The history of the Republic of the Philippines and that of the Department of Foreign

Affairs (DFA) are intertwined. The important events maring the passage of the years at
the Department are also milestones in the rise of the Philippines as an independent nation.
!ver one hundred years ago" the DFA had its auspicious beginnings when President
#milio Aguinaldo appointed Apolinario $abini as the Republic%s first &ecretary of
Foreign Affairs on '( )une *+,+" eleven days after the declaration of Philippine
independence at -awit" .avite. The DFA was among the first government departments
created following the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. Reali/ing the need
for international recognition of the new government" Aguinaldo assigned $abini the
difficult tas of establishing diplomatic relations with friendly countries. $embers of the
0ong -ong )unta" a group of Filipino e1iles in 0ong -ong" served as the country%s
envoys for this purpose.
The Philippines underwent colonial rule under the 2nited &tates from *+,+ to *,34" and
)apanese occupation from *,3' to *,33. The country regained independence" including
full control of foreign affairs and diplomatic matters" on 3 )uly *,34. .ommonwealth
Act 5o. 6(' was passed creating the Department of Foreign Affairs. &hortly thereafter"
President $anuel Ro1as issued on &eptember *4 of that year #1ecutive !rder 5o. *+
providing for the organi/ation and operation of the DFA and the Foreign &ervice. The
main tass of the DFA then were to assist in post7war rehabilitation" formulate policies
for investment promotion" and establish diplomatic relations with other countries.
The DFA led in the conclusion of the RP72.&. $utual Defense Treaty" as well as in the
8aurel78angley Agreement" thus paving the way for a balanced yet robust trade and
military relations with the 2nited &tates.
The DFA had a heyday during the post7war years" with its increased participation in the
international arena. 9t became a founding member of the 2nited 5ations and one of the
drafters of the 2niversal Declaration of 0uman Rights. 9t helped forge the :eneral
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (:ATT). The country was also an early proponent of
decoloni/ation and global disarmament. The Philippines% dynamic participation in global
matters culminated in .arlos P. Romulo%s election as the first Asian President of the 25
:eneral Assembly in *,;'. At that time" the international environment began to change"
re<uiring that new thrusts and priorities in Philippine foreign policy be determined.
During the .old =ar era" against the bacdrop of the -orean =ar and rising communism
in .hina" the Philippines pursued an increasing internationalist foreign policy.
Reali/ing the importance of foreign relations" President #lpidio >uirino in )une *,;'
pushed for the passage of the Foreign &ervice Act of *,;'" embodied in Republic Act 5o.
6?+. During the post7war period" the DFA focused on institution building" closer
engagement with Asian neighbors" and increasing Philippine global linages. 9n *,;("
&ecretary Raul &. $anglapus instituted the Foreign Affairs !fficers e1amination (now
Foreign &ervice !fficers e1amination) to professionali/e the Foreign &ervice and
improve the recruitment and selection of new F&!s.
The $arcos years" from *,4; to *,+4" were mared by policy innovations and then
difficulties brought about by the e1cesses of the martial law regime. President Ferdinand
$arcos redefined foreign policy as the safeguarding of territorial integrity and national
dignity" and emphasi/ed increased regional cooperation and collaboration. 0e stressed
@Asianness@ and pursued a policy of constructive unity and co7e1istence with other Asian
states" regardless of ideological persuasion. 9n *,46" the Philippines launched a new
initiative to form a regional association with other &outheast Asian countries called the
Association of &outheast Asian 5ations (A&#A5). The Philippines also normali/ed
economic and diplomatic ties with .hina and the 2&&R" which President $arcos visited
in *,6; and *,64" respectively. The Philippines also opened embassies in the eastern
bloc countries" as well as a separate mission to the #uropean .ommon $aret in
Arussels.
Throughout the *,6?s" the DFA pursued the promotion of trade and investments" played
an active role in hosting international meetings" and participated in the meetings of the
5on7Aligned $ovement. The Foreign &ervice 9nstitute was created in *,64 to provide
in7house training to Foreign &ervice personnel.
The #D&A Revolution in *,+4 saw the re7establishment of a democratic government
under President .ora/on A<uino. During this period" the DFA once again pursued
development diplomacy" in the active pursuit of opportunities abroad in the vital areas of
trade" investment" finance" technology and aid. The Philippines became one of the
founding members of the Asia7Pacific #conomic .ooperation (AP#.) in 5ovember
*,+," and an active player in regional efforts to establish the A&#A5 Free Trade Area. 9n
the *,,?s" more diplomatic missions were established in the $iddle #ast to improve
e1isting ties with Arab states and to respond to the growing needs of !verseas Filipino
worers in the region.
9n *,,*" heeding the growing nationalist sentiments among the public" the Philippine
&enate voted against the e1tension of the RP72.&. $ilitary Aases Agreement" thus putting
to a close the decades7old presence of the 2.&. military at &ubic Aay and .lar Field.
Also in *,,*" President A<uino signed into law the new Foreign &ervice Act of *,,*
(R.A. 6*;6)" which reorgani/ed the Department along geographic lines and strengthened
the Foreign &ervice. 9t instituted a .areer $inister #ligibility #1amination as a
re<uirement for promotion of senior F&!s to the ran of .areer $inisters" thereby
ensuring the professional selection of those who would eventually rise to the level of
career ambassadors.
The Ramos administration from )uly *,,' to )une *,,+ defined the four core priorities of
Philippine foreign policy namelyB the enhancement of national security" promotion of
economic diplomacy" protection of overseas Filipino worers and Filipino nationals
abroad" and the proCection of a good image of the country abroad.
President Ramos boosted foreign trade" investments and official development assistance
to the Philippines through his state visits and summit meetings. 9n *,,4" the Philippines
successfully hosted the AP#. 8eaders% &ummit" which resulted in the $anila Action Plan
for AP#. *,,4 ($APA %,4).
The $igrant =orers and !verseas Filipinos Act of *,,; (R.A. +?3') provided a
framewor for stronger protection of Filipino worers abroad" with the creation of the
8egal Assistance Fund and the Assistance7to75ationals Fund" and the designation in the
DFA of a 8egal Assistant for $igrant =orers% Affairs" with the ran of 2ndersecretary
of Foreign Affairs.
Among the other significant events in foreign affairs during the Ramos years wereB the
adoption by A&#A5 in *,,'" upon Philippine initiative" of the Declaration on the
.onduct of Parties in the &outh .hina &ea aimed at confidence7building and avoidance of
conflict among claimant statesD the establishment of the Arunei" 9ndonesia" $alaysia" and
Philippines (A9$P)7#ast Asia :rowth area in *,,3D the establishment of the A&#A5
Regional Forum (ARF) in *,,3 as the only multilateral security dialogue in the Asia7
Pacific region conducted at the government levelD and the signing between the Philippine
:overnment and the $oro 5ational 8iberation Front on ' &eptember *,,4 of the
$indanao Peace Agreement.
The DFA" during the #strada administration" hosted the A&#A5 $inisterial $eeting in
)uly *,,+" and undertoo confidence7building measures with .hina over the &outh .hina
&ea issue. President #strada strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries with
visits to Eietnam" Thailand" $alaysia" &ingapore" )apan and &outh -orea. The DFA
played a maCor role in the forging of a Eisiting Forces Agreement with the 2nited &tates"
which was concurred in the &enate in *,,,. The country also sent a delegation of *?+
observers to the 9ndonesian parliamentary elections" and engaged in cooperative activities
in the areas of security" defense" combating transnational crimes" economy" culture" and
the protection of !F=s and Filipinos abroad.
At the start of its administration in '??*" President :loria $acapagal Arroyo pursued
foreign policy based on nine realitiesB (see Philippine Foreign Policy).
F First" the dynamics of relations between .hina" )apan and the 2nited &tates determine
the security situation and economic evolution of #ast Asia.
F &econd" Philippine foreign policy decisions are" increasingly" being made in the
conte1t of the Association of &outheast Asian 5ations (A&#A5).
F Third" #urope will continue to play a significant role in promoting international
prosperity and stability.
F Fourth" the international 9slamic community remains crucial to the country%s search for
lasting and permanent peace in $indanao.
F Fifth" inter7regional organi/ations will become increasingly influential in the global
conte1t.
F &i1th" the protection of the environment" natural resources and maritime territory.
F &eventh" the drive for foreign marets and foreign direct investments will form a focal
concern of economic diplomacy efforts.
F #ighth" international tourism will be a maCor driver of national growth.
F 5inth" overseas Filipinos play a critical role in the country%s economic and social
stability.
The DFA is also guided by the three fundamental pillars of Philippine foreign policy.
These areB
*. Preservation and enhancement of national securityD
'. Promotion and attainment of economic securityD
(. Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos
overseas.
As we enter the decade starting '?*?" the DFA welcomes the challenges and
opportunities it will face in the service of the Filipino people in an increasingly
globali/ed world.