Climate change and the new Marcos brand of diplomacy

WE saw the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. brand of diplomacy at the 29th APEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, and I like it. It is refreshing and exciting. This was his first appearance on the world stage and he did well, as former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said. The Asia-Pacific region covers more than half of the world's economies. The president seemed very at ease among the leaders of major economies like France, Canada, China and Saudi Arabia, like he was in the comfort of old colleagues, or friends even. There was that light moment with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when they both compared their printed socks.

With the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Marcos threw in a little nostalgia about how his father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, would send him as an emissary to Saudi Arabia during the oil crisis. In this bilateral meeting they discussed the important issue of energy, Saudi Arabia being the world's largest oil producer. There were reciprocal invitations for state visits in the future. More importantly, the Crown Prince committed to pay for the unpaid salaries of more than 10,000 overseas Filipino workers who lost their jobs in construction when they declared bankruptcy in 2015-2016. The Saudi government will also establish an insurance system to secure the salaries of future OFWs. According to Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, it was refreshing to see both leaders sitting and talking like old friends, both visionaries and both proud of the Filipino workers.