PHILIPPINE Ambassador to China, Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, passed away last Monday, April 18, 2022, in Anhui Province, China, as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was 74.
“It is with the inconsolable grief of the Secretary (Teodoro Locsin) and the profoundest sadness that the Department of Foreign Affairs announces the demise of Philippine Ambassador to China, His Excellency Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana,” the DFA said in a statement.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ambassador Chito, to our nation for its great loss. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul,” the DFA statement added.
At the time of his demise, Sta. Romana, better known as “Chito” to most people, had just assisted the Philippine delegation in another round of bilateral meeting with Chinese officials held in Anhui province, Eastern China.
The meeting was an offshoot of the visit of Secretary Locsin, where, accompanied by Sto. Romana, he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also in Anhui last April 3, 2022.
Both the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines are quick to send their condolences and sympathy to the family of Sta. Romana, on behalf of the Chinese people and the Chinese government.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, in a statement, said:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana due to an illness.
“Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana is well known for his profound knowledge of China.
“He worked and lived in China for many years and was our old friend and good friend.
“After assuming the post of the Philippine Ambassador to China in 2017, he worked actively and industriously, making important contributions to promoting bilateral relations and friendship between our two peoples.
“We are deeply grieved by the loss of a good friend and extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
“We will work together with his family and the Philippine Embassy in China to properly handle follow-up matters and provide every convenience possible,” Wang added.
Ambassador Huang Xilian, for his part, remembered Sta. Romana with fondness.
“I greatly value our time working together and will always be grateful for his friendship and undeniable contribution to the development of China-Philippines relations,” Huang said in a statement.
The Chinese envoy noted that Sta. Romana was among the first Filipinos to visit the “new” China when he headed the visiting Philippine Youth Delegation in 1971.
It was while in China that Sta. Romana, along with other young Filipinos, got “stranded” when martial law was declared in 1972, forcing them to live and work in China for many years.
“Over the past 51 years, starting from a foreign student learning Chinese in Beijing, to ABC’s China correspondent for over 20 years and to Philippine Ambassador to China, Ambassador Chito has spent the best part of his life understanding and helping the world and the Philippines to understand China.
“China-Philippine relations have been strengthened and indeed flourished under his distinguished tenure as the Philippine Ambassador to China,” Huang said.
Sta. Romana was appointed Philippine envoy to China on Dec. 7, 2016. The DFA said he was appointed “in recognition of his deep knowledge of China’s history and people.”
Under his tenure, Philippines and China’s relations “flourished despite differences” and “flowered all the more in maturity and were deeply strengthened,” the DFA statement added.
“We honor his important legacy of selfless service to the Filipino in the most challenging foreign post,” the DFA said.