MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) paid tribute earlier this week to the late Ambassador Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez for his contributions to the development of the country’s foreign relations.
Romualdez’s wife, Juliette Gomez-Romualdez, and her children—Philip, Marean and Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez—accepted the posthumous award in ceremonies held at the Manila Hotel.
A younger brother of former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Romualdez served as Philippine ambassador to China, United States and Saudi Arabia.
Philconsa’s president emeritus, retired chief justice Reynato Puno, and chairman and CEO Manuel Lazaro presented the citation to the Romualdez family during the organization’s monthly membership meeting.
Philconsa was founded in September 1961 as a nonstock and nonpartisan association to defend, preserve and protect the Constitution. It has since become one of the most prestigious organizations in the country.
Kissinger-like
Philconsa honored Romualdez “for his long and outstanding service to the country and his people as a public servant, diplomat, local government official and philanthropist; for his leading-edge work as ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” It cited him “for his Kissinger-like boldness, innovation and vision in the field of diplomacy, resulting in enhanced image and greater respect the Philippines enjoy abroad.”
Without fanfare
Many of those who had worked with Romualdez said he “operated smoothly without much fanfare,” unlike the former first lady.
Philconsa also acknowledged Romualdez’s role in the expansion of ties between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, which led to stable oil supplies for the country and to the signing of a peace agreement with Muslim separatists.
The organization also cited Romualdez for his accomplishments as governor of Leyte from 1967 to 1986, among them the development of the San Juanico Bridge, the government center in Palo, the first economic zone in Eastern Visayas, a geothermal power plant in Kananga, and many roads, bridges and irrigation projects that made life better for not only the people of Leyte but also of the people of Eastern Visayas.
Philconsa recognized Romualdez’s philanthropic work as chairman emeritus of the Remedios Trinidad-Romualdez Memorial Foundation and founder of the Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, which supported 6,000 scholars.