STAR Rtn. Senen Mangalile: A Diplomat’s Story

From walking along the corridors of one of the largest banks in the Philippines many years ago to taking the diplomat’s path—this was STAR Rtn. Senen Mangalile’s career journey. After passing the Foreign Service Examination in 1996 with flying colors, he devoted himself to diplomacy. He landed his first role in the Department of Foreign Affairs as Principal Assistant in the Office of ASEAN Affairs and held several important positions since. He also took the international stage and served as Consul and Administrative Officer at the Office of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, Japan; Charge d’Affaires ad interim at the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey; Deputy Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization; and Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General at the Embassy of the Philippines in London, United Kingdom. At present, he concurrently serves as Special Assistant to the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Senior Special Assistant to the Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, and Officer-in-Charge at the Office of Consular Affairs.

Get to know STAR Rtn. Senen and the unique challenges he faces as a diplomat. He also shares the most bizarre situation he has encountered in the course of duty as well as his experiences while working in a foreign country with different culture and language. These and more in this interesting interview with STAR Rtn. Senen.

Rhea Vitto Tabora (RVT): What made you switch careers into being a diplomat?

Senen Mangalile (SM): I hit the proverbial glass ceiling at Philippine National Bank, which was then a government bank. I would only progress if people retired, as all plantilla items above me were occupied. Slim chance of that happening as my colleagues were all still young. So, I tried my luck with the Foreign Service Officer Examination at the prodding of some friends. Fortunately, I made it on my first attempt.

RVT: What are the unique challenges of being a diplomat?

SM: St. Paul said that in order for him to serve the Lord, he had to become “all things for all persons” or in Latin “omnia omnibus”. Such is the calling of a diplomat – one has to be able to rub elbows with princes and presidents and converse with refugees and abused workers with equal passion and dedication. This calls for flexibility and open-mindedness. This also makes a huge demand on one’s time — when you are posted abroad, weekends are almost always spent on some official activities and may even be busier than an ordinary weekday. Also, this era we live in, when social media has rendered communication instant and global, requires diplomats to be on point all the time. There is no room for error, for dropping the ball, as they say, because any faux pas could become viral very quickly.

RVT: You were previously assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey and the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, Japan. How would you describe your experience working in an environment with different culture and language?

SM: The language barrier is huge in both countries and a lot is lost in translation. Try telling a joke and this becomes most obvious. In Ankara, I had a constant craving for rice as they ate bread all the time. In Japan, you get a very polite yes for everything you say but do not mistake that for assent or agreement – everything has to be elevated to a superior and you have to wait for the decision to cascade to where you are. Both countries have long histories and special places in world history. As a representative of a relatively young country and small economy, I needed to grab their attention by appealing to what mattered to them. And usually, it had something to do with the universals: family values, respect for the elders, faith, music and the arts — and these, we are known for. What struck me the most was the willingness and sincere effort of the people I dealt with to learn more about the Philippines and our people, and what we can offer to them in a partnership.

RVT: During your foreign service postings, what was the most bizarre situation you have encountered while performing your duty?

SM: When I was stationed in Japan, their government gave special work permits to Nikkei-jin — descendants of Japanese nationals who are citizens of other countries. Some Filipinos took this route to migrate and work in Japan. When many of them applied for passport renewal, I inspected their birth certificates and noticed that several had the same set of parents – too many in fact to be physically possible and with birth dates that defy human gestation. So, I called two supposed siblings in for an interview, sat them together in my room, and asked them if they knew each other. Their answer was No!

RVT: If you will be assigned to overseas embassies or consulates again, which country would you most like to work in and why?

SM: If I were to be assigned to an existing foreign service post, it would make me a very happy man to be named Ambassador to the Holy See and wait for RCMers to come and visit the Eternal City and have an audience with the Pope. If I were to be assigned to an embassy that is still to be opened, I would want to re-open our embajada in Havana and deepen relations that are based on a long history of cooperation and shared heritage.

RVT: If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring diplomat, what would it be?

SM: The most important skill a diplomat should have is the ability to listen, really listen. Not just with one’s ears but with all the senses; not just to spoken words, but to subtle nuances. Only then can a diplomat acquire truly comprehensive and actionable information which is essential in serving the national interest.

RVT: What are your interests and hobbies? What do you do when you are not at work?

SM: I read a lot, try to improve my meager photography skills, and occasionally, I hack at the turf to propel a small dimpled ball which I would then have a hard time looking for.

RVT: Please share something about yourself that your fellow Rotarians might not readily know.

SM: I like experimenting in the kitchen. I learned to cook from my late father who was from a huge family where males have sway in the kitchen during important family events.

RVT: What inspired you to join the Rotary Club of Manila? How would you describe your experience with the Club so far?

SM: I learned what Rotary is all about over three decades ago and it had always been a dream to someday join a club. The opportunity to join the first ever Rotary Club in Asia was something I would not have passed. The roster of members, both present and past, shows both a heritage and a promise; the club is rooted in tradition, but secure in its future. And thus far, my expectations have been exceeded as I see the strong friendships formed within the club and how the members actually go out of their way to help a member in need. I look forward to a long and fruitful association with RCM and its present and future members.

RVT: What do you think would you be doing if you weren’t in your current profession?

SM: If I did not join the DFA in 1997, I would probably have returned to law school to finish what I started. Thinking romantically, I would have ended up getting water-cannoned at a street rally fighting for civil rights. But realistically, I probably would be handling run-of-the-mill mergers and acquisitions somewhere.