April 29, 2004

A Century of Friendship and Alliance

Today we pay tribute to four extraordinary individuals. In choosing them we considered three criteria. First, that they be Americans – since this is the American Embassy. Second, while we wanted those selected to be great Americans, we did not want them to be famous ones. We wanted to honor those who are not as well known as a General McArthur, but who are nonetheless deserving of recognition.

Finally, we wanted each to have had a special connection with the Philippines. Though their reasons for coming to the Philippines were all quite different, the four shared a special fondness for this country. By naming the rooms for them we pay tribute to our shared history and the bonds of friendship that unite us.

<Project photo – Charles Parsons>

First, we honor Charles Parsons, Jr. “Chick”, as he liked to be called, first came to Manila when he was five. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Parsons and his family managed to return to the United States. But Chick volunteered to return to the Philippines on numerous secret submarine missions. His extensive knowledge of this country and his network of local contacts enabled him to communicate effectively with guerrilla units. After the war, he resumed his business activities and remained in the Philippines for the remainder of his life

I am honored to name this ballroom for Charles Parsons. We are also especially honored to have as our guests here today, three of Chick Parsons’ sons: Patrick and his wife Toni, Peter, and José. Thank you for joining us.

<Project Photo – Najeeb - portrait>

The next American that we honor is Doctor Najeeb Saleeby. Saleeby was born in Syria and studied at the American University of Beirut. A naturalized American, he came to Manila aboard the S.S. Thomas and worked in Sulu and Mindanao as the superintendent of schools. Najeeb was fascinated with Moro culture and published two widely respected books on the subject.

(photo of Najeeb with nursing students)

In 1907, he became the first medical director of University Hospital, as Saint Luke’s was then called. He was a brilliant scholar who expanded our knowledge of the Philippines, and also was a tireless advocate of education. His spirit of adventure brought him here as a young man, but it was his deep affection for the Filipino people that inspired him to make this his home. It is my pleasure to formally name our courtyard the “Najeeb Saleeby Courtyard.”

<Project Photo – Claire portrait>

In 1942, when Manila was under Japanese occupation, a woman named Claire Phillips opened a cabaret. The club, which was not far from this Embassy, was known as “Club Tsubaki.”

Driven by a desire to help the Allies and, perhaps more so, to save the man she loved, she used her club to spy on the occupiers. Using the alias “High-Pockets,” Claire passed intelligence to the Philippine guerrillas.

Eventually, her double life caught up with her and she was arrested and tortured. After the war, she co-authored a book about her wartime experience and her story was later dramatized in a movie. In 1950 she gave a radio interview in which she describes how she acquired the alias “high pockets.” This turns out to be a euphemism for her brassiere, where she would hide coded messages.

<Project photo, Phillips Club Tsubaki>

The Chancery conference room is hereby named in honor of Claire Phillips.

<Project Photo – Murphy portrait>

Finally, we honor Francis Murphy. In 1933 he was appointed Governor-General of the Philippines.

{photo of Frank Murphy with President Quezon}

Then, in 1940, President Roosevelt appointed him to the Supreme Court where he became a staunch advocate of civil liberties and is remembered for his scathing dissent in the court case that sanctioned the internment of Japanese-Americans.

After the war, General Yamashita was brought to trial for war crimes in this very ballroom. Sentenced to death, Yamashita appealed to the Supreme Court. His conviction was upheld, but Justice Murphy dissented and chastised the majority with the following words: “While peoples in other lands may not share our beliefs as to due process and the dignity of the individual, we are not free to give effect to our emotions in reckless disregard of the rights of others. An uncurbed spirit of retribution …, masked in formal legal procedure, can do more lasting harm than all the atrocities giving rise to that spirit."

Each of the above-mentioned individuals is unique, and in being unique what I like most about them is that they might not even have liked each other had they met. They almost certainly would not have agreed with each other on political matters. And maybe that is one of the more enduring and endearing qualities they share as Americans: being disagreeable and refusing to conform to the status quo. But they were all great Americans, all great friends of the Philippines, and all greatly committed to freedom and justice.

In closing, I would like to invite you to move throughout the Ballroom, Conference Room and Courtyard to look at the tributes we have placed in recognition of these remarkable individuals. I would also like to mention one of the remarkable individuals who brought this work to fruition, our Embassy Historian, Virginia Foster, for doing all the work for which I get all the credit.

Now, eat, drink, walk through the rooms, and join me in listening to a song written by Claire “High Pockets” Phillips, entitled “Roving Eyes.”

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