Echoes FromBY JOHNNY DAYANG
Oh, Vietnam!
Well, I guess, it can be said that the finer strokes of foreign diplomacy would still need a bit of mastering insofar as the Aquino administration is concerned. Not that PNoy needs to improve his skills in this department as the man has enough charisma to tame the most inhospitable spirits.
It's his staff and official family that direly needs tutoring on diplomatic etiquette, at the very least.
By now, the entire nation and half the Filipinos across the globe already have had their say on the Carmen "Mai" Mislang Twitter episode. For those who were sleeping or hiding in a cave, a quick round-up: Ms. Mislang, PNoy's speechwriter and a member of the contingent that went with the President to Vietnam, made an uncalled for tweet about the wine served and the lack of handsome men in Vietnam, in the course of the state visit.
PNoy said the incident was "blown out of proportion," pointing out that the Vietnamese government did not event register any form of protest or negative comment on the matter. Ms. Mislang, who has been part of PNoy's staff even during his Senate days, has since apologized for the gaffe.
Still, before the entire episode is relegated to the general category of "unfortunate incident, don't-think-much-of it," it would be wise for PNoy to really make sure that such a faux pas never happens again.
We cannot continue offending our Asean neighbors. It's just one too many, if you ask me: first, the Chinese nationals from Hong Kong during the botched hostage rescue attempt back in August, and now, the Vietnamese with "the wine sucks," and "there are no handsome men" comments.
Which isn't to say that the President's state visit to Vietnam was a failure. On the contrary, except for that unfortunate tweet, the trip was a resounding success.
Consider: Signed agreements on academic and defense cooperation, oil spill preparedness and response, and search-and-rescue capabilities. A P214.4 billion loan extended by Japan for road upgrading that will definitely benefit tourism and agriculture in the country.
Add to that, a full-delegation state visit of the President that only translated to P11.3 million in taxpayer's money.
It's moments like this when it really feels good to be a Filipino. Hats off to PNoy!
Well, I guess, it can be said that the finer strokes of foreign diplomacy would still need a bit of mastering insofar as the Aquino administration is concerned. Not that PNoy needs to improve his skills in this department as the man has enough charisma to tame the most inhospitable spirits.
It's his staff and official family that direly needs tutoring on diplomatic etiquette, at the very least.
By now, the entire nation and half the Filipinos across the globe already have had their say on the Carmen "Mai" Mislang Twitter episode. For those who were sleeping or hiding in a cave, a quick round-up: Ms. Mislang, PNoy's speechwriter and a member of the contingent that went with the President to Vietnam, made an uncalled for tweet about the wine served and the lack of handsome men in Vietnam, in the course of the state visit.
PNoy said the incident was "blown out of proportion," pointing out that the Vietnamese government did not event register any form of protest or negative comment on the matter. Ms. Mislang, who has been part of PNoy's staff even during his Senate days, has since apologized for the gaffe.
Still, before the entire episode is relegated to the general category of "unfortunate incident, don't-think-much-of it," it would be wise for PNoy to really make sure that such a faux pas never happens again.
We cannot continue offending our Asean neighbors. It's just one too many, if you ask me: first, the Chinese nationals from Hong Kong during the botched hostage rescue attempt back in August, and now, the Vietnamese with "the wine sucks," and "there are no handsome men" comments.
Which isn't to say that the President's state visit to Vietnam was a failure. On the contrary, except for that unfortunate tweet, the trip was a resounding success.
Consider: Signed agreements on academic and defense cooperation, oil spill preparedness and response, and search-and-rescue capabilities. A P214.4 billion loan extended by Japan for road upgrading that will definitely benefit tourism and agriculture in the country.
Add to that, a full-delegation state visit of the President that only translated to P11.3 million in taxpayer's money.
It's moments like this when it really feels good to be a Filipino. Hats off to PNoy!
if mislang has even a strand of decency in her being, she should have tendered her resignation but she has none. why does the president keep someone in his company who is morally and intellectually bankcrupt? immoral for insulting two nations...vietnam and her own and a moron for having the balls to use her name in a twit!
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