Carlos P. Romulo : Mr. United Nations

Carlos Pena Romulo was born on January 14,1899 in Camiling, Tarlac. He began his journalistic career when he was a Bachelor of Arts at the University of  the Philippines. There, he was editor of college paper, "The Varsity News". After finishing his A.B. course, in 1918, he went to the United States and took an M.A. degree in Comparative Literature. In 1919, he became assistant editor of "The Citizen", a weekly magazine in Manila. In 1922, he served as associate editor of the Philippine Herald and was promoted to editor in 1927. In 1930, he was made editor of the "Tribune". A year later, he became editor -in -chief of the Tribune La Vanguardia -Taliba newspapers. In 1934, he became publisher of the Debate-Herald- Mabuhay_ Monday Mail Publications. 

In 1942, Romulo, achieved the distinction of being the only Filipino and First Asian to win the coveted Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. His prize-winning work consisted of a series of articles entitled "The Changing Tide in the Far East ". 

Romulo was also an educator. He began his teaching career at UP as a young assistant professor in English in 1923. He became associate professor and acting head of the University's English Department and was appointed coach of the UP Round the World Debating Team that won all its debates in the United States. In 1932, he became the first UP graduate to become member of the Board of Regents of the University. 

During World War II, Romulo was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After MacArthur's return, to the Philippines, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He was with MacArthur and Osmena when the American liberation forces landed at Palo, Leyte on October 20, 1944. For his wartime exploits, he received six military decorations_one of them was the Philippine Congressional Medal of Honor.

Romulo worked in the government for more than 50 years. He held the positions as :Philippine Ambassador or Chief of Mission to the United Nations, President of the University of the Philippines, Secretary of Education, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He shone best as a Diplomat  and was internationally admired. He was one of the signatories of the UN Charter which was signed on June 26,1945 in San Francisco, California. In 1949, he became the first Filipino and first Asian to be elected as President of the UN General Assembly. He outlived by many years the other signatories to the UN Charter.Thus, kings,presidents,prime ministers and ambassadors who were only kids when the UN Charter was signed felt proud and honored each time they had a chance to be with Romulo in the UN. He was known  locally and in the diplomatic world as "Mr. U.N."

Despite being member of the cabinet during martial law, he maintained his relative independence. He became disappointed with Marcos' authoritarian rule. After the assassination of Ninoy, he said,"For the first time in 47 years, I walk before the United Nations with my head bowed !". He  retired from public service on January 14,1984. In a ceremony in Malacanang, Pres. Marcos conferred to him the "Bayaning Bagong Republika"medal and promoted him to the rank of Major General and ordered that the Philippine flag be hoisted perpetually in front of his house.He received 76 honorary degrees and 85 local and international awards. This great man had made us Filipinos proud of our heritage. _ the only Filipino to serve under eight presidents, from Quezon to Marcos, was a distinguished journalist, writer,educator,orator, soldier, diplomat and statesman.

Reference :  Carlos P. Romulo : Mr. United Nations  , by Conrado O. Benitez