Obama names first African-American envoy to RP

America's first African-American president, Barack Obama, has named the first African-American ambassador to the Philippines, replacing the popular Kristie Kenney, the first woman US ambassador to Manila.

A statement from the US Office of the Press Secretary said Obama named Harry Thomas Jr. as new ambassador to the Philippines. Like Kenney, Thomas is a career diplomat. The Philippines has been known as a key US diplomatic post staffed by career ambassadors rather than political appointees, who are often loyalists and campaign donors of the president. The White House did not say when Thomas will replace Kenney. In a response to well-wishers on her Facebook account, Kenney said she will remain in the country for a few months. She said family matters back in the US have prompted her to leave the country. "It will be very hard to leave here. Fortunately, that won't happen for a few more months. But my family needs me at home so I can't stay away much longer," she said. Kenney, who has endeared herself to Filipinos by being accessible and widely seen at disaster sites and even war zones, said the Philippines would have a "terrific ambassador" in Thomas, who is her "good friend." "I will hate to leave the Philippines but my family needs me back home and I need to be there for them," she reiterated. Kenney has been one of the most visible officials from Washington in Manila. Aside from attending social functions, Kenney is a known supporter of the Ateneo Blue Eagles' championship basketball team and would often be seen attending the team's games at the Araneta Coliseum. The Ateneo's head coach is African-American Norman Black and American Kirk Long was a starter on the team. Kenney is the first woman to hold the position as the US envoy to the Philippines in 2006 after being nominated by then US President George W. Bush. [Click here for more information on her.] Obama also named Elizabeth Littlefield as President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and David Adelman as US ambassador to Singapore. According to a White House statement, Thomas is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and served most recently as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources. "He previously served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Department," it said. It added Thomas, who joined the Foreign Service in 1984, served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005. He also served in the White House as the Director for South Asia at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2002. Thomas' other postings include New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. He has served as Senior Watch Officer, Deputy Director, and Director of the State Department Operations Center; Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs; and Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. Thomas holds a bachelors degree from the College of the Holy Cross. - Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV