The motto “three pillars of Philippine foreign policy” is ingrained in the officers and personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the foreign service. It is considered a fundamental part of their identity. In fact, all recent secretaries of foreign affairs have emphasized this theme in their policy statements.
When I was offered the role of DFA spokesman 17 years ago, I was initially unsure about accepting the job because I had no prior experience in public communications. However, I sought advice from the outgoing spokesman, Gilberto Asuque, who assured me that my legal background would be sufficient. He also mentioned that most questions could be answered by connecting them to one of the three pillars of foreign policy, such as the West Philippine Sea issue, trade access, or overseas Filipino workers in distress. Encouraged by his words, I took on the challenge and, hopefully, performed well.
An interesting question arose regarding the origins of this widely accepted policy. During the passing of former president Fidel V. Ramos, it was brought up for discussion. Having served in Malacañang for three and a half years, I could only speculate when asked by a reporter. However, after conducting thorough research, I found an address by former foreign secretary Domingo L. Siazon Jr. from December 1995. In this address, he outlined the three key areas that became the basis of Philippine foreign policy: strengthening national security, promoting economic policy, and safeguarding the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos.
It’s worth noting that the pursuit of national security and economic interests has always been central to Philippine diplomatic work, as well as to foreign ministries worldwide. What made the Siazon’s articulation unique was the inclusion of overseas nationals’ concerns. This addition was deemed necessary in light of the Flor Contemplacion case, which occurred during the Ramos administration. Contemplacion, a Filipino domestic worker, was convicted and executed in Singapore, raising allegations of neglect by embassy officials. In response, Ramos pushed for the enactment of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, which led to the reorientation of the Department of Labor and Employment and the DFA. This introduced a new focus on assisting Filipino nationals abroad.
As the Ramos administration approached its end, Siazon presented a report on the foreign affairs accomplishments in a public lecture. He mentioned that four major foreign policy objectives had been developed: safeguarding national security, advancing Philippine economic and social development, assisting Filipino nationals overseas, and projecting a positive image of the Philippines. The fourth component, image-building, was seen as part of the government’s economic diplomacy, aimed at promoting the country as an attractive and stable investment destination.
Over time, the four-element formulation was simplified to three in subsequent presidential administrations, with the image-building component being dropped. While it is beneficial for a country to have a positive perception abroad, it should not be the primary goal. Ideally, a country’s image should authentically reflect its progressive development.
Ramos and Siazon successfully turned a crisis into an opportunity to reshape foreign policy, leading to the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers. Their successors then coined the term “three pillars of foreign policy,” which continues to guide Philippine diplomacy. As the Department of Foreign Affairs celebrates its 125th anniversary, we extend our well wishes to Secretary Enrique Manalo and all the dedicated individuals who serve as the country’s first line of defense.
J. Eduardo Malaya is the Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands and the editor of “Philippine Treaties in Force 2020” and “Frontlines of Diplomacy: Conversations with Philippine Ambassadors.”
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