When Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente, his wife Maria Rosaria, and their son Simone arrived in the Philippines in August 2021, they entered a completely unfamiliar world. It was the diplomat's first posting in Asia, having served on every other continent in cities such as Canberra, Caracas, Johannesburg, Montevideo, and Tallinn.

Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Italian ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente discusses the future events of the embassy to promote Italian Republic Day 2024 celebrations with cultural presentations to be held in different parts of Metro Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

However, their first impressions of Manila were significantly different due to the ongoing lockdown caused by the pandemic.

"It was very quiet. There was no traffic, and the malls were totally empty, so it seemed [like a] very quiet and almost sleepy place until we got a big surprise," Maria enthusiastically recalled in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times Magazine.

"[As the pandemic ended], we realized Manila is definitely not like that. It's a very vibrant and very active city. The social life is very intense, but more deeply, I think we were more impressed by the fact that this is a country where all the foreigners feel very much welcome. The hospitality, warmth, and kindness of the Filipino people are amazing," the ambassador stepped in.

"Maybe you take it for granted, but I can tell you, coming from overseas, what you have is something that doesn't fail to impress us every single day. You are so nice, always relaxed and happy, and you share these feelings with us, so we feel so much welcome," he gratefully added.

The couple agreed they never had to make any significant adjustments since arriving in the Philippines. Again, they expressed that it was the people and the culture that truly made them feel at home.

"Everything was smooth sailing, and we never felt strange adapting to the culture. It was so easy to make friends and to connect with people. In other Southeast Asian countries, there is a language barrier [unlike here, where everyone speaks English].

Again, the Filipinos' openness to foreigners, which doesn't happen in other areas of the world, made it very easy for us. It was like being home from Day 1 because in every situation, in all segments of society — and also because of the Filipino smile — we felt welcome," shared Maria.

As if they could not say it enough, the ambassador reiterated, "The real asset of this country is the people.

"You are very well-educated and hardworking, and you are a young country. You have a lot of young people in your labor force, which works very well for your future.

"You also speak English, which should not be taken for granted, especially in the job market. I haven't traveled much in other Asean countries, but my wife has. And you don't find many people who speak English well. For an Italian, this is the friendliest country for many reasons — the religion, the culture, and family values are similar to ours. So I feel at home."

The ambassador's 16-year-old son felt the same from the moment they arrived, so much so that his father mentioned that Simone wished they could remain in the Philippines.

"When I started going to school, I met many people and enjoyed my time with them and new experiences. I think you can't do the same things compared to other countries," Simone explained his attachment to Manila.

"Also, the people you meet here are very different. You might find the president's nephew in your class. It's something that doesn't happen every day. So I like it a lot, and it's a shame we have to leave," he added.

"I'm going home to Italy, but I know I will come back for sure and see my friends again, possibly during vacations. It's a bit sad, but I'll deal with it," said the youngest Clemente.

Meanwhile, besides ending his posting in the Philippines on June 30, Ambassador Marco is set to retire after 40 years of diplomatic service, making this final assignment all the more special to him and his family.

The spirit of bayanihan and gratitude

One of the most profound experiences for the Clemente family on this side of the world was understanding the Filipino concept of bayanihan, which underscores community support and togetherness.

"After three years, we found your secret to happiness, and you know what it is? It's bayanihan," Marco explained. "It's the sense of community; you are never alone. Even if you have health or money problems, you always have someone from your family or friends, barangay, or working community who will support you, and you will do the same if others need you.

As they bid farewell to the country, Ambassador Marco, his wife Maria and son Simone bring with them a piece of the Philippines in their hearts, forever grateful for the warmth and kindness they found.

"This is something others lost, unfortunately," he continued. "This is why you're happy and carefree. You don't worry so much about the future because if something goes wrong, it won't be the end of your world because you will find support. Even the most disadvantaged members of your community know they will never be alone."

Maria furthered, "I think the smile of the Filipinos and the fact that you smile at us so happily has to do with the fact that you practice gratitude a lot, which is probably ingrained in your culture. But I think it impacts a lot, especially when you face everyday challenges. You start on a positive note, and being grateful is probably something that gives you a different mindset despite the challenges. So this is an important feature of the Filipinos along with bayanihan or togetherness."

The Clementes believe that their three-year stay in the Philippines provided them with invaluable lessons and experiences they intend to bring back to Italy.

"You taught us the value and the importance of being together and the importance of kindness. I'm not the kindest person; I tend to be very hard on people, and you taught me that it's important because if you give kindness, you receive it. Initially, I was unsure about it; I was a little reserved. But you won me over because how can you resist a Filipino? You smile, you're nice. We've been overwhelmed by invitations from hundreds of Filipinos who wanted to open their doors to us, and even if you are so busy with your other relationships like families and friends, you spend time with everybody," said the diplomat.

Simone also shared an interesting fact: "I'm like my dad; I can be a very tough character. But staying here in the Philippines, I learned not to be like this to Filipinos because Filipinos might take it very personally. Even if you don't mean it, even if it's just how you are, they might think you are being aggressive towards them, but you're just being normal — you're just being yourself. I learned to be calmer and explain things more clearly to them."

Maria, on the other hand, revealed, "With this experience, I think it's time to write my book. It's a closure of many years of going abroad, but the Philippines has inspired me the most because my life here has been very enriching and very interesting, so I think I want to tell it in a story."

She elaborated, "I would love to tell the story about the Philippines because nobody knows anything about the Philippines in Italy, and I guess the rest of Europe is pretty much the same. I think it's just considered as some Eastern country, but I don't think they see any difference between the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; it's more like the same to them. But, of course, it's not.

"I can say the Philippines is more Westernized, but because of that, it's more interesting and worthy to know because it's so close to us in so many ways. It's a country worth depicting in a different light.

Inspired by the Filipino culture of bayanihan and attitude of positivity and gratitude, Maria plans to write a book about their time in the Philippines to let Italians and the rest of Europe know why this is a place like no other. The Clemente family’s time in the Philippines has been marked by rich experiences, cultural exchanges, and lasting friendships. COVER AND INSIDE PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

A new chapter

With Ambassador Marco's retirement on the horizon, he and his family may feel emotional about leaving the Philippines, but they are also looking forward to a new chapter in their family's life.

"I am a free man, at last, after 40 years, and very much looking forward to retirement," he said.

"Diplomatic life is a life of its own. It's very exciting but also very demanding because you have to move every three or four years. You have to change your lifestyle, home, and friends, especially for the kids; it's very tough for them. It has also been tough for us. It has many pros and cons, but definitely, it's a very peculiar life. You have to be very flexible, you have to adjust, you have to be curious, to be ready to change your habits and to know people," he continued.

"Fortunately, I have that personality that I get bored easily, so I wouldn't like to do the same job over and over. Although it is the same job, how you do it is very different. Being a diplomat in Manila is very different from being a diplomat in other countries. Each place is completely different, and it's a different job each time. But the most rewarding part is representing the Italian flag and our president. Also, every time we listen to our national anthem, especially abroad, it keeps me very inspired," he added.

Meanwhile, Maria expressed that becoming an ambassador's wife was a significant turning point in her life, allowing her to experience a unique lifestyle.

"At first, it was a big game-changer in my life because I could live this kind of life through him. I strive to make the most of every country we are posted to. I can say that I truly managed that. I achieved so much more and got so much more from every country than I expected or deserved in the first place," she said.

"And then he opened the doors to opera because he is an opera buff, and before meeting him, I thought the same as everybody thinks: that opera happened in the past, so why should we even bother about that? But he opened the door for me, giving me a magical experience. I'm really grateful for that, and I appreciate him, so bravo.

"It is interesting that we are ending his career in the Philippines, where gratitude is one of the pillars of your way of being, so I think that is now ingrained in us too," she furthered.

Cultural diplomacy and strengthening bilateral relations

Throughout his career, Ambassador Marco has been a passionate advocate for cultural diplomacy, particularly through the promotion of opera.

"I'm an opera buff, but this has nothing to do with my personal opinion because I do think that opera is one of the best cultural tools, in general, and a diplomatic tool that an Italian ambassador can count on because opera is the most internationally renowned form of classical art, and it's sung in Italian.

"So when you perform an opera in Manila, you don't only promote Italian music, but you promote the Italian language," he explained.

"How many times have we realized, without even thinking much about it, that when we are watching an opera in Manila, we have maybe 1,000 people listening to my own language. And maybe after that, some of them might like to take a lesson, take some courses and learn the language. So it's a fantastic cultural diplomatic tool," he continued.

In December 2022, Marco invited 800 students from Manila's high schools to a general rehearsal of a major opera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and brought it to Tondo.

"I did my little thing to try to keep the torch alive because I'm very worried about the future of classical culture. There are not very many private businessmen interested in promoting or financing it. If you lose this generation, you will be done. If you don't expose the young to the enjoyment of opera, probably there will be no future," he noted. Looking ahead, the ambassador is optimistic about the future of Italian-Philippine relations.

"We just celebrated 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Our political and economic relations are very good," Marco declared. He, therefore, fervently hopes that his successor will continue to build on the solid foundation laid during his tenure and enhance trade and investment opportunities.

"I hope that during my stint, I have left a legacy that can be followed by my successor. The foundation is very strong and very stable, so now we have to build on this very good foundation and make it taller because the first storey has already been built, so to speak. We need to keep building until what our two countries have together is a skyscraper."

Advice for future diplomats

Now, at the best time in their lives for passing on what they can from such a rich experience, traveling and representing Italy to the world, the Clementes are keen to share valuable advice for future diplomats and their families as well.

"Flexibility, resilience, and also readiness to sacrifice something [is our formula]. This is the secret because if you are unable to accommodate such hardship, it can be tough. The rewards are many, but so are the sacrifices. You have to find the right balance," Ambassador Marco advised.

Maria emphasized the importance of creativity and curiosity for diplomatic spouses, encouraging them to make the most of their time in every country of stay.

"For the family, especially for the spouse, it is particularly challenging because when we arrive in the country, the diplomat knows what he or she has to do, so there's already a purpose and a routine for them. But for the kids, it is hard as they need to leave their friends behind, but they will go to a new school, and will have their own purpose and their own community immediately.

"The spouse, on the other hand, after unpacking and enabling everybody else to go to school or to work happily, has a blank page that needs to be written out," she continued.

"So my suggestion to young spouses would be to be creative, be curious, and continue feeding into their careers. You have to be flexible anyway, even in your own country, because every year in your life is precious. So every three years of living in a different country is an opportunity not to be missed," she expressed.

Simone's advice, meanwhile, was simple yet profound: "Just go out and see what the country has to give you as I did here in the Philippines. Go out everywhere, try to see as many places as possible and meet as many people as possible, which can come in handy also to have connections for the future."

After 40 years in diplomatic service, Ambassador Marco feels fortunate to be bidding a fond farewell not only to a country he and his family have deeply fallen in love with but also to his devoted duty to his beloved Italy.

"I decided to end my career here. I could have gone a few months back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but I decided to do things that my colleagues don't usually do — to end one's career abroad. They prefer to go back to work in the ministry for many reasons because they want to settle down there, it's easier, and it's also bureaucratically more convenient.

"But I didn't go that way because I wanted the Philippines to be something very special to me and my family, and the best way to do that is to end my career here," the ambassador expressed.

"June 30 is the last day of my career, and I will still be here [in Manila]. I will be flying to Rome that day. So my career ends here; it won't end in Rome, and this is a little token of my appreciation and gratitude to this country. I want this to end here, I want the last good memory of my career to be here, and I'm doing a lot in these last few months to make it more memorable," he continued.

Reflecting on the future, the experienced diplomat said in ending, "I'm almost retired but I don't want to make plans yet. The Jewish have a very nice saying, 'If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.' Because you don't know the destiny in store for you.

"But for sure I want to enjoy opera. Opera for me is a passion. It also allows you travel. If you like reading, you can go in the quietness of your house, but if you like opera, take a plane or train or taxi and go to a place called an opera theater.

"So now that I'll be retiring, I have the opportunity to travel a lot, go places and enjoy opera wherever it takes me. I can't decide yet, but it's all very exciting for me."