From royal visits to phone calls

Local newspapers proudly trumpeted a news last week: “Obama calls GMA on Visiting Forces Agreement.” The phone call though reminded us of our rich history when it comes to dignitaries visiting our Islands.

In 1970, the Filipiniana Book Guild released its 16th publication — The World of Felix Roxas. It contained an excellent description of King Norodom 1 of Cambodia’s visit to the Philippines in 1872; the first visit of a king of the country. Roxas described the event thusly: “The balconies were filled with people anxious to witness the passage of the royal person. At last the bugles rounded: the soldiers aligned and readied themselves to present arms; a squadron of lancers on horseback appeared and soon the royal entourage was seen. The carriages rolled past at a trot. The royal coach passed by and we saw Norodom 1 dressed in a European-type uniform filled with crosses and medals, smiling happily at his gallant welcome. His entourage was numerous and dressed in their native costumes. They wore their hair long — not braided like the Chinese or done up in a bun like the Japanese — it fell freely at their backs some two handsbreadth long. Their trousers were wide, not too long and of lively colors. They also wore a type of jacket, generally white. The celebrations were very impressive, at night, transit through San Sebastian street was impossible.”

“The King and his entourage stayed in the house of the Count of Aviles, the house which now belongs to the Legarda family on that street. At night time, the houses were lit up with coconut oil lamps and timsim wicks, a system which demanded constant attention from many attendants.”

As with almost all who visit our country, there is something to fall in love with. For young King Norodom 1, it was a Filipina. “In Calumpit, Bulacan, he fell in love with Pepita Roxas: he courted and formally proposed to her. Such aspirations were thwarted by many reasons: one, was their different faiths — since polygamy prevailed in his land — many other reasons convinced him that what he wished for was an impossibility.

“When he bade her farewell, he made her a regal gift: a brooch studded with extremely valuable diamonds. The young lady never married. She transferred her residence to Manila. Her valuable brooch was stolen and the theft reported to the police. Many years later, the brooch was unexpectedly recovered, she and her brother — a priest — donated it to Our Lady of the Rosary, venerated at Santo Domingo church in Manila (now in Quezon City).” A tale of romance and adventure in the Philippines, indeed.

The state visit was to show gratitude for the assistance that the Philippines had provided to Cambodia. Roxas wrote: “Since Cambodia was a part of Indochina and a French protectorate, it is likely that the trip was made under the auspices of France which was grateful for the effective assistance which the Filipinos, in agreement with Spain, had extended to them during the Cochin-China War in 1868.” Once the Philippines was wealthy and organized enough to provide assistance to our neighbors, not seek it. There are hints of what we must have meant to Asia in the past.

A few decades later, Norodom’s grandson Prince Sihanouk visited. During his stay, he told of a community of Filipinos who lived peacefully there for the past century and that on the accession of his grandfather to the throne in 1860, Tagalog soldiers were rendering service in the palace as cannoneers. In the 20th century, such illustrious figures as (then) Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands would grace the Islands with visits. When the United States first took possession of the Philippines they sent their best and brightest, such as William Howard Taft (first American Governor-General) — who would later become President of the United States. We are gratified to see though, that through phone calls, the relationship between the US and the Philippines remains strong.

It is instructive to remember the past as it was and to consider the importance of the Philippines in more than one century. We sit at the dawn of a new century; could this be a return to the Age of Asia? We hope the Philippines is not left behind.