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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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19th
Conference of the International Association of Historians of Asia
Hotel
Intercontinental, Makati City
22
November 2006
as
read by
Hon. Franklin M. Ebdalin
Dr.
Filomeno V. Aguilar, Jr., President of the International Association of
Historians
of Asia and Chair of the Philippine Social Science Council,
Dr. Takashi Shiraishi, Professor of Southeast Asia Studies of the Kyoto
University,
Excellencies and Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:
A
pleasant morning to all.
Let
me congratulate the International Association of Historians of Asia for
organizing this important conference.
Your deliberations will no doubt expand the horizons of professional and
amateur historians alike, as well as of many others, including diplomats, who
benefit from a close study of history.
Indeed,
history is the backdrop against which we conduct much of our public and private
life.
And in this regard, if journalism can be called the first draft of
history, then diplomacy must be one of the critical arenas where history is
made.
The
Philippines will host a series of important ASEAN-related summits in Cebu next
month.
Perhaps, several decades ahead, your Association will review the impact
of our Cebu summit diplomacy on the progress of our region.
In
the Philippines, we have a saying, attributed to our National Hero, Dr. Jose P.
Rizal:
“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa
paroroonan.”
This is roughly translated as “He who does not know how to look back to
where he came from will not make it to his destination.”
Dr.
Rizal, in fact, practiced what he preached.
In the late Nineteenth Century, he rediscovered old and long-forgotten
archives in European libraries that opened the eyes of the Filipino people to
their own true history, a history which had been hidden from them by the veil of
colonialism.
This act of liberation watered the deep roots of modern Filipino
nationalism.
Recourse
to the past to enlighten the present has freed minds and peoples all over the
world.
In this way, history, and the lessons drawn from it, are keys to
nation-building.
Historians,
therefore, play a vital role.
Through you, what would otherwise be a mere recording of ancient days is
given meaning for every generation.
Furthermore,
your labors provide the light of truth and reason that should shine for us all.
As Lord Acton said, “Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and
worth to history.”
Recognizing
the importance of history and other sources of knowledge for the people, I had
legislation passed in 1994, when I was a Senator, to open libraries and reading
centers throughout the Philippines.
RA 7743 called for the establishment of libraries in every congressional
district, city and municipality, and reading centers in every barangay in the
country.
In this practical manner, we are placing the past at the ready service of
the present.
The
presence of more than 200 distinguished scholars of history from over 30
countries in Asia, Europe and North America fills me with optimism over the
future of historical studies, especially for Asia which is home to some of the
world’s oldest and greatest civilizations.
For
too long have outsiders written our histories for us.
It is up to you, historians of Asia, to reclaim our history, in the
spirit of Dr. Rizal.
A
striking feature of this Conference is that many of the papers to be read are on
topics that would traditionally fall within the domain of other fields of the
humanities and the social sciences.
This eclecticism and willingness to draw on other strands of scholarship
has injected a renewed dynamism into the study of history.
I
am also pleased to note that in recent years, historians have paid increasing
attention to issues that we face regularly in the world of international
relations, such as globalization, interfaith and intercultural dialogue and
migration.
We
diplomats, in turn, draw on your studies’ findings to formulate and enhance
our policies and initiatives.
Ignorance of history has been the cause of many travails, and diplomats,
statesmen, corporate leaders, and all others involved in policy, should be
reminded of this constantly.
On
this note, ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to our deeper and more vibrant
collaboration and I wish you a fruitful and successful Conference.
Mabuhay!
END
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