Gen. Manuel T. Yan, soldier and diplomat

In the Philippines, we have three national holidays honoring specific Filipino heroes: Aug. 21 marks the assassination of Ninoy Aquino at the Manila International Airport in 1983. Nov. 30 commemorates the birth of Andres Bonifacio in Tondo, Manila, in 1863. And Dec. 30 memorializes the execution of Jose Rizal at the Luneta in 1896.All three were killed by fellow Filipinos.

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This Friday marks the death anniversary of one of the most respected men to ever wear the uniform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. For many of us in the military, he was our North Star.

Manuel Yan started his military career as a young high school graduate from Arellano High School, joining the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1941. At the PMA, he was a “star-man” during his second and first class years, the five-pointed star on the collar of his dress uniform an emblem of academic excellence. As a senior cadet, he served as the chairman of the Honor Committee and was also the editor in chief of the Corps Magazine, two positions that I also held during my cadet days some 25 years later. On graduation day, Manuel Yan received the Presidential Saber, symbol of superiority in combined academic work and military training, from Vice President Sergio Osmeña, the commencement speaker. In finishing at the top of his class, Yan became one of the few to accomplish this feat as a high school graduate. The First Captain of the class, or Baron, was Cadet Abelardo Mondonedo. He would receive the Chief of Staff saber.

Manuel Yan became the youngest AFP chief of staff, at the age of 48, serving in this position for four years. As AFP chief of staff, he was known to be a considerate boss who was concerned with the personal health of his assistants. His aide-de-camp, then Capt. Emiliano “Mitch” Templo, related how on one occasion when suffering from gastro-intestinal problems, he decided to call in sick. Hours later, General Yan was on the line, inquiring about his health and recommending complete rest. Templo was so embarrassed he decided to report for duty the following day, even though he still felt weak. In a service that is more commonly known for tough-talking men, using all kinds of cuss words like “goddamit,” or “bullshit,” Yan was the exception. When he was upset by the failures and stupidities of subordinates, the harshest words from him would be “By golly!” On one occasion while visiting the troops in the south, he was made to wait due to the late arrival of a member of the party. Not a word of reprimand was uttered. Of course, we know that silence can sometimes be more painful than a good bawling out.

Upon retirement from the armed forces, General Yan started his foreign service career as ambassador to Thailand. This was followed by another stint as ambassador to Indonesia. When President Cory Aquino sent me to Jakarta following the 1986 Edsa Revolution, I found myself in the difficult position of following in his footsteps. Considering that prior to General Yan, my father was also the ambassador to Indonesia, it was like stepping into the shoes of two giants. I lived in their homes; I worked in their offices, and I quickly realized that they had something in common—they were loved by the community they served. Ambassador Yan would end his diplomatic service as Philippine envoy to the United Kingdom.

In 2008, De La Salle University honored him with a Doctorate of Humanities, Honoris Causa, in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a military man and his dedicated service to the Filipino people. In response, Ambassador Yan spoke of the lessons and insights that he had gained as a peace negotiator. He said that peace negotiations are not necessarily bargaining processes all the time, but a mutual search for solutions to problems and concerns that affect not just the rebel groups but the government and country as a whole. We should look at negotiations as problem-solving rather than bargaining processes. We must also keep in mind that at the core of every peace process is the issue of trust and it must begin with each side developing a common understanding of each other’s positions. These negotiations must be supported by an effective method of consultation with the people.

In the end, he said: “This is the only country that we have; we must take care of it through a perpetual search for peace.”

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