Carlos P. Romulo

Romulo was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence in 1942 for his reporting on World War II in the Pacific. His dispatches from the Philippines and other war zones provided critical coverage of the Japanese invasion and the fall of Bataan.

Romulo was a delegate to the San Francisco Conference in 1945 and signed the United Nations Charter on behalf of the Philippines. He played a key role in drafting the charter, particularly in including provisions for human rights and self-determination.

Romulo was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 1949, for the fourth session. He was the first Asian to hold the position, representing the Philippines and advocating for decolonization and human rights.

Romulo was a key figure in the founding of ASEAN on August 8, 1967, as the Philippine representative. He helped draft the Bangkok Declaration, establishing the organization to promote economic cooperation and regional stability in Southeast Asia.

Romulo was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines on December 30, 1968, under President Ferdinand Marcos. He served until 1984, shaping Philippine foreign policy during the Cold War, including relations with the US and ASEAN.