The last time I was with my family was Christmas last year in New York. I was supposed to be there in May for my son’s college graduation but I was not able to make it because fighting once again broke out in Tripoli. I would come to miss other important family events during the past eight months that the war has been raging. And so this Christmas break was something I was really looking forward to.

Ten days before I was to fly to New York for a long overdue break with the family, the forces that have been laying siege to Tripoli since April were ordered to launch their final assault to capture the Libyan capital. Almost immediately, the Embassy’s contingency plan came into effect and that meant I have to be here to oversee it. 

I received my travel authority signed by no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.  in the first week of December. A few days earlier, Finance Officer Pol Paguirigan and Property Officer Arcel Donato requested permission to travel home. Both have follow up medical consultations in Manila. 

Although home leaves of Embassy personnel have been restricted after Tripoli was placed under Alert Level IV, I allow staff to travel to Manila for a couple of weeks so they could decompress. I agreed to approve Pol’s request provided he gets to finish all our fiscal reports before he leaves. Pol did. I also agreed to let Arcel go but only if he plays Santa at the gift-giving event the Embassy was holding for Filipino children on 13 December. Arcel also did deliver.

All three of us were set to go until the announcement of the final offensive to capture Tripoli was made. I knew I had to stay.  I am the commander on the ground. I have to be here to lead our people out. It’s what I signed up for. 

All three of us were set to go until the announcement of the final offensive to capture Tripoli was made. I knew I had to stay.  I am the commander on the ground. I have to be here to lead our people out. It’s what I signed up for. 

But I tried to keep my end of the bargain and told Pol and Arcel they could go ahead with their travel home. Both have medical conditions that need attention. 

“We are staying. Sir.”

“Are you sure?” 

I knew both wanted to go but both answered in the affirmative. They will stay. 

I then asked the female members of our team. I want to get all three of them to Tunis where it would be safer for them. 

Vice Consul Tina Hernandez was caught by surprise. A reserve Army officer like me, Tina preferred to stay in Tripoli but I needed someone ranking to be in Tunis to make sure kababayan would be able to cross over to Tunisia in case we would need to lead them out. She understood. Our Cultural Officer, Jas De Guzman, knew what to do. She  has served in Libya the longest among the members of the staff and was a veteran of the 2014 evacuations. 

I also gave instructions to Liza Dean, the head of the Embassy’s Consular Section, to join Tina and Jas in Tunis. Liza is among the three new members of the staff who joined us from our Consular Office in Angeles just two months ago. 

I also gave instructions to Liza Dean, the head of the Embassy’s Consular Section, to join Tina and Jas in Tunis. Liza is among the three new members of the staff who joined us from our Consular Office in Angeles just two months ago. 

“I’m okay to stay here Sir, just in case my services will be needed here, especially po sa mga kababayan natin na may mga anak,” the mother of five told me. 

“Are you sure? You will be safer in Tunis.” 

“I’m okay Sir, hindi naman po ako natatakot. Thank you for the offer.”

That’s how Pol, Arcel, and Liza ended up spending Christmas here in Tripoli with me, Administrative Officer Edd Venturanza, ATN Officer Francis Enaje, Communications Officer Caloy Cabuniag, Consular Assistant Walter Villalobos. 

As our kababayan back home celebrate Christmas with their families, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to these brave and selfless men and women of the Foreign Service who are spending the holidays away from their loved ones because they are serving in the frontlines of Tripoli and Tunis as well as those in Baghdad, Damascus and in other hardship and high-threat posts abroad.  

Am truly honored to be serving with you. Mabuhay kayong lahat!

24 December 2019