Ambassador Romualdez meets with FACC officials, Fil-Ams of the Carolinas

Past and present FACC officials with Ambassador Jose Miguel G. Romualdez

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—‘Be the ambassador of the Philippines.’

This in essence was the message delivered by his Excellency Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Miguel G. Romualdez to a small crowd of Filipino Americans gathered at the Ballantyne Hotel over the weekend.

At the meet and greet organized by the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) Romualdez told the crowd that they ‘make his job easy’ by being good citizens of the states they live in and reflecting the best traits and virtues of every Filipino in their respective communities. 

‘That to me makes me feel good about it. It gives us the image of the country that we are proud, the Philippines.  We are known to be a country whose people are kind, hospitable, hardworking people all over the world. “ that is why whatever work you do as health professionals, teachers, or whatever give your best as you are creating the image of what Filipino is. It gives us the image of the country that we are proud of,’ Romualdez said.

Ambassador Romualdez with incumbent FACC officials

Romualdez relates to the small Filipino-American crowd about his experiences meeting with US lawmakers. He said he was told by the legislators how happy their Filipino-American communities in their respective districts are.  

At the same time, Romualdez urged those in attendance not to forget their homeland and continue building their ties with the Philippines.  ‘I tell Filipinos don’t burn your bridges because there will be a time you wanted to go back to your country of birth,’ he said. 

Romualdez was appointed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017. He was a journalist who writes a column at the Philippine Star and was at one time a president of the Manila Press Club. 

He was officially welcomed by the incumbent FACC officers and board of directors headed by President Marissa Olarte. The event was hosted by Dr. Ed Tautjo, ex-officio 2025 board of directors. 

The meet and greet was also attended by FACC past presidents and advisory board along with health care providers, the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce incumbent Chairman Glenn, past chairman Agnes Higley, local business owners and local leaders.  The Ambassador was accompanied by the First Secretary and Consul (Political and Legislative) Jahzeel Abihail G. Cruz.

Ambassador Romualdez also serves as emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tabago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadives and Saint Lucia. 

Ambassador Romualdez with past FACC oresidents and officers