Luis Moreno Salcedo

Luis Moreno Salcedo (September 5, 1918 – March 5, 1988) was a Filipino diplomat.  In a career spanning four decades (1946-1985) he made important contributions to Philippine diplomacy and the Philippine foreign service. First, he served with distinction (as reflected in awards received from the Philippine Government and host countries) as Philippine Ambassador in the Americas, Asia and Europe.  Second, he represented the Philippines in major international organizations, notably as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in the early 1980s (his last posting as a diplomat) and earlier as Permanent Representative to UNESCO while posted in Paris.  Third, he implemented the opening of Philippine diplomatic relations with socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. He was the first Filipino diplomat accredited as nonresident Ambassador to three of these countries, and subsequently became the first Philippine Ambassador to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Fourth, he had a lasting impact on the practice of Philippine diplomacy. One reason was his commitment to service, reflected in his steadfast response to extreme or difficult circumstances, such as the attack on his residence in Saigon during the 1968 Tet Offensive. After his death the media was filled with "eulogies celebrating his life and work, his principles and patriotism".^[1] Another reason was his widely acknowledged expertise in the practice of diplomacy.  For example, his book, A Guide to Protocol (published in 1949 and 1959) was the main reference for Filipino diplomats seeking to build the Philippine foreign service in the period after WWII.  This book has continued to guide Philippine diplomatic practice decades after its publication.

Personal life[]

Luis Moreno Salcedo was born on September 5, 1918 in Sara Iloilo to Timoteo Moreno Brodeth and Trinidad Salcedo.  He spent his childhood in Concepcion, Iloilo and moved to Manila at age 10.  In 1940 he graduated with a Bachelors of Law (LLB) degree, magna cum laude at the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, Manila. Shortly afterwards he served in the Philippine Army and then practiced law in a private law firm. 

Early career as a diplomat[]

Upon passing the Philippine Foreign Service entrance examination in 1946 he joined the then Office of Foreign Relations, which subsequently became the Department of Foreign Affairs. He became part of a group of new recruits sent to the US State Department for training shortly after independence in 1946 to improve the capacity of the Philippines to apply diplomatic principles and practices.  Many members of this group were subsequently appointed to key positions in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and their careers are the subject of a book, which describes Moreno Salcedo as the apotheosis of an outstanding graduate of this group.^[2]  In the case of Moreno Salcedo, upon his return to the Philippines he became Deputy Chief and then Chief of Protocol from 1948 to 1954.  He then served in various positions outside the Philippines.  He was Diplomatic Secretary of Legation and Consul of the Philippines, Mexico City, 1954–56, Diplomatic Secretary of Embassy and Consul of the Philippines, Washington DC 1956-57; Minister Counselor, Embassy of the Philippines to the Holy See, Rome, 1957–58; Counselor on Political and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manila, 1958–59; and Minister-Counselor, Embassy of the Philippines, Buenos Aires, 1960-62. An important accomplishment during this period was the publication of his book on diplomatic protocol^[3] which was the key resource for Philippine diplomats and was also used as a reference by some diplomats in other countries.^[4] It is still in use to this day, for example as the guide for the presentation of credentials to the President of the Philippines.^[5]

Career as Ambassador^[6][]

Moreno Salcedo served as the second Philippine Ambassador to Argentina from 1962 to 1964, consolidating Philippine representation in that country.   He was named Philippine Ambassador to South Vietnam from 1965 to 1968.  This was a difficult setting for diplomacy, due to the Vietnam war, and Moreno Salcedo and his wife narrowly survived an attack on the Philippine Ambassador’s residence in Saigon during the Tet Offensive of 1968.^[7]  From 1968 to 1977 he served as Philippine Ambassador to France, and concurrently as Philippine Permanent Representative to UNESCO. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, while still posted in France, he also implemented the establishment of Philippine relations with Eastern European countries, having been named nonresident Philippine Ambassador to Romania and Yugoslavia in 1972 and to Hungary in 1975.  In 1977 he became the first Philippine Ambassador to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Moscow.     

Moreno Salcedo’s last assignment as a Filipino diplomat was as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in 1982.  He retired in 1985, after which he spent some time as Chairman of the Academic Council and Dean of the College of Foreign Service at Lyceum of the Philippines University. 

Honors and awards[]

Luis Moreno Salcedo received a number of awards.  They are

(1) The Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna (Rank Datu, Philippines).  This medal was conferred on February 26, 1987 under the administration of President Corazon Aquino.  According to the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, the Order of Sikatuna is “an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines” and “one of the three senior honors of the Republic.”

(2) Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Knights of Malta.

(3) Placa de Gran Cruz de la Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio (Spain). This award was given by the Spanish Government in 1975 when Moreno Salcedo was Philippine Ambassador to France and Philippine Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to Wikipedia, the Gran Cruz is given only to Spanish or foreign persons who have made an extraordinary contribution to the development of education, science and culture, teaching or research, as long as the exceptional level of merit of this contribution is evident.  Moreno Salcedo was cited specifically for his knowledge and studies in Spanish history, literature and culture as well as his efforts to promote more fruitful cooperation between the Philippines and Spain in UNESCO.^[8]

(4)  Gran Cruz de la Orden del Libertador San Martin. Awarded by the Republic of Argentina exclusively to foreign civilian or military officials who in the exercise of their functions, merit a high level of honor and recognition by the Nation

(5) Grand Officer of the National Order of Vietnam. This was considered the highest honor that could be conferred upon an individual by the government of the Republic of (South) Vietnam, based on works, deeds, bravery, virtues or outstanding knowledge.      

Works[]

Luis Moreno Salcedo published two books, the first the standard reference for diplomatic protocol used by Filipino diplomats and the Philippine government for decades. They are:

Moreno Salcedo, Luis (1949, rev. 1959):  A Guide to Protocol.  Manila.

Moreno Salcedo, Luis (1959):  Selected Readings on Philippine Foreign Policy.  Manila

References and endnotes[]

De Borja, Marciano R (2014):  The State Department Boys: Philippine Diplomacy and Its American Heritage.

Foreign Service Institute (2014):  History of Philippine Foreign Service Posts. Department of Foreign Affairs, Pasay, Philippines. 

Moreno Salcedo, Luis (undated): Unpublished and incomplete curriculum vitae from archives of the direct descendants of Luis Moreno-Salcedo.

References[]