June 18, 2019
It took us exactly one and a half hours to reach Palo Alto. Rush hour traffic. Everyone was trooping down to Silicon Valley. You’ll know when you are getting closer to the IT hub, you’ll see more Tesla cars around.
We left at 7 am and arrived at our meeting place at the Stanford Shopping Mall at 9:30 am. My colleagues were already there when Edmund and I arrived. I introduced my handsome driver to my friends. It was the first time that Edmund met Tonyboy and Dindo, but he had met Jun Bella and Rp before.
Tonyboy asked him to join us kasi kulang kami but Edmund was only wearing tsinelas and was not wearing a business suit.
Atty. Job Ambrosio was already in San Francisco but had to fly back home according to Rp because his 9-month-old baby had an accident. We did not know the details. I hope his baby is okay.
From our meeting place, we all rode together in the Ford Transit van provided by the Philippine Consulate. We were joined by Consul Jed Martin Llona and another officer from the consulate.
As we entered the door at the Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies, a tall American lady greeted us and she informed us that Ambassador Michael Armacost would not be able to meet with us because he was sick.
In his place would be Karen Eggleston, Ph.D., the director of Asia Health Policy Program and Donald Emmerson, director, Southeast Asia Program.
Office of Ambassador Armacost
We went up to the second floor of the building.
As soon as Donald Emmerson saw Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr., he said welcome again. He and ConGen Bensurto have known each other for years having attended many socio-political meetings together.
(left to right) Consul Gen Henry Bensurto, Tonyboy Cojuangco, Prof. Dindo Manhit, Stratbase’s Orly, Consul Jen Martin Llona
Karen Eggleston, Donald Emmerson, and me, looking serious.
The meeting was supposed to be from 10 am to 11:30 am but it extended to almost 12 noon.
My mind functioned during the first hour. Beyond that, I started feeling drowsy and couldn’t concentrate anymore. I wanted to ask questions but I didn’t want to prolong the discussions because paikot-ikot na ang mga mata ko sa antok. I wanted to slide down under the table and sleep.
The discussions were centered on socio-economic and political. There was also some exchanges of insights regarding China’s continuous construction of a megacity in our islands. All Filipinos must be aware of this.
The Philippines and the US have a strong bond that is centered on democracy.
Our trip to Stanford was more of a goodwill visit.
(From left to right) Consul Jed Martin Llona, Orly, Prof. Dindo Manhit, Philippines, Inc.’s Chairman, Antonio O. Cojuangco, Donald Emmerson, Congen Henry Bensurto, Annie C. Tan-Yee, Rupert Paul Manhit, Jun Bella.
Tonyboy has an MBA diploma from this school. He was to pursue a doctorate in economics at the same school but his father asked him to come home to help in their businesses. He told Dindo that he wanted to be in the academe. Gusto yata nyang maging professor.
Just outside the building are lovely old trees.
This is the kind of surroundings we all need and want. Trees and more trees. Greens and more greens.
Stanford is ranked as one of the top universities in the world and is respected for its high academic standards. Its proximity to Silicon Valley is one of its strengths. This provides students access to the latest tech ideas, innovation, mentoring from professors, learning by interacting with classmates. Students learn from the formal lectures and also during informal discussions outside of their classrooms. How come I knew this?
