"I probably could not live with myself if I had been given this opportunity to serve and did not take it," said Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, H.E. Adnan V. Alonto midway through the interview with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). "And to me, not taking that opportunity will be my biggest frustration, more than renouncing my American citizenship," he continued.
He recalled that his children told him he was really crazy for taking such a big risk of giving up his US citizenship at 58 years old. Plus, the move to the Middle East after getting used to life in America for over 20 years was yet another risk. Chuckling, he said that he even had to pay US$ 2,350.00 for the renouncement. "But my father, my grandfather and some other relatives who have served [in government] helped me in that decision," he explained further. "My children cannot argue with it because it goes right into the core."
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