Jose Manuel Romualdez

Jose Manuel "Babe" del Gallego Romualdez (born November 8, 1947) is a Filipino journalist, publisher and business executive who is the current Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States. He previously served as Special Envoy of President Rodrigo Duterte to the United States.

Jose Manuel Romualdez
Romualdez in 2019
Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States of America
Assumed office
August 29, 2017
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byJose L. Cuisia Jr.
Personal details
Born
Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez

(1947-11-08) November 8, 1947
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Spouse(s)Maria Lourdes Marquez-Romualdez
Children4
Alma materDe La Salle University
OccupationJournalist, columnist, publisher, businessman
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is del Gallego and the surname or paternal family name is Romualdez.

Early life and education

Romualdez was born on November 8, 1947[1] in Manila to Alberto Romualdez Sr., a former secretary general of the World Medical Association, and Covadonga del Gallego, a former chair of the Pathology Department of the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. His siblings include former Secretary of Health Alberto Romualdez Jr. and footballer Johnny Romualdez. He is also the nephew of former House Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez and is related to Imelda Marcos, with her children: Imee, Bongbong, Irene and Aimee being his second cousins.

On his mother's side, his maternal grandfather was a Spanish explorer named Don Juan del Gallego who founded the town of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.[2] His uncle Manuel del Gallego became governor of Camarines Sur in the 1940s. He is also related to actress Heart Evangelista through her mother, Maria Cecilia del Gallego-Payawal,[3] who is his first cousin.

He went to Ateneo de Manila University Grade School from 1954 to 1962 and to Ateneo de Manila University High School from 1962 to 1965.[4] In 1965, he and his family moved to New York City after his father's election to the World Medical Association.[5] There, he studied at Forest Hills High School from 1965 to 1966.[4] During this time, Romualdez worked as a part-time waiter in Manhattan and as a grocery-boy at an A&P supermarket in Queens.[5]

Romualdez returned to the Philippines in 1966 where he went to De La Salle College. In 1970, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the university.

Career

RIght after graduating college, Romualdez started working as a TV newscaster and then anchor for NewsWatch, a newscast television program that aired on Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS). He rose to become executive assistant to the station's chairman of the board, and eventually was president and vice chairman of the board of the Television Corporation of the Philippines.[4][6]

In 1989, he coordinated the media group for the official visit of then-Vice President Salvador Laurel to the United States. He also coordinated then-President Joseph Estrada's working visit to the U.S. in 1999. He was also a member of the business delegation of presidents Ramos during his visit to the U.S. and Mexico in May 1997 and to APEC Canada in November 1997; Aquino III during his visits to China, Japan and New Zealand; and Duterte during his official visit to Japan.[4]

In 2007, he was elected president of the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) and in 2010, he was elected board chairman.[7][8] He is currently MOPC's vice chairman.[9]

Romualdez also held various positions including being vice president of the Rotary Club of Manila, executive vice president of the Philippine Trade Foundation, and chairman of the Philippine offices of several US-based multinational firms, including FCB Manila and Weber Shandwick Philippines.[10]

From January 2016 to September 2017, he was the honorary consul of Luxembourg to the Philippines.[4][11]

He was the President and CEO of Stargate Media Corp., an affiliate of the Philippine Star and the publishing company of PEOPLE Asia magazine, where Romualdez was the publisher.[12][13] He is also a columnist at the Philippine Star.[14]

Ambassador to the United States
United States President Donald Trump accepting the credentials of Ambassador Romualdez

From July to December 2016, Romualdez was appointed by President Duterte as his Special Envoy to the United States.[4] In December 2016, he was asked by President Duterte to be the Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States. However, he declined the offer saying he could not assume the post for at least six months since he was to have an emergency operation for an eye ailment in January.[15] His appointment as special envoy was later renewed on July 9, 2017.[16]

On July 24, 2017, Romualdez was finally nominated by the President to be the Philippines' Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America.[17][18] He was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on August 23, 2017 and took his oath on August 29.[19][20] He presented his credentials to United States President Donald Trump on November 29.[21] He is the third member of the Romualdez family to occupy the post after his uncle Eduardo Romualdez and first cousin, once removed Benjamin Romualdez served from 1971 to 1986.[6][22]

In May 2018, Ambassador Romualdez and the Philippine Embassy were criticized for choosing to celebrate their Independence Day celebrations at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.[23] Despite the criticisms, however, the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration still went through with the embassy defending their choice of venue by calling it "elegant and historic" for the occasion.[24]

As ambassador, Romualdez facilitated the return of the Balangiga bells back to the Philippines.[25] He represented the Philippine government during the official turnover ceremony of the bells in November 2018 and was present during the welcoming ceremony and handover of the bells in Villamor Airbase in December.[26][27]

Personal life

Romualdez is married to Maria Lourdes Marquez-Romualdez.[28] They have four children.

He is an avid golfer and is affiliated with the Manila Golf & Country Club and the Manila Polo Club.[13]

References
  1. "Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration, 1899–1984," database with images, FamilySearch (November 11, 2017), Romualdez, November 8, 1947; Birth, November 8, 1947, City of Manila Civil Registrar, Philippines; FHL microfilm 1,495,971.
  2. "The Town of Del Gallego". Angkang Pilipino. April 1, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  3. Ramos, Gerard (May 19, 2016). "Love this Marie". BusinessMirror. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  4. "Program Committee Weekly Advisory" (PDF). Rotary Club Manila. July 9, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  5. Romualdez, Babe (June 16, 2019). "You only have one father". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  6. Bewig, Matt (January 10, 2018). "Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States: Who Is Jose "Babe" Romualdez?". AllGov.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  7. "Romualdez elected as MOPC president". The Philippine Star. January 7, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  8. "Romualdez elected as MOPC Board chairman". The Philippine Star. December 16, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  9. "Manila Overseas Press Club Board of Governors take oath". GMA News. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  10. Gita, Ruth Abbey (July 27, 2017). "Palace: Jose Manuel Romualdez nominated as PH envoy to US". Sun.Star. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  11. "Honorary Consul of Luxembourg". Manila Standard. March 30, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  12. "About PeopleAsia". People Asia. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  13. https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/the-philippines/about-the-philippine-ambassador-to-the-u-s
  14. "Babe's Eye View". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  15. Ranada, Pia (July 27, 2017). "Duterte picks Babe Romualdez as PH ambassador to U.S." Rappler. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  16. "Romualdez reappointed as special envoy to US". The Philippine Star. July 9, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  17. "Appointment Paper". Malacañang Palace. July 24, 2017. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  18. "From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella – On the Nomination of Mr Romualdez as Ambassador to the US". Presidential Communications Operations Office. July 27, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  19. "Commission on Appointments Confirms Nomination of Ambassador Romualdez". Department of Foreign Affairs. September 4, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  20. Corrales, Nestor (August 29, 2017). "Incoming Customs chief Lapeña, other Duterte appointees sworn in". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  21. Flores, Helen (December 1, 2017). "Trump receives Philippines envoy's credentials". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  22. Gomez, Buddy (February 16, 2018). "OPINION: Reason, Rhythm and Romualdez". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  23. Pastor, Rene (May 18, 2018). "PHL ambassador defends extravagant Trump Hotel, promises 'meaningful' Independence Day". The FilAm. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  24. Lee-Brago, Pia (June 20, 2018). "Philippine embassy defends holding independence event at Trump hotel". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  25. Bray, Jared (November 15, 2018). "Ambassador Romualdez outlines return of Balangiga Bells to the Philippines". Balitang America. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  26. Romualdez, Babe (November 18, 2018). "Christmas bells for Balangiga". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  27. Romualdez, Babe (December 16, 2018). "The Balangiga bells are finally home". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  28. "Diplomatic List – Fall 2018" (PDF). United States Department of State. Retrieved June 26, 2019.

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