Personal connections, halo-halo and music diplomacy

Our domestic politics is so bleak that I look for bright spots in other countries, in their leaders, their summits with counterparts and how they conduct foreign policy on the global stage.

I am glad to write about one such event in our part of the world which was a moment of pride as the Philippines and Japan, on the 70^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, elevated their relations to the highest tier—the first and only country with which we have a comprehensive strategic partnership. This falls short of an alliance and it happened during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Japan from May 26 to 29, the first by a Philippine president in more than a decade.

But first, the pomp and circumstance, and personal connections. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako warmly received Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos at the Imperial Palace with a formal welcome ceremony. Marcos is only the third state guest since 2019 when Emperor Naruhito was enthroned.

During the solemn ceremony, the national anthems of both countries were played and Marcos received a salute from the honor guard—after which the Japanese marching band played “Pamulinawen,” an Ilocano folk song. For those familiar with the song, it added a personal touch to the state visit.

At the state banquet hosted by the Imperial Couple in the elegant palace, the Emperor gave a short speech, with memories of his personal connection to Marcos and the Philippines. Excerpts follow:

      “There have been times in the past when our relationship has faced arduous time, but ever since Japan began to make its way as a peace-loving nation following the Second World War, our many predecessors have invested sustained effort in cultivating mutual understanding and trust. Our countries’ shared history in the aftermath of the War was not without its complications, but since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1956, Japan and the Philippines have moved forward hand in hand, strengthening our relationship one step at a time to establish the firm friendship we enjoy today.    

“Looking back at my own connection to the Philippines, the first time I travelled overseas was a trip to Australia in 1974, and on the outbound journey, the plane stopped at Manila International Airport to refuel, making the Philippines the first foreign country in which I set foot. 

      “President Marcos and I have both studied at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. I was treated with great kindness by students from the Philippines during my time at Oxford and I well remember  making close Filipino friends. I also remember vividly how, when I spoke with President Marcos, the conversation blossomed when we reminisced about our experiences in those days, including mutual friends and our daily lives in Oxford.”

Halo-halo, music diplomacy

Marcos gifted the Emperor with a halo-halo glass, a tall spoon, and a recipe of our popular cold dessert which was apparently a favorite of the Emperor when he was hanging out with Filipino students in Oxford, according to Dave Gomez, who heads the presidential communications office. 

Marcos would have wanted to send the Emperor an actual halo-halo but he was informed that the Imperial Couple only eat food prepared by their kitchen. Marcos was delighted when the Emperor later showed him photos of the Imperial family eating halo-halo.

This personal touch extended to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at a dinner after their summit. Music diplomacy permeated the air — without the drums, however, which Takaichi is famous for. The two leaders sang the Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Marcos’s favorite, “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. Videos of this duet, showing a comfortable chemistry between Marcos and Takaichi, have been circulating on social media. Cabinet members seated beside Takaichi swayed to the melodies.

Big strides in security and economic cooperation

Now, to the substance.

In an earlier newsletter, I wrote about the changing security environment which has led to a strategic shift in Japan and closer relations between our countries. You can read it here. 

Within this context, Takaichi described the Philippines during the summit as “one of the closest of like-minded countries.”

On the security and maritime front, both leaders agreed on the: 

• upcoming transfer of defense equipment, including Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft and radar systems;

• start of negotiations on an agreement to share and protect classified military information within the framework of the General Security of Military Information Agreement or GSOMIA. Manila has a GSOMIA with the US, while Japan has a GSOMIA with South Korea and similar agreements with several countries, including the US; 

• continuation of capacity-building activities for the Philippine Coast Guard including providing patrol vessels and joint training on maritime safety and upholding the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific.

On the economic front, Japan will assist the Philippines boost its oil reserves amid the volatility of supply from the Middle East with the on-again-off again Strait of Hormuz. Nikkei Asia  reported that experts from Japanese agencies, primarily the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will visit the Philippines as early as June to work with the energy department to devise a concrete plan by the end of 2026.

“Expanding oil reserves will require import routes and new infrastructure, potentially creating opportunities for Japanese companies to expand into the Philippines,” according to Nikkei Asia.

After all, the Philippines is among those in the region most affected by disruptions to the supply of oil caused by the US war on Iran and the subsequent closing of the Strait of Hormuz.  

From Tokyo’s swift deployment of technical experts to help contain the weekslong fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill to beefing up the military’s defense equipment to assisting the Philippines find solutions for fuel supply: that’s the range of assistance from our neighbor and for which Manila is thankful.

Let me know what you think. You can email me at [email protected].

Till next newsletter!

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