Chito Santa Romana

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His Excellency
Jose Santiago "Chito" Santa Romana
Ambassador of the Philippines to China
In office
September 28, 2016 – April 19, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byErlinda Basilio
Succeeded byJaime FlorCruz
Personal details
Born
Jose Santiago Santa Romana

(1948-01-15) January 15, 1948 (age 76)
Manila, Philippines
DiedApril 19, 2022(2022-04-19) (aged 74)
Huangshan, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China
Resting placethumb
right
Parent
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Jose Santiago "Chito" Santa Romana (January 15, 1948 – April 19, 2022), was a Philippine journalist and diplomat who served as that country's ambassador to China.[1][2]

Born in Manila, Romana was the grandson of Senator Santiago Lucero, for whom he was named.[3][4] As a young man, Romana studied at De La Salle University and was active in the anti-government demonstrations known as the "First Quarter Storm". In 1971, as a student, he visited the People's Republic of China as the head of a Philippine youth delegation. However, during this period, the then Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos began to suppress the Philippine communists, and Romana was forced to stay in China.[2] After that, Romana studied at the Beijing Language Institute (now Beijing Language and Culture University) and later became a translation editor.

In 1987, Romana went to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States to pursue a master's degree in international relations. After graduation, due to the continued instability in the Philippines, Romana returned to China. From 1989 to 2010, Romana served as a long-term reporter for the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Beijing. In 2011, Romana returned to the Philippines after 40 years and joined the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement in 2012.[5]

On September 28, 2016, Romana was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippine Ambassador to China, with concurrent accreditation to North Korea and Mongolia.[6] Romana presented his credentials in March of the following year. He "played a key role in repairing once-tattered bilateral relations".[2] On April 18, 2022, Romana died of illness during quarantine in Huangshan, Anhui Province while serving as the ambassador to China, at the age of 74.[7][8] After his death, he was described as "an old friend of the Chinese people".[9]

References

  1. ^ "PH envoy to China Chito Sta. Romana dies". CNN Philippines. April 19, 2022. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Robles, Raissa (19 April 2022). "Tributes pour in for late Philippine ambassador hailed as 'good friend' of China". South China Morning Post.
  3. ^ Efren Cruz. "Farewell, Chito". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  4. ^ Wilson Lee Flores. "Emmy award-winning journalist Chito Sta. Romana on Philippine-China ties, Marcos, Cory, Edjop, Mao & Deng". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Jose Santiago Sta. Romana - PRRM". Archived from the original on 22 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Beijing-based journalist 'Chito' Sta. Romana is new PH envoy to China". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ^ "菲律賓駐華大使安徽隔離期間去世 官方未交代死因". 星島日報. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  8. ^ "Chito Sta. Romana, Philippine envoy to China, passes away". ABS-CBN. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  9. ^ "外交部发言人汪文斌就菲律宾驻华大使罗马纳病逝答记者问". 中华人民共和国外交部. 2022-04-19. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
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