WHAT were you expecting? I would never ever dare put “The Three Stooges” as the title for my column this week. Not happening.
I do not want to be declared persona non grata in France, Switzerland and Canada, even before I actually step foot, kiss the ground at the airport, and smell the fresh air in those countries.
Those are the three countries I want to visit, at least once before I am placed six feet deep in the ground. From how I imagine, those places are romantic, gastronomic, chic, fantastic and whatever words ending in “-ic” you can think of. I would love to explore those three countries street by street.
A trip of diplomats
It would also be odd if I said that French Ambassador Gilles Garachon, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder are the diplomatic version of Tito, Vic and Joey.
For all I know, those names probably would not even register a small blimp in their brains—well, maybe Tito Sotto, to some extent, because he is a long-serving senator of our country, and diplomats at one point or another will have to deal with whatever kind of politicians we have.
I also do not know if these three ambassadors are playful enough, witty and have a thing for slapstick comedy.
But if they ever care to find out, Tito, Vic, and Joey will forever be associated with pop culture in our country, and it is not just because of Eat Bulaga.
There are so many things to mention here. But for those who can still remember, I know you will laugh out loud when you recall the controversy that reached the national level when the movie Super Mouse and The Roborats came out.
Maybe, I just have yet to see that side of diplomats in the country. I always see them with their reserved, polite and businesslike approach to their duties.
It would be totally cool to see them letting their hair down and meet them with not so much of a security blanket in front of them, as it would show that, just like you and me, even with their stature, they are human, too.
So, if The Three Stooges is not appropriate, and Tito, Vic and Joey might be a stretch, how about describing them as The Three Amigos?
Yes, I know you will say that it is the title of a Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short movie, and the word amigos is not even French.
But from how I saw them during the International Francophonie Day celebration at the Alliance Française de Manille, it looks like they are friends. Maybe even really close friends who will always stick out with each other no matter what the circumstances.
Hmmm, wait. I get it. Perfect title for the column this week would be The Three Musketeers or as the Alexandre Dumas-penned novel is titled in French, Les Trois Mousquetaires.
Yup. You all know a bit about the book and its several movie adaptations on the adventures of Athos, Porthos and Aramis, who lived by the motto “all for one, one for all,” or as translated in French, “tous pour un, un pour tous.”
I love the French language—I hardly understand most of it, yet—when I hear it, as was the case during the time ambassadors Garachon, Sieber and Reeder took the stage and started speaking.
But in time, I will learn the language slowly. And with due respect to Elton John, he probably got it wrong in one of his songs, because speaking the French language, for me, might be the most romantic thing to do.
A French-speaking world
Anyway, the three ambassadors might not be the only ones saying “all for one, one for all,” as according to the official web site of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), there are now 274 million French speakers worldwide.
The IOF counts 80 states and governments as its members, which represent—get this—one-third of the total member-countries of the United Nations.
And how about this for economic power? These same French-speaking countries account for 18.9 percent of world exports and 19 percent of world imports worldwide.
As Ambassador Garachon described it, these are nations that share a common culture, a wealth of tolerance and so much diversity.
Symbols of Francophonie
Pushing it a bit further, I asked the three ambassadors to name one individual from the present time who best represent Francophonie values and idealism.
It was no surprise from Ambassador Garachon, when he chose the people behind Charlie Hebdo, because they symbolize the fight for freedom and humanity.
Now, unless you have been living in a cave, you know full well the tragedy that happened in January, when two terrorists forced their way into the Charlie Hebdo office and killed 12 individuals working for the magazine.
For his part, Ambassador Sieber named Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist Bertrand Piccard, who is currently trying to complete the first solar-powered flight around the world.
The Swiss envoy said Piccard is an adventurer who belongs to a family of explorers who have dared to succeed at things that seem impossible.
In 1999 Piccard, together with Brian Jones, completed the first successful nonstop circumnavigation of the globe by hot-air balloon.
For his part, Ambassador Reeder chose newly elected and the first woman to serve as IOF Secretary-General Michaëlle Jean because she represents Canada’s diversity.
Jean, who was originally from Haiti, immigrated to Canada with her family in 1968, after fleeing the Duvalier regime. She has worked extensively on social outreach, including assisting the development of shelters for battered women in Quebec. Jean was also a respected journalist and anchor at Radio-Canada.
As the Utah Jazz 7’1″ French center Rudy Gober would do after dunking the basketball, here is a French salute to all of you.
* * *
For comments, suggestions, and reactions, I can be reached at raalzona@yahoo.com.