of PI GAMMA MU, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines, March 1964.

•Prof. Jose David Lapuz was made Member of the RIZAL CENTER HONOR SOCIETY, then headed by SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JESUS BARERA, 1964.

EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL

of

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

and

UP-TO-DATE BIODATA OF COMMISSIONER PROFESSOR JOSE DAVID LAPUZ

Submitted by:

Maria Veronica R. Mendoza

BPS 3-1

Submitted to:

Commissioner Professor Jose David Lapuz

Introduction to International Relations

WHY IS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND FOREIGN POLICY SO IMPORTANT?

International relations are an exceptionally important aspect of citizenship in a global society. As our world becomes smaller and smaller through communication technology, rapid air transportation and a complex international economy, the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations is increasingly important.

Foreign policy dictates how a country will act with respect to other countries politIcally, socially, economically, and militarily, and to a somewhat lesser extent, how it behaves towards non-state actors. Foreign policy can also be known as international relations policy or simply diplomacy. It seems likely that foreign policy, in some form, has been around since the early days of humanity on the plains of Africa, when large tribes would presumably interact from time to time without engaging in all-out war. Today, foreign policy is handled by foreign ministers, ambassadors, and/or the Secretary of State (in the US).Although foreign policy has always been important, it is especially true today, when air travel makes the world smaller and more interconnected, and powerful weapons make the risk of diplomatic breakdown all the more dire. Many thinkers in the field put the genesis of modern foreign policy and statesmanship with Cardinal Richelieu, a statesman in early 17th century France. Richelieu became famous for consolidating French power, making France among the first of the Great Powers, and feuding with the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled in both Austria and Spain. He ordered all the castles of the lesser nobility and feudal lords to be razed, causing the royalty of France to become more powerful than ever before. www.wisegeek.com

WHAT CAN BE DONE IN PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY BY THE ACADEME?

Discussions held at recent international forums for engineering education and research show that educators around the world are increasingly convinced that international cooperation in engineering education can enhance its quality. They believe that engineering students, especially graduate students, are more likely to travel to other countries to receive an education than students are in any other academic discipline; hence engineering educators believe that an undergraduate curriculum in their home institutions that conforms to a certain international standard, and that incorporates an international perspective, will empower their students to achieve greater success in their postgraduate academic life. More importantly, many educators hold the view that an education system that is informed by an international perspective also will prepare students better for a career in the world marketplace, and that international cooperation in engineering education can provide the cultural perspective that students need to become better engineers. It is a truism, though not widely practiced for the lack of funding and networking opportunities, that cooperation also increases productivity, by expanding the scope of work and the number of personnel involved for each collaborating team, by adding a perspective from another culture, by sharing facilities and equipment and human capital, and by leveraging financial resources. The dawning of the 21st century also led many universities to seek ways to broaden their engineering education systems. Universities are seeking to ensure that their graduates possess the new knowledge base that is the foundation of new technologies. Since the economies of nations are increasingly interconnected, these institutions are also seeking to ensure that their graduates possess the broad education needed to be successful engineers. Through international partnerships, these institutions seek to improve their own offerings, and gain recognition through international accreditation. Furthermore, advances in information technology, in particular the onset of the Internet age, have made it easier for educators to communicate, and are stimulating the establishment of research and education partnerships. Many multinational industrial companies also encourage international cooperation among academic institutions to aid the international R&D efforts of the companies, as well as to facilitate their global workforce strategies. Convinced that their economies are increasingly dependent on technological

innovations, many nations are increasing their investments in R&D. Examples include several Asian countries [1]. Countries such as South Korea and China have notably expanded their support for R&D (relative to GDP) and developments in science and technology. This is paving the way for returning international students. Armed with advanced degrees, R&D experience at Silicon Valley, and venture capital, international students have been returning to their own countries in increasing numbers. Out of 400,000 Chinese who have studied overseas during the past 20 years, about 140,000 have moved back to China. This uptrend in R&D in what used to be known as emerging economies has come at a time when most if not all of the G-8 countries have invested at levels no higher than those at the beginning of the 1990’s [1]. The implication of all of this is increased scientific and engineering capabilities in many developing nations, creating increased opportunities for mutually beneficial international cooperation. The planned expansion of the European Union to include several countries from Eastern and Central Europe, along with China’s economic reform now anchored by her entry into WTO, is having a palpable effect in stimulating the growth of international R&D, all in the last 1-2 years. The emergence of new ideas is now no longer limited to a few elite nations.

CAN THERE BE A NATIONALIST APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS?

International Relations (IR) (occasionally referred to as International Studies (IS), although the two terms are not perfectly synonymous) is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs),international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and multinational corporations (MNCs). It is both an academic and public policy field, and can be either positive or normative as it both seeks to analyze as well as formulate the foreign policy of particular states. It is often considered a branch of political science (especially after 1988 UNESCO nomenclature), but an important sector of academia prefer to treat it as an interdisciplinary field of study. Aspects of international relations have been studied for thousands of years, since the time of Thucydides, but IR became a separate and definable discipline in the early 20th century. Apart from political science, IR draws upon such diverse fields as economics, history, international law, philosophy, geography, social work, sociology, anthropology, criminology, psychology, gender studies, and cultural studies / culturology. It involves a diverse range of issues including but not limited to: globalization, state sovereignty, international security, ecological sustainability, nuclear proliferation, nationalism, economic development, global finance, terrorism, organized crime, human security, foreign interventionism and human rights.

SHOULD OUR FOREIGN POLICY REAFFIRM OUR BELIEF IN THE FREEDOM OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY?

It is our values and principles as a people that define our national interest. Our Constitution is replete with principles that we must observe in the conduct of our foreign policy. We are required to pursue an independent foreign policy, which protects our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as promotes the national interest and our right to self-determination. We have as a nation renounced war as an instrument of national policy. We have adopted generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land, and we adhere to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation and amity with all nations. Our historical evolution as a nation-state has shaped us as a people. Ours is a history full of lessons that bore into us a deep appreciation and love of democracy and freedom. From our various liberations from our colonial masters to the first Edsa revolution, we have time and again proven our commitment to democracy, human rights, human security and human dignity. Our development as a nation is a testament to our struggles. That is why we as a people have been open and outward-looking, that is, we have always and everywhere identified with people who believe that the international order should be a just one. This order should be based on rules that are fair and protective of the shared interests of humanity.

The regional and global security and economic environment have been in a continuing state of flux. Only through a reaffirmation of these basic ideals and values will the Philippines be confident in its continuing quest for security in a world that increasingly needs stability. As the world also moves toward an economic order that promotes openness, equity and shared wealth, our democratic values will allow us to take a leading role in ensuring shared prosperity for all countries. We have to be consistent in the application of our core values by ensuring that they are securely embedded in the three pillars of our foreign policy: protecting our national security; enhancing our economic security; and protecting the rights and welfare of all Filipinos overseas. The Philippines’s foreign policy is a reflection of the country’s domestic policy. More important, our foreign policy is firmly anchored on the principles of democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. In doing so, the well-being of the Filipino people and society is protected, allowing us to strengthen the foundation of social stability and to enhance the legitimacy of the state.

SHOULD A POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COURSES?

Yes. Polytechnic University must continue engaging in International Relations courses. Tthe study of International Relations emerged throughout the 20th century, as an increasingly complex world began to be influenced by globalisation, and a greater number of issues emerged (rather than only inter-country relations). The discipline was greatly influenced by the establishment of the International Studies Association, which was established in 1959 by a ‘group of academics and practitioners’] with the aim of ‘seeking to pursue mutual interests in world affairs through the organization of a professional association’. The establishment of the association reflected the increasing interest in global issues and reflected the need for international academic dialogue. Throughout the later stages of the 20th century and into the 21st century, many education institutions worldwide developed International Studies degrees (both undergraduate and postgraduate). The emergence and increasing popularity of these degrees reflects the general patterns of increasing global interconnectedness and globalisation, in that education providers are becoming more aware that the discipline is becoming increasingly relevant and necessary in the context of the 21st century. Many educational institutions have developed International Studies degrees and courses in order to engage students with the increasing number of issues and phenomena which have arisen in an increasingly globalised world. As such, most education providers justify the need for the degrees by relating the increasing importance of the discipline with real world situations and employment opportunities. For example, the University of Technology Sydney states that the purpose of their International Studies degree is to ‘prepare graduates for careers and contributions in a world of social and cultural diversity being transformed by globalisation, allowing students to draw connections between global phenomena and local practices in work and life’. Often, universities will relate the study of International studies with other industries. Monash University describes the relevance for International Studies; ‘as the world globalises and nations and economies become more integrated, it is important to understand our world and the ideas and beliefs of our neighbours and trading partners. In order to compete in the international marketplace of products, ideas and knowledge we need to understand and respect the cultures and beliefs of others.

In his lecture, Professor Jose David Lapuz argue:

THAT THE US, JAPAN, CHINA AND MIDDLE EAST WILL INFLUENCE OUR PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY. EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE.

The Philippines and China established diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975 with the signing of the Joint Communiqué by leaders of the two countries. Since then bilateral relations between the two countries have developed steadily despite some difficulties. Both countries have maintained high level contacts and exchanges.

Several major bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries over the years, such as: Joint Trade Agreement (1975); Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement (1978); Postal Agreement (1978); Air Services Agreement (1979); Visiting Forces Agreement (1999); Cultural Agreement (1979); Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (1992); Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation (1999); Tax Agreement (1999); and Treaty on Mutual Judicial Assistance on Criminal Matters (2000). In May 2000, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the two countries signed a Joint Statement defining the framework of bilateral relations in the 21st century.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and China have significantly progressed in recent years. The growing bilateral relations were highlighted by the state visit to China of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 29–31 October 2001. During the visit, President Arroyo held bilateral talks with top Chinese leaders, namely President Jiang Zemin, NPC Chairman Li Peng, and Premier Zhu Rongji. President Arroyo also attended the 9th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting held in Shanghai on October 20–21, 2001, where she also had bilateral talks with President Jiang. During President Arroyo's visit, eight important bilateral agreements were signed.

Relations between the Philippines and Japan have rapidly improved since the end ofWorld War II. Modern relations between the Philippines and Japan are very close and Japan is a key trading, economic and possibly military ally of the Philippines. Japan has also assisted the Philippines in building tunnels, bridges and highways (motorway) inMetro Manila, and is a main source of rail equipment and advisor for rail transport development. In 2005/2006 Japan dropped an US$8 billion debt with the Philippines and after the Leyte Mud slide Japan deployed soldiers to Leyte to assist Filipino and foreign workers. There are thousands of Japanese nationals/citizens (civilians) living in the Philippines (see Ethnic groups in the Philippines for details). Japanese business people have opened a large number of businesses in the Philippines offering jobs to Filipino workers.

The United States and the Philippines continue to enjoy excellent relations with each other. The United States was the architect of the current form of government in the Philippines through a series of acts of the United States Congress towards the creation of a commonwealth.[61] The relationship between the two nations is founded on the Philippines' history as an American territory and commonwealth before achieving independence.

The two societies also share some cultural identities: the plans of Manila and Baguio Citywere designed by Daniel Burnham of Chicago, Illinois, Americans and Filipinos speak the English language, and are largely Christian.

The two share political heroes: William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. both served as Governors-General of the Philippines and Douglas MacArthur liberated the islands from the Japanese during World War II.

The Philippines is a largely Roman Catholic country. The Pope appointed several Americans as bishops of the various Philippines dioceses during the territorial and commonwealth years, including leadership over the Archdiocese of Manila. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed an American to be his ambassador to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War and the transfer of sovereigntyover the Philippines from Spain to the United States via the Treaty of Paris which ended that war, the insurgent First Philippine Republic government declared war on the United States. The Philippine-American War ended with the loss of more than 4000 American soldiers, and the deaths of up to 1,000,000 Filipinos. In the US, this war is largely forgotten, or

remembered simply as the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. In the Philippines, it is remembered as a patriotic struggle for independence, and for the brief institution of the First Philippine Republic.

The Philippines Embassy is located in Washington, D.C. With the geographic extent of the United States and its large number of Filipino resident aliens, the Philippines established several official consulates: Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York City,Saipan and San Francisco. Honorary consulates were opened in other locations.[65] Each official consulate has jurisdiction over a number of U.S. states. For example, the Consul in Chicago oversees a territory of fourteen states in the Midwestern United States.

Since the Spanish-American War, the United States has had a military presence in various forms in the Philippines. Filipinos fought alongside Americans in World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Today, the two are allies in the War on Terrorism.[67] While its military bases were closed during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, the United States continues to adhere to the Mutual Defense Treaty ratified by the United States and Philippines senates in 1951.

In 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush declared the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally, an important defense designation of the United States. Now defunct, the Philippines joined the American-developed South East Asia Treaty Organization during the Cold War. SEATO was a NATO-type military alliance created to combat Communist threats in Southeast Asia.

Today, the two countries are primarily partners in counterterrorism. Both the Philippines and the United States share intelligence and engage in military exercises in Mindanao and RIMPAC in Hawaii.

PROFESSOR LAPUZ MAINTAINED THAT OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS FORMULATIONS WOULD BE IN THE SETTING OF ASEAN. EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE.

THE purpose of Philippine Foreign Policy is to secure the national interest in our dealings with foreign nations, regional organizations and international bodies. This has been done through its three long-established pillars, namely: 1) promoting national security; 2) enhancing economic diplomacy; and 3) protecting the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas. The translation into Filipino of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN's main instrument for the pursuit of our goals, affirms the immense importance of clearly communicating our purposes, our principles, our objectives to our respective peoples' national languages. ASEAN is an important cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy and foreign affairs formulation.

Our major concern should be to build a safe and strong regional neighborhood. We should consider the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bedrock of Philippine Foreign Policy for the 21st century. The Philippines will strengthen its bilateral relations with member states of the Association, will rely on the Association in resolving its territorial disputes with other countries, and will strive for the realization of an ASEAN Community Council, an ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, ASEAN Economic Community Council, and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council.

Through ASEAN and on our own, we must engage China, India, Japan and other major regional powers such as Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia in mutually beneficial security and defense dialogues. This includes, of course, an enduring strong defense partnership with the United States, built upon our bilateral PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), which will remain crucial for our defense modernization.

Our country must also continue its vibrant relations with the countries of the Middle East in resolving the Mindanao problems, the Palestinian issues, and global terrorism. We must design defense and security relationships to manage new realities. Classic ideas of balance of power and containment have outlived their relevance. In their place we have emphasized new cooperation on fresh dangers, including transnational crime, piracy and terrorism, as well as on cooperation for humanitarian emergencies.

Since the Philippines is less likely to affect these emerging political and security arrangements on its own, it makes sense to do so in concert with others. The mechanisms constructed in recent years by ASEAN, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), engage all the powers with interests in our region in non-confrontational, inclusive and transparent dialogues that serve to enhance peace and stability.

We should also remain active in the United Nations in promoting global peace and development. Last May, the Philippines successfully chaired the 2010 Review of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Philippines should also continue its involvement in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. In this manner, the Philippines is doing its part as a responsible member of the international community of nations. Why must the Philippines continue to be engaged on the regional and global stage? It is because we seek stability not just for its own sake, but also for our own reasons. We want to avoid foreign problems spilling over into our homeland or our region. We want to pursue national development for which access to prosperous world markets and safe maritime routes is essential. We want our Filipinos overseas to be safe and secure in their host nations.

PROFESSOR LAPUZ FURTHERMORE, MAINTAINED THAT WE WILL SEE MORE DECISIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE MULITILATERAL AND REGIONAL ORAGANIZATIONS. EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE.

Clearly, opportunities exist to move towards a unified global system with stronger multilateral organisations in a way which has not been possible at any time before. But what can be the future role of global multilateral organisations while the overall direction of the international community remains uncertain? In the former Yugoslavia, Somalia or Rwanda, it has become clear that if the big powers are not interested in a particular conflict or problem, there is virtually no chance that multilateral organisations can tackle it effectively. The recent policy shift by the United States Government from assertive multilateralism to a more sober, pragmatic approach (towards more selectivity and more effectiveness) is mirrored by the cooling attitudes and expectations of other Governments - in both industrialised and developing countries - concerning their willingness to participate in international organisations and cooperation. Developing countries, for one, are reexamining their options out of frustration with the defunct North-South dialogue - there is a real danger that international cooperation will founder on the rock of ill feeling between industrialised and developing counties. Moreover, given the positive experience of many countries with privatization as a stimulus to economic development - with at best marginal involvement by international organizations -, these countries have begun to assess the financial burden of their membership in more than 20 organisations of the United Nations system alone, quite apart from that of regional and other organisations. The frustration at the imbalance between the financial obligations and the tangible benefits from the multilateral system is thus pervasive throughout the world.

Recent years have revealed deepening differences among the membership as regards priorities for action by international organisations with many countries wanting to devote increasing attention and resources to peace-making and peace-keeping activities, while many others, especially from the developing world, would rather focus more on economic development programmes. Moreover, governments may well state their preference for stronger and more effective multilateral tools, yet in reality they are not willing to surrender part of their sovereignty and they do not want to create institutions with power vis-a-vis the nation-state. In many instances, sovereign nation-states even fail to implement decisions they themselves have taken in multilateral forums.

PROFESSOR LAPUZ FURTHER AGREE THAT THE OVER 100 MILLION OR SO, OFWs WILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE COUNTRY’S FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC POLICIES. EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE.

A study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) revealed that foreign remittances by OFWs stood at 12 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), making it one of the most important sources of foreign exchange in the country.

Remittances play a significant role in the Philippine economy. Money received by the families of OFW help in domestic consumption, a main driver in economic expansion. Domestic consumption accounts for two-thirds of the total output. In effect, it is a tool for poverty alleviation since families have a higher purchasing power than before.

During the global financial crisis, remittances were able to help the country avert a recession. It was widely speculated that there would be a significant drop in inflows, but in reality, remittances grew by 13 percent.

Remittance is the second largest source of foreign exchange next to exports; the sum of all foreign exchanges is the gross international reserves (GIR). It is composed of gold, special drawing rights, foreign investments and foreign exchanges. A high GIR means that the Philippines can defend the peso against other currency. The country’s reserves reached USD 49.5 billion (P2.1 trillion) in August 2010.

Having a high level of reserves can help appreciate the Peso and keep inflation in check. Ironically, this does not benefit the OFWs and their families at all as they are getting less for the same dollars they exchange. Export businesses also do not find this advantageous. But a strong peso can help the government in its debt servicing. Since the country’s debts are pegged in US dollars, a rise in peso can lower the debt. Remittances also help the Philippines enjoy USD2.73 billion balance of payment (BOP) surplus. Continuous surplus in the BOP increases the foreign reserves. It also helps keep the inflation in check because continuous deficit erodes the country’s GIR and can lead to the depreciation of the peso.

Foreign policy is an extension of a country’s pursuit of national progress played out in the international domain. It is played out in an arena with specific cultures and norms, mechanisms and nuances, in a field where competition, conflict, collaboration and understanding can be attained depending on a country’s actions and how will they be perceived and received by other players. Knowing how to navigate through these numerous formal and informal rules and traditions is critical to the attainment of foreign policy objectives, no matter how diverse or complex they may be.

Foreign policy is pursued to advance the best interests of one’s country. This could range from protecting its citizens abroad, demarcating national boundaries, and ensuring energy security, to getting markets for its exports, destinations for its overseas workers, and assuring that the country’s interests would be safeguarded in the treaties, agreements and conventions that it signs with other countries. Foreign policy is thus far reaching. It touches on economics, politics, international law, negotiations and crisis management, among others. There is no limit on the number of foreign policy goals that a country would want to achieve. It is in this regard that the Philippines’ fixation with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as a cardinal foreign policy agenda is lamentable.

Promotion of labor migration serves several purposes. It eases pressure on population growth, arable land and other finite resources at home. It also relieves rising social tensions in the home country arising from unemployment. Remittances from migrant workers bring much needed foreign currency to purchase vital imports, such as oil. In the 1970s, then President Marcos began promoting labor exports to alleviate unemployment at home and generate foreign currency to buy oil, prices of which skyrocketed at that time owing to the Arab-dominated Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ oil embargo against Israel and its allies (the Philippines included). Another source of difficulty regarding the country’s oil supplies were Arab perceptions that the Marcos government was engaged in a genocidal war against Muslims in Mindanao.

At first, Filipino workers came to work in construction and oil facilities in the Middle East. The outflow of a competent workforce, not to mention members of the academe, the intelligentsia, artists and experts, contributed to brain drain. In their host countries, Filipinos excelled in their work and soon begun entering the professions and

other white collar jobs. While originally intended to be a temporary measure, sending workers abroad became an institutional policy, with only a few state programs allocated for absorbing returning workers who had gained valuable work experience or technical know-how abroad. In contrast, other countries attracted their nationals working and living abroad to return and contribute in building the homeland. They include scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers and other professionals. This had been the case for China, Japan and Korea which recognize labor migration only as a temporary measure necessary to obtain know-how from advanced countries and to obtain foreign currency to buy needed technologies and finance infrastructure projects at home.

While other countries are known for exporting hard goods, the Philippines is more famous as among the world’s principal labor–exporting countries. In almost every conflict or a natural calamity in the globe, especially in the Middle East, the Department of Foreign Affairs would have to monitor the situation and ensure the welfare of our nationals in the affected areas. Despite the attention on the plight of OFWs, however, cases of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, abuse and ill treatment and poor logistics for evacuating OFWs in war zones continue to plague the government. Herein lies one major deficiency of Philippine foreign policy—its over-fixation with OFWs. While it is true that these so-called unsung heroes or mga bagong bayani (new heroes) contribute enormously to the national coffers through their remittances, there are other equally, if not more important, focal points of foreign policy that are drowned by this attention-imbalance. Other crucial national priorities wherein good foreign policy is called for include enhancing energy security, obtaining valuable technology transfer, attracting greenfield investments and securing the best terms in the country’s bilateral ties with other countries.

A country cannot simply rely on exporting people for its long term growth. In fact, the latter has a downside—notably brain drain and social dislocation through the (temporary but quite long term) division of the nuclear family. Furthermore, dependence on labor exports would only make the country more vulnerable to changes in the socioeconomic and political conditions of major foreign labor-receiving countries. The policy of Saudi Arabia, for instance, to prioritize its nationals in employment will impact a lot not only on Filipinos, but also migrant workers of other nationalities. In a similar vein, recession in the US compelled Washington to pass a law that could curb jobs being outsourced to other countries, such as the Philippines. Surely, this could impact on the country’s business/knowledge process outsourcing industry. This exposes the danger of aligning an economy to cater to foreign interests, instead of diversifying and promoting local production for local and international consumption.

The country has been sending workers around the world since the mid-1970s, but this policy never built a strong base for sustained prosperity. Focusing on OFWs highlights the failure of our government to provide adequate job opportunities at home. It is also a reflection of the failure to develop and implement a strategic economic policy, which is the foundation for national development. No doubt, even the best labor export regime cannot substitute for long term industrial policy. Exporting people and services alone cannot replace building domestic industries which can produce competitive manufactured goods.

The Philippines cannot defy economic fundamentals. No nation has attained a developed country status on the basis of workers’ remittances. Hence, it is time to consider other areas that merit serious foreign policy competence beyond OFWs. Foreign policy should be comprehensive given the diversity of the country’s interests. Protecting the welfare of OFWs and developing programs to reintegrate them back to the economy should never come at the cost of failing to address rising oil prices, unequal and unfair international trade regimes, access to foreign markets and technologies, support for local industries, or the resolution of such transnational issues such as climate change, pollution, maritime piracy, and boundary disputes, among many others. -Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, philippinesintheworld.org

DID THE TALK OF PROFESSOR LAPUZ CREATE AN IMPACT ON THE FILIPINOS?

Yes. It did.  Looking at the Philippine case, we can examine the direction of the country’s foreign policy under the Arroyo administration. Observably, this foreign policy is directed to the generation of external resources that could address the country’s main security challenge: domestic insurgencies. To pursue this internal agenda, the Philippines engages both the United States and China in a delicate balancing act. The government has also jump-started its program of development diplomacy, with directives for its embassies and consulates abroad to promote the country’s export trade and to protect the rights and welfare of 8.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It also utilizes multilateral organizations to advance its national development objectives. However, the country’s inherent weakness has constrained its ability to exploit optimally the opportunities created by its fluid external environment. In conclusion, the article contends that unless it consolidates its political base and enhances its economic competitiveness, the Philippines will remain a quintessential weak power in the world of the strong in East Asia.

PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY

INTO THE 21 st CENTURY:

REACTION PAPER

Submitted by:

Maria Veronica R. Mendoza

BPS 3-1

Submitted to:

Commissioner Professor Jose David Lapuz

Introduction to International Relations

FILES:

1-2: COMMISSIONER PROFESSOR JOSE DAVID LAPUZ

3: UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, COLORADO