Carlos Peña Romulo Sr. (January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985) was a Filipino people, Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, a general in the US Army and the Philippine Army, university president, and president of the United Nations General Assembly observers, United Nations General Assembly. He has been named as one of the Philippines's National Artist of the Philippines, national artists in literature, and was the recipient of many other honors and honorary degrees. Romulo believed in Decolonization, anti-colonialism and Internationalism (politics), internationalism, as well as held Pro-American, anti-communist, anti-fascist, and economically and politically liberal beliefs.

Early career

National Boy Scout Movement 50th Anniversary 28 Oct 1987

Carlos Romulo was born in Intramuros, Manila on January 14, 1899. His parents were Pangasinense. His father fought against the United States in the Philippine–American War, Philippine-American War. His father transitioned to working for the U.S. government in the Philippines after the war, rising through the ranks as town councilor, mayor, and eventually the governor of Tarlac province. He studied at the Camiling Central Elementary School during his basic education. Romulo became a professor of English at the University of the Philippines in 1923. Simultaneously, Romulo served as the secretary to the president of the Senate of the Philippines, Manuel Quezon.

Publishing

During the 1930s, Romulo became the publisher and editor of ''The Philippines Herald'', and one of his reporters was Yay Panlilio. On October 31, 1936, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) was given a legislative charter under Commonwealth Act No. 111. Romulo served as one of the vice presidents of the organization.

World War II

At the start of World War II, Romulo, a major, served as an aide to General Douglas MacArthur. He was one of the last men evacuated from the Philippines before the surrender of U.S. Forces to the invading Japanese, as illness had prevented him from departing with MacArthur, finally leaving from Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao on April 25. Active in propaganda efforts
particularly through the lecture circuit
after reaching the United States, he became
member of President Quezon's War Cabinet
being appointe
Secretary of Information in 1943
He reached the rank of general by the end of the war.

Position on independence

Romulo supported Philippine independence. As the United States had promised Philippine independence in the Jones Act of 1916, Romulo believed that independence was inevitable. Romulo tended to portray American imperialism in a favorable light compared to European imperialism.

Diplomatic career

Romulo served eight Philippine presidents, from Manuel L. Quezon to Ferdinand Marcos, as the Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines), secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines and as the country's representative to the United States and to the United Nations (UN). He also served as the Resident Commissioners from the Philippines, resident commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives during the Commonwealth era. In addition, he served also as the Department of Education (Philippines), secretary of education in President Diosdado P. Macapagal's and President Ferdinand E. Marcos's cabinet through 1962 to 1968.

Resident commissioner

Romulo served as United States Congressional Delegations from the Philippines, resident commissioner of the Philippines to the United States Congress from 1944 to 1946. This was the title of the non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for lands taken in the Spanish–American War, and as such, he is the only member of the U.S. Congress to end his tenure via a legal secession from the union.

United Nations

In his career in the UN, Romulo was a strong advocate of human rights, freedom, and decolonization. In 1948, at the third UN General Assembly in Paris, France, he strongly disagreed with a proposal made by the Soviet Union, Soviet delegation headed by Andrey Vyshinsky, Andrei Vishinsky, who challenged his credentials by insulting him with this quote: "You are just a little man from a little country." In return, Romulo replied, "It is the duty of the little Davids of this world to fling the pebbles of truth in the eyes of the blustering Goliaths and force them to behave!", leaving Vishinsky with nothing left to do but sit down.

Palestine partition plan

In the days preceding the UN General Assembly vote on the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, Romulo stated "We hold that the issue is primarily moral. The issue is whether the United Nations should accept responsibility for the enforcement of a policy which is clearly repugnant to the valid nationalist aspirations of the people of Palestine. The Philippines Government holds that the United Nations ought not to accept such responsibility." Thus, he clearly intended to oppose the partition plan, or at most abstain in the vote. However, pressure on the Philippines government from Washington led to Romulo being recalled, and was replaced by a Philippines representative who voted in favor of the partition plan.

President of the UN General Assembly

Romulo served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly, president of the fourth session of UN General Assembly from 1949 to 1950—the first Asian to hold the position—and served as president of the UN Security Council four times, twice in 1957, 1980 and 1981. He had served with General MacArthur in the Pacific, and became the first non-American to win the Pulitzer Prize in Correspondence in 1942. The Pulitzer Prize website states that Carlos P. Romulo was awarded "for his observations and forecasts of Far Eastern developments during a tour of the trouble centers from Hong Kong to Batavia".

Campaign for secretary-general

Romulo ran for the office of Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN secretary-general in the 1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection, 1953 selection. He fell two votes short of the required seven-vote majority in the Security Council, finishing second to Lester B. Pearson of Canada. His ambitions were further dashed by negative votes from France and the Soviet Union, both of whom were Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, permanent members with veto power. The Security Council eventually settled on a dark horse candidate and selected Dag Hammarskjöld to be UN secretary-general.

Ambassador to the United States

From January 1952 to May 1953, Romulo became the second former member of the 78th United States Congress, Congress to become the ambassador to the United States from a foreign country, following Joaquín M. Elizalde, who had been his immediate predecessor in both posts. He later served as ambassador again from September 1955 to February 1962.

Return to the Philippines

Philippine presidential elections

Romulo returned to the Philippines and was a candidate for the nomination as the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party (Philippines), Liberal Party, but lost at the party convention to the incumbent president, Elpidio Quirino. Quirino had agreed to a secret ballot at the convention, but after the convention opened, he demanded an open roll-call voting, leaving the delegates no choice but to support Quirino, the candidate of the party machine. Feeling betrayed, Romulo left the Liberal Party and became national campaign manager of Ramon Magsaysay, the candidate of the opposing Nacionalista Party (Philippines), Nacionalista Party, who won the 1953 Philippine general election, election in 1953. Carlos P

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Romulo served as the Philippines' secretary (minister from 1973 to 1984) of foreign affairs under President Elpidio Quirino from 1950 to 1952, under President Diosdado Macapagal from 1963 to 1964, and under President Ferdinand Marcos from 1968 to 1984.

Bandung Conference

In April 1955, he led the Philippines' delegation to the Asian-African Conference at Bandung, Indonesia. During the conference, his opinions remained unpopular among Asian countries. Romulo warned against the threats of communism in Asia and justified that SEATO as a purely defensive and non-aggressive security pact. However, his suggestions were not included in the final communique of the conference. Participating countries viewed that colonialism, racialism, cultural suppression, discrimination, and nuclear weapons were considered regional threats.

Resignation from the Marcos cabinet

Romulo supported President Ferdinand Marcos through most of his presidency. However, he resigned in 1983, soon after the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr., Benigno Aquino, citing poor health. Gregorio Brillantes interviewed Romulo in 1984, and Romulo said he resigned "heartsick" because of the assassination of Aquino, whom he considered a "friend", and the resulting freefall of the Philippines' economy and international reputation. According to Romulo's wife, Beth Day Romulo, the Marcos administration had asked him to sign an advertisement that the administration was planning to place in the ''New York Times'' and other major international dailies. Romulo refused to sign the advertisement and instead resigned.

Death and legacy

Romulo died, aged 87, in Manila on December 15, 1985, and was buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. He was honored as "one of the truly great statesmen of the 20th century". In 1980, he was extolled by UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim as "Mr. United Nations" for his valuable services to the UN and his dedication to freedom and world peace.

Published books

Romulo, in all, wrote and published 22 books, including ''The United'' (novel), ''I Walked with Heroes'' (autobiography), ''I Saw the Fall of the Philippines'', ''Mother America'', and ''I See the Philippines Rise'' (war-time memoirs). In 1982, he was proclaimed
National Artist for Literature of the Philippines
in recognition of his contributions to Philippine Literature.

Honors

National Honors

* ''Bayani ng Bagong Republika'' (Hero of the New Republic Award) – (14 January 1984) * PHL Order of Sikatuna - Grand Collar BAR

Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Raja – (1982). * PHI Legion of Honor 2003 Commander BAR

: Philippine Legion of Honor, Commander (''Komandante'') * PHL_Blue_White_Red

: National Artist of the Philippines * PHL Gawad Mabini BAR

: Grand Cross (''Dakilang Kamanong'') of the Gawad Mabini – (2005) * PHI Order of the Golden Heart var2 Grand Cross BAR

: Grand Cross (''Maringal na Krus'') of the Order of the Golden Heart (Philippines), Order of the Golden Heart – (1954) * PHI Order of the Golden Heart var2 Member BAR

PHI Order of the Golden Heart var2 Member BAR

: Member (''Kagawad'') of the Order of the Golden Heart (Philippines), Order of the Golden Heart – (13 September 1954) * PHL_Blue_White_Red

: Presidential Medal of Merit (Philippines), Presidential Medal of Merit – (July 3, 1949) * Order_of_the_Knights_of_Rizal_Ribbon

: Order of the Knights of Rizal, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal. – (1961)

Military Medals (Philippines)

: Distinguished Service Star * PHL Gold Cross

: Gold Cross (Philippines), Philippine Gold Cross * Philippine Defense ribbon

: Philippine Defense Medal * Phliber rib

: Philippine Liberation Medal

Military Medals (Foreign)

: Commander, Legion of Merit (10 March 1950) *: Silver Star *: Purple Heart *: Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal

Foreign Honors

*: **

ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (1983) *: ** Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos Manuel do Cespedes *: ** Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, National Order of the Legion of Honour *: ** GRE Order of the Phoenix - Grand Cross BAR

GRE Order of the Phoenix - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece), Order of the Phoenix *: ** Bintang Republik_Indonesia Adipradana Ribbon1

2nd Class of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia (February 16, 1979) *: ** PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR

: Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ *: ** ESP Isabella Catholic Order GC

: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic *: ** : Presidential Medal of Freedom *: ** : Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Star *: ** : Order of the Yugoslav Star, Order of the Yugoslav Star with Sash (1974)

Awards and recognitions

Romulo is perhaps among the most decorated Filipinos in history. He has been awarded 72 honorary degrees from different international institutions and universities and 144 awards and decorations from foreign countries: *Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1952 "For his contribution in international cooperation, in particular on questions on undeveloped areas, and as president for UN's 4th General Assembly" *Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award *Presidential Unit Citation with Two Oak Leaf Clusters *Pulitzer Prize in Correspondence, 1942 *World Government News First Annual Gold Nadal Award (for work in the United Nations for peace and world government), March 1947 *Princeton University – Woodrow Wilson Memorial Foundation Gold Medal award ("in recognition of his contribution to public life"), May 1947 *International Benjamin Franklin Society's Gold Medal (for "distinguished world statesmanship in 1947"), January 1948 *Freeman of the City of Plymouth, England, October 1948 *United Nations Peace Medal *World Peace Award *Four Freedoms Peace Award
Notre Dame University, Doctor of Laws
(LL.D.), 1935 *Georgetown University, Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), 1960
Harvard University, Doctor of Laws
(LL.D.), 1950

Anecdotes from Beth Romulo through ''Reader's Digest'' (June 1989)

At the third UN General Assembly, held in Paris in 1948, the USSR's deputy foreign minister, Andrei Vyshinsky, sneered at Romulo and challenged his credentials: "You are just a little man from a little country." "It is the duty of the little Davids of this world," cried Romulo, "to fling the pebbles of truth in the eyes of the blustering Goliaths and force them to behave!" During his meeting with Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Marshal Tito welcomed Gen. Romulo with drinks and cigars, to which the general kindly refused. Their conversation went as follows: At this, Marshal Tito was tickled by his reply and loudly exclaimed around the room, "I etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!" Romulo was a dapper little man (barely five feet four inches in shoes). When they waded in at Leyte beach in October 1944, and the word went out that General MacArthur was waist deep, one of Romulo's journalist friends cabled, "If MacArthur was in water waist deep, Romulo must have drowned!" In later years, Romulo told another story himself about a meeting with MacArthur and other tall American generals who disparaged his physical stature. "Gentlemen," he declared, "When you say something like that, you make me feel like a dime among nickels."

Books

*''I Saw the Fall of the Philippines.'' *''My Brother Americans'' *''I See The Philippines Rise'' *''I am a Filipino'' *''The United'' *''Crusade in Asia'' (The John Day Company, 1955; about the 1953 presidential election campaign of Ramón Magsaysay) *''The Meaning of Bandung'' *''The Magsaysay Story'' (with Marvin M. Gray, The John Day Company 1956, updated re-edition by Pocket Books, Special Student Edition, SP-18, December 1957; biography of Ramón Magsaysay, Pocket Books edition updated with an additional chapter on Magsaysay's death) *''I Walked with Heroes'' (autobiography) *''Last Man off Bataan'' (Romulo's experience during the Japanese Plane bombings.) *''Romulo: A Third World Soldier at the UN'' *''Daughters for Sale and Other Plays''

Citations

References

* * * * * *

External links

Extensive biography
* *

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romulo, Carlos Pena 1899 births 1985 deaths 20th-century Filipino politicians Ambassadors of the Philippines to the United States Benjamin Franklin Medal (Franklin Institute) laureates Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani Columbia University alumni Filipino writers Grand Crosses of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece) Ilocano people Macapagal administration cabinet members Ferdinand Marcos administration cabinet members Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Metro Manila Members of the United States Congress of Filipino descent Members of the United States House of Representatives of Asian descent National Artists of the Philippines People from Pangasinan People from Tarlac Permanent representatives of the Philippines to the United Nations Philippine Army generals of World War II Philippine Army generals Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly Presidents of universities and colleges in the Philippines Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence winners Quirino administration cabinet members Recipients of Gawad Mabini Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Star Recipients of the Distinguished Service Star Recipients of the Gold Cross (Philippines) Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor Recipients of the Quezon Service Cross Resident commissioners of the Philippines Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Merit (Philippines) Scouting in the Philippines Secretaries of education of the Philippines Secretaries of foreign affairs of the Philippines University of the Philippines Manila alumni Members of the Batasang Pambansa The Philippines Herald Filipino journalists Kilusang Bagong Lipunan politicians Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians Nacionalista Party politicians Democratic Party (Philippines) politicians