"Your Excellency, welcome to Lanao del Norte--the area of 104th Infantry Brigade," I greeted the US Ambassador Kristie Kenney in according her the military courtesy extended to visiting dignitaries.
Ambassador Kenney was the first and highest ranking foreign diplomat to have visited my brigade's area of responsibility since I assumed. While her plane landed at Iligan Airport in Baloi, she was heading for Marawi City in Lanao del Sur that day to visit the progress of USAID projects. The ambassador was very spirited even recalling our first meeting in 2007, when I represented the 10th Infantry Division in a social function she hosted, aboard USS Blue Ridge--the command ship of the US 7th Fleet--then anchored at General Santos City.
Our brief discussions with her along with Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo and Robert Barnes of USAID (Office of Economic Development and Governance) were on projects to sustain peace and development in the area. She was glad to note that the US military have been supporting me very well in my civil-military activities. She clarified that requests for US military assistance by the communities will have to be channeled to the local military authorities.
As heavy rains in the afternoon stalled her trip back to Manila, she made use of the moments for light exchanges with the people around and cheerfully obliged to pose for picture taking. She even delighted them by distributing souvenir US-RP flags lapel pins.
Her enthusiasm and boldness to reach out to the depressed areas even those with negative travel advisories may have been dreadful to her security detail. Nonetheless, this effort indicates sincerity and resolve to pursue the direction set by US President Barack Obama as laid down in his inaugural speech: "America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity . . . that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace . . . To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect . . . To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."
Ms. Kenney's serious commitment in best representing her country--to "breakdown the network of violence and hatred," and to promote the good will of the American people--may very well regard her as an ambassador in its truest sense.
May God Bless our ambassadors as they promote good will, harmony, and peace. God Bless the United States of America and God Bless the Philippines!
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