PEACE-MAKER
As we marked our 88th birthday last Dec. 26, 2024, we found ourself reflecting on a life spent in the service of our nation and the greater cause of peace in the world. It has been 60 years since we first entered public life, a journey filled with victories and defeats, successes and heartaches, joys and sorrows. Through it all, we are reminded of the immense privilege and heavy responsibility that comes with serving one’s country and fellow man.
We began as a foreign correspondent at the age of 19, then became Manila bureau chief of the Pan-Asia Newspaper Alliance, then Asia’s earliest wire news agency. We also had a weekly column on Asian affairs in the old Philippines Herald.
Later, we served as economic minister and press counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a congressman before Martial Law, and a five-time Speaker of the House of Representatives. We also ventured into international business in the Middle East and North Africa, which led to the employment of millions of Filipinos in the region. Yet, it is our work as a peace advocate that we hold closest to our heart. From the hinterlands of the Philippines to the corridors of global diplomacy, we have sought to mend divisions, promote understanding, and foster peace.
In the 1990s, we reached out to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari and the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) led by then Colonel Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan, which eventually led to the peace agreements with the Philippine government. We also held talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF led by Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni, our friend and high school classmate at La Salle, as well as with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) then led by Hashim Salamat.
One of the most challenging but fulfilling chapters of our life was founding international organizations dedicated to cooperation and dialogue — the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council. We also initiated the Interfaith Dialogue in the UN, which the international body has been carrying out as a way of helping resolve politico-religious conflicts around the world. These efforts brought us to distant lands and into conversations with world leaders, revolutionaries, and visionaries. Whether discussing economic development or negotiating the end of armed conflicts, we carried with us the belief that peace is not just the absence of war but the presence of justice, compassion, and shared purpose.
Yet, the path has not been without its regrets. In dedicating ourself to the demands of public service, we often found ourself away from our children during their formative years. This is a sorrow we carry with us — missing the milestones of their growth while pursuing the greater good. We are truly blessed to have our beloved wife, Gina, who has always been there for our children and who has always been our indefatigable supporter and source of strength. She is our “Rock of Gibraltar,” her love and wisdom a constant in a life that has often been unpredictable.
We also owe an immense debt of gratitude to those who have walked alongside us throughout our years in public service, especially our constituents in the fourth district of Pangasinan, political leaders, staff members, assistants, and even the household staff. Our deepest appreciation for their loyalty, sacrifices, and belief in the vision we have pursued together.
Public office is both a privilege and a crucible. It tests your resolve, challenges your principles, and demands sacrifices not only from you but also from your loved ones. There were times of triumph — legislation passed, agreements forged, programs implemented, and progress achieved. But there were also moments of deep frustration when noble intentions were thwarted by entrenched interests or political divides.
Since our birth in 1936, we have witnessed the tides of history reshape the Philippines and the world in profound ways. From the devastation of World War II to the restoration of Philippine independence, the triumph of People Power in 1986, and the evolving challenges of globalization and climate change, these events have tested our resilience and inspired our aspirations. Globally, the Cold War, the rise of new economic powers, the digital revolution, the territorial disputes, and the ongoing quest for peace have underscored humanity’s capacity for both conflict and cooperation. Through these milestones, we have come to believe that no challenge is insurmountable when nations and peoples work together with courage and vision.
As we celebrate 88 years of life, we are filled with gratitude — for the opportunities we have been given, for the lessons we have learned, and for the love of our family and country.