So he proceeded to spell out, in accessible terms, what Philippine foreign policy is. It is built, he told his audience, on three principle pillars: National Security, Economic Security and Protection of Filipino Overseas Workers, which often overlap and are of equal importance.

Because of the Filipino overseas workers, 8 million by the last count, the Philippines vital interests often extend well beyond its domestic borders and what happens in any part of the globe may affect lives and fortunes of people both at home and abroad. Two million Filipinos are working in the volatile Middle East and when they run afoul of local laws, the Philippine government takes action, from their ambassador to the host country up to the President herself. In 2006 through a personal appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia and again this year, in an appeal to the Emir of Kuwait, President Arroyo was able to have the death sentences of two Filipinas scheduled for execution, commuted, and also secured the release of 500 Filipinos in Saudi Jails. In 2007 during a crisis in Lebanon the government was able to evacuate and repatriate 7,000 Filipino workers. In the past 2 years 23 death sentences for Filipino workers have been commuted.

Through a combination of preventive diplomacy and confidence building the Philippines was able to reach an agreement for the joint Marine Seismic Undertaking with the different claimants in the South China sea, which still holds.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains an important issue to the Philippines and last year when they hosted ASEAN, the foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila to discuss support of the "6-party talks" aimed at North Korea giving up its nuclear program. Secretary Romulo recently visited Pyongyang, North Korea, and reported that the February agreement to fully document North Korea’s nuclear activities is "once more on track" and they hope to reach a resolution this year.

The Philippines supports efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Israel/Palestine issue, the stabilization of Iraq, and to resolve the Iran nuclear question through the UN Security Councils resolutions. Secretary Romulo recently visited Iran where President Ahmadinejad declared that Iran abides by the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty which allows nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Globalization has opened the door to the world, economically and given the Philippines 28 consecutive quarters of economic growth, and a balance of payment surplus. Because of the growing markets of China and India Asia is changing from an export driven market to increasing regional demand, which means more markets and investments in Asia, for the Philippines.

Many policy decisions, the Secretary asserted, are made in the context of the Philippines membership in ASEAN, and the Philippines is pushing for adoption of an ASEAN charter which was signed but has yet to be ratified by the Senate, which will make the informal organization "rules bound" and give it a legal identity and thus stronger impact. He expressed the hope that all members will have ratified the Charter by their next meeting in Seoul in November.

US/RP relations remain strong, and he pointed out that the so-called joint military exercises, in addition to defense measures, also include social and anti-poverty activities.

The Philippines maintains a strong relationship with the United Nations. It has served on 9 peacekeeping missions and chairs of the Tripartite Interfaith Dialogue, an idea which was introduced by the Philippines in 2005 and accepted by the United Nations.

In conclusion, Secretary Romulo thanked the Asia Society for helping nurture PR-US relations, and for enhancing peopleto-people exchanges between Asia and America, which was the guiding-principle when Asia Society was first created by the Rockefeller brothers, to teach Americans about Asia. As former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger wrote, in an article in the New York Times, the center of gravity of international affairs today, is gradually shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific.