Sep 24th, 2009. Filed under Articles/Stories.
Vic, aggie attaché, is replaced by ‘assistant’
Posted By The News Team.By Lito Katigbak
WASHINGTON - Victoriano Leviste, agricultural counselor at the Philippine embassy and dean of the foreign agricultural attaches in Washington is leaving for home after 26 years of service.
Nicknamed “The Rock” because of his long stint in the embassy “Vic” as he was fondly known, served under at least ten agriculture secretaries and seven different ambassadors — Daniel Romualdez, Kokoy Romualdez, Emmanuel Pelaez, Raul Rave, Ernesto Maceda, Albert del Rosario and the current incumbent Willy Gaa.
Leviste deliberately kept a low-profile but was a highly effective operator and his fingerprints can be found in many agricultural deals and agreements between Manila and Washington.
Given his long stint in Washington and the institutional knowledge he amassed he has for years headed the Agricultural Counselors Forum (ACF) an informal, voluntary group established in Washington, DC for the purpose of improving communication and understanding within the diplomatic corps on agricultural and “food systems” issues.
Amb. Gaa announced Leviste’s departure in a recent press release but Manila Mail editor Bert Alfaro said given the number of times Leviste has been prematurely ‘recalled’ he’ll only believe it when he actually sees the personable attache board the plane to Manila.
Alfaro recalled the number of despedida parties in the past that did not materialize because Leviste at the 11th hour managed to get an extension of his assignment.
Leviste will surely be missed and the Manila Mail wishes him the best of luck. We also wish Josyline C. Javelosa his successor the best of luck. She will have large shoes to fill.
Most Commented Posts
Comments (1)
Hi Josyline,
I was wondering who your parents are….must be our relatives.We’re originally from Cebu, lived in Bacolod for sometime and currently in Houston, TX.
Where are you from? Hope to kn you better. Take care.
Ann