H.E. Ambassador Ricardo Endaya
This has been my first ever interview. I wanted to feature our Ambassador first but I have to admit I was nervous as I really wanted to do it right. I conducted the interview on February 2006. It took me a long time to publish as I wanted to make sure that he approved everything on the transcript. A lot of things have happened since I interviewed him. I was in the TFC Popstar competition, was working at a school and during all this I was pregnant! Then I had to leave for the Philippines to have the baby. Anyway, enough excuses.
I'm back now but I won't have peace of mind until I finish what I've started. I know this has taken so long for me to publish but I wanted people to know more about our Ambassador Ricardo Endaya and his work. I'm sure a lot of us want to know him "up close and personal"...... Read on...
Ivy: The most popular page in the website is “The Ambassador” page. People obviously are eager to know more about you. First of all, which part in the Philippines are you from?
RME: I’m form Manila
Ivy: Is this your first time here in Kuwait or have you been here before?
RME: I served as Charge d’ Affaires at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait during the Gulf invasion in 1990 and the evacuation of Filipino nationals. I was serving as Philippine Consul of Baghdad then the authorities in Manila asked me to come here to supervise and implement the evacuation plan.
Ivy: How long have you been a Diplomat?
RME: 25 years. I joined the Philippine Foreign Service in 1981.
Ivy: Curious lang po ako, if I want to be a Diplomat, what do I need to do? Which university do I have to go to or what degree do I need to take?
RME: There’s no specific degree recommended to become a Diplomat but you need to be a college graduate then you should take the Foreign Service Officers Examination given by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Once you pass the psychological exam, you will be allowed to take the written portion of the examination. And if you make it to the written exam, you will be qualified to take the oral exams and then you have to get an average score of 80% in total examination and that score will be recommended by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to the President to become Foreign Service Officer +4 which is equivalent title of Vice Consul.
Ivy: Where was your first posting?
RME: In Baghdad, during the Iran-Iraq war. I left Baghdad when the Americans started bombing Iraq to force the withdrawal of Saddam from Kuwait.
Ivy: Aside from Baghdad, where were your other postings?
RME: Belgium for 3 years, then I was in Manila for 1 year that was from 1994 to 1995 and then I was in Tripoli, Libya for 7 years and 2 months.
Ivy: Can you choose your posting?
RME: You can express your preferences but it’s the Secretary of Foreign Affairs who will decide where to send you. And then from Libya, I went home to Manila for 7 months in 2003 then I was sent to Baghdad again.
Ivy: What covers the Foreign Service exams?
RME: Foreign Service Exam normally covers Philippine history, world history, current events, international economics, protocol, Filipino and at least knowledge of one foreign language other than English and Filipino.
Ivy: What foreign languages can you speak?
RME: Arabic, a little French
Ivy: What made you decide to enter Diplomatic Service?
RME: I don’t know how I ended up in this kind of job. But what I can remember is that a relative asked me to take the Foreign Service exams because he couldn’t take it. I think he was called on a job overseas. He had all the requirements like the reading materials and the application forms and he gave them to me. So I filled the application form, read the reading materials and familiarized myself with the current issues and later on I realized that I passed the exam.
Ivy: Which university did you go to?
RME: I was a third year law student from University of Sto. Tomas when I passed the exams.
Ivy: Is it an advantage if you studied law?
RME: No, but I was the editor of the school paper (Varsitarian) so that was a big advantage because of my familiarity of written expression. I know the proper use of grammar and I am familiar with the Philippine History. I love reading books particularly history and political biographies.
Ivy: Any favorite books?
RME: Yes I like to read for example World War II, the revolution of France and the revolution in Russia. I like biographies of political leaders like Nikita Khrushchev and Joseph Stalin. I like to read about Philippine presidents and famous personalities like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Ivy: If you weren’t a Diplomat, where would you see yourself now in terms of career?
RME: I would be a practicing lawyer, but you will never know what destiny you will have. God will guide on what you will be.
Ivy: You’ve been in the Diplomatic Service for 25 years so obviously you’re enjoying it.
RME: Life in the Diplomatic Service is very challenging. You’ll meet people you read in the newspapers.
Ivy: Is that the best part of your job?
RME: No the best part of my job is being able to help our distressed Filipino workers.
Ivy: That’s good.
RME: Like, I was part of the negotiating team that secured the release of Angelo de la Cruz and Robert Tarongoy. I also helped secure the release of the Filipino nurses that were held in Tripoli because of the HIV scandal. The Bulgarian nurses were not able to leave. They were found guilty and convicted. Now it’s the source of friction between Libya and Bulgaria.
In my case, I was able to do something before the case became so serious. So as a Diplomat you must involve into some bilateral irritants and you must always look for the interest of the Philippines.
Ivy: Sir I can see you’re very experienced now and you’ve accomplished so many things…
RME: No, not experienced because you have to be well acquainted with what’s happening with the country. So hindi naman ganon, I don’t look at it that way. I was trying to stress that these are the things that are part ng trabaho ng ambassador and a Diplomat is supposed to do his best para ma accomplish nya ang kanyang mission.
Ivy: This maybe too early for you but what opportunity do you see for Philippines here in Kuwait? Is it industry or tourism?
RME: Definitely it will be the manpower market. Which is the biggest opportunity sa mga Filipinos dito sa Kuwait. Bawat bansa may kanya-kanyang opportunity. For example US, it will be the immigration status. In Japan, entertainment, in Korea manual labor, sa Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuwait, it will be the service sector palagi. In other countries like Saudi Arabia, nandadyan yung ating oil market, source ng ating oil. Nandyan ang Mindanao problem at nandyadyan ng mga OFWs, hindi mo pwedeng alisin yan.
Yung sa Canada naman, nanydadyan ang ating mga caregivers, ang mga donors. It’s a major donor country. Also Japan, it is a highly industrialized country n mjor trading partner natin. Japan will always be our close ally not only in terms of trade sa investments sila ang is s mga biggest investors sa Pilipinas. Ang trade natin sa kanila napakalaki.
Bilateral aid sila kapag nagkakaroon ng disaster sa atin. Sila ang nagbibigay sa atin ng aid. Kaya lagi ang Philippines is maintaining a high profile of relationship with the Japanese government.
Ivy: What is your vision as the Ambassador here in Kuwait?
RME: As much as possible, I want to divert yung atin manpower market from service sector para sa skilled. For example, computer analysts, computer technicians, professors, managerial employees, financial consultants. We have to improve our standing ditto sa Kuwaiti society. They should not look at us like supplier lang ng mga DH. Ako ayoko my marinig na sasbihin ng mga Pilipino DH lang dito sa Kuwait.
Ivy: I know what you mean.
RME: Ikaw rin diba? Ayaw mo mapagkalaman kang ganyan. We as Filipinos gusto natin mataas ang magiging respeto nila sa atin. That’s what I want to achieve. Na, sana kapag nakita nilang mga Pilipino sasabihin nila “ Yun ang nagligtas ng buhay ko sa ospital. They are good doctors, nurses. Or “Ang mga Filipinos sila ang behind our economic success, magagaling silang financial transactors.
Ivy: How is it going to be possible?
RME: Kapag nakakausap ko yung mga Kuwait businessmen and industrialists. I emphasize that the Philippines is not only the source of domestic helpers. We have the best financial consultants, fashion designers…
Ivy: Your job requires a lot of official and unofficial socializing…
RME: Yes, but now I am concentrating na iresolve yung problema ng mga stranded workers dito sa OWWA.
Ivy: That sounds like a major challenge.
RME: Since I arrived here we repatriated a total of 234 workers.
Ivy: Already?
RME: Yes, I arrived here on Christmas eve 2005, from then on until yesterday we have repatriated 234. And we sent back around 200 workers already para sa kanilang mga agencies at na reemploy na rin sila. Eto yung ayaw umuwi. So instead of going home they stay here and find another employer. Nagawa naming yun through their agencies. Pero meron na namang dumating na around 400 workers na nag seek refuge dito. So ngayon meron pa kaming 220 natitira. Pero dun sa more than 300 na nandyadyan ng dumating ako 50 na lang ang natira. Eto yung mga kaso talagang hindi makauwi. Now we are focusing on their legal, psychological and physical needs sa accommodation. We do not turn away anybody who wants to stay sa OWWA.
Ivy: Do you still have free time?
RME: Oh yes.
Ivy: And what do you do during your free time?
RME: Nag su-surf ako sa Internet, like CNN, Google, Philippine news.
Ivy: Is that your hobby?
RME: Not exactly, I enjoy sleeping and reading books or listening to music or watching DVD films. And then I go around when there are interesting things and places to see. For example, I want to see the Kuwaiti War Museum. I’ve seen the Iraqi and I want to compare kung ano ang kanilang perspective during the 1990 invasion.
Ivy: So even your free time, you’re still learning…
RME: Kasi ganun naman talaga tayo diba, if you’re interested in computer, even during your free time, you do that.
Ivy: I agree
RME: Sometimes, I have a chance to meet the Al Sabah family and I verify and confirm from them what I read from the books like the Modern History of Kuwait. I ask them why the Al Sabah family is like this and what is the branch of the family that has been responsible for the promulgation of the constitution. How come the women have been granted rights? I also talk to them about their perception on the 1990 Iraqi invasion, the different, legal, and historical perspective of the war.
Ivy: What are your first impressions of Kuwait?
RME: It’s a rich country. It’s endowed by too much oil deposit. Their transformation was so rapid from camels to Mercedes Benz. And there are so many workers here. As one Kuwaiti told me, Kuwait will never be Kuwait without the presence of foreign workers. And they are a very close society, mahirap kang maging Kuwaiti national, unless you’re married to a Kuwaiti national.
Ivy: Are you enjoying here?
RME: No I’m not enjoying, I have a job to do. What can you do here? Go shopping? There are no natural beauties here like Grand Canyon, or historical places like Tigris or Euphrates…
Ivy: So you just read during your free time…
RME: Yes, sometimes I talk to the stranded workers. I ask them how come they chose Kuwait, and why they have to accept a salary of 45 KD. If you put yourself sa kanila dun mo lang ma appreciate bakit sila nagpunta dito. And ang opportunities nila ay limited in the provinces. And sasabihn nila sayo, sa kanilang kultura sa Mindanao o Visayas ang makapag abroad is a status symbol.
You really have to talk to them, feel their sentiments and sympathize with them. Doon mo lang ma realize kung ano ang dapat gawin para ma resolve ang problema.
Ivy: Is this the same with the other countries you’ve been posted before?
RME: No, it’s different.
Ivy: Which is your favorite posting?
RME: Baghdad of course, because we have a saying in the Foreign Service that you’ll love your first posting.
Ivy: Have you studied abroad? Which university?
RME: Pletcher_____(INAUBLE) School of Law in Boston. Plus the Harvard School of Diplomacy then at the University of Brussels for my Masters of Law. Kasi sa DFA they send you abroad to study if you want to and if you’re accepted. All expenses paid and you get your salary while you’re studying.
