Diwata Delia Domingo Albert

In Philippine mythology, diwatas are nature spirits living with mother earth. They are considered benevolent or neutral, and could be called upon to head rituals to promote crop growth, health and fortune. They are also said to cast blessings upon those who bring benefits, or curses to those who harm the forest and mountains.

I’d like to call former Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert as a diwata, on the good, beneficent side. She is the driving force in the creation of DIWATA, a non-government organization advocating the responsible development of the Philippines’ wealth of resources — mining, oil and gas, quarrying, and other mineral resources from the earth. It advocates and partners in the campaign for responsible minerals development, and is especially committed to the advancement of women’s and indigenous peoples’ rights.

Diwata Delia was able to attract the top men and women of different industries to attend the launch and sign up as members of DIWATA . These members are enjoined to educate inform, stimulate, challenge and enable all stakeholders in responsible minerals development to recognize our country’s competitive advantage as one of the top five most mineralized countries in the world, and use this competitive advantage as a growth driver.

The diwata’s credentials are impeccable, noted the University of the Philippines Alumni Association which gave her its 2012 most distinguished alumna award. A foreign service degree holder, the native of Baguio City spent four decades of her diplomatic career serving in Philippine diplomatic missions in Geneva, Bucharest, Budapest, Berlin and Bonn; as ambassador for seven years in Australia with concurrent accreditation to Nauru, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, and served as dean of the diplomatic corps in Canberra during the centenary of the Federation of Australia. She ended her diplomatic career in Berlin as ambassador to the reunified Federal Republic of Germany.

 She was proficient in bilateral and multilateral relations, serving as director general of ASEAN Philippines, secretary general of the 1996 APEC summit in Manila, and undersecretary for international economic relations. She also served as presidential adviser for multilateral cooperation and for minerals development.

She has been conferred the Philippine Order of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, the Commander’s Cross with Star of Germany’s Order of Merit, and the honorary royal title of Bai-A-Rawatun sa Pilipinas by 16 Royal Houses of Lanao and by the Maranao Women with Royal Titles. These, aside from the Philippine Women’s University’s award of honoris causa, degree of Doctor of Humanities, the National Council of Women recognizing her as the Most Outstanding Woman in Public Service, and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Women in Business and Professionals its Most Outstanding Woman in Global Diplomacy.

Ambassador Albert compares her vocation to “holding the fort.” The UPAA notes: ‘In times of peace, the priority concern is the well-being of those within the walls — their total development and the quality enhancement of their lives — as well as constant readiness of the ramparts and the bulwarks for any challenge. In periods of threat, the forest is secure, its keepers confident in their preparedness.”

She was appointed Foreign Secretary, a position she had not aspired for. But she lived up to the title, assiduously promoting the three major objectives of Philippine diplomacy — national security, economic growth and development, and care of nationals.

At the 111th founders day celebration of Silliman University last month, guest speaker Albert in her speech titled, “Learning from the Citadels of the University,” said “Having spent more than 40 years of my life in diplomatic work, I am convinced that in this day and age most issues between nations, big or small can be addressed through skilled, learned and dedicated diplomatic negotiations. Even a life can be saved through skilled negotiations if we are able to convince ourselves and the other side of our sincerity and the credibility to deliver what we promise.”

This conviction was put to a test during the toughest challenge she ever faced in her entire diplomatic career, namely negotiating to save the life of the Filipino truck driver, Angelo dela Cruz, a hostage in the Iraq war who was threatened to be executed by his unknown captors. “Fortunately, we successfully saved his life against all odds. In retrospect I was inspired by what I learned from the Talmud which taught that ‘saving one life is like saving humanity.’” Her relationship with Quakers who believe and respect that there is “God in every man” prevailed during her negotiations, she said.

She said Silliman University’s Centre of Excellence in Coastal Research Management could serve as one of the “think tanks” that could provide scientific and other relevant information and even recommendation that could assist our policy and decision makers.

She referred to the late UP President Carlos P. Romulo’s thoughts on a university’s mission. “A university’s mission is to constantly search for knowledge. Scholarship its primordial concern, research its indispensable arm and unfailing source of strength. It believes in values, above all thing else, human freedom without which there can be no creative ingenuity that can make of knowledge a blessing to society.”

She ended her speech with words borrowed from a poet of the 12th century which she found in a book of poems at the Islamic Museum of Kuala Lumpur.

I, by myself, am copper

Through you (God) - I am gold

I by myself am a stone

Through you (God) - I am a gem

That is Diwata Delia talking.

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For nature lovers and lovers of growing things the natural way, Flor’s Garden in Antipolo is sponsoring two major seminars.  

 The first seminar, to be held Sept. 19, 20, 21 is on natural farming. The three-day event will be conducted by Andry Lim, 2009 Secretary of Agriculture awardee for organic agriculture individual category. Assisting him is Joji Gamboa.   

The second, to be held September 22, is called “Hilot, Hilod, Hilom” (meaning cleanse, heal and improve your well-being). This will be conducted by former Health Secretary Jimmy Galvez Tan. The good doc will demonstrate how to render effective traditional massage.

Both wellness and natural farming events, according to Flor Gozon Tarriela, owner of Flor’s Garden, “deal with health as when you eat natural vegetables and livestock. Andy will teach making fertilizers and insecticides from farm materials. Do you know that calcium is important to make your plants flower? Use bulalo bones. And for nice, healthy leaves, fish emulsion from laman loob of fish that we throw away will do the trick.”

For reservations at either or both seminars, call Fely Gaco Sadio, tells (02)6356092 up to 94, and Mobile, 09195567121.

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Kapampangan Development Foundation will render free PCSO-assisted cataract surgeries for indigents of Region 3. Screening dates are Sept. 20 and 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 pm at the Jesus A. Datu Medical Center (JADM), Barangay San Vicente, Bacolor, Pampanga. All patients are required to be pre-registered. Call /text Melissa at 045 4580027, 09175628673.

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My e-mail:[email protected]