Marciano Paynor: Diplomat, protocol chief, family man

Funny how this writer, feigning comprehension of Marciano Paynor’s mastery of diplomatic protocol, would be told that the change in the layout of his office at the Philippine consulate has had nothing to do with protocol. The new Philippine Consul General to San Francisco was candid with his explanation: “When I first came into the room where ConGen Weng (Sanchez) held office, I found the morning sunlight too direct, too bright and blinding. So I set up office in the other room." Oh well. In the first place, Paynor came to San Francisco without the protocol officer’s hat, for now at least. Fact is, he had previously worn two hats – as military officer and later, trade attaché – before deciding that the two he now alternates are for keeps. Born and raised in Baguio City, Paynor’s military career is rooted in the weekends he spent as a boy watching parades or training exercises and workouts at the Philippine Military Academy. Thus from Baguio City High School, the young Marciano proceeded to earn a bachelor’s degree from PMA. Later, he would be encouraged to pursue soldiering by the increasing number at the time of City High alumni who had gone to PMA – and become generals.“But my PMA batch of 109 graduates was just too big," Paynor said, admitting he did have his sights on becoming general. “It would have been very competitive. There were just too many of us." After leaving the military in 1983 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Paynor then took on a career with the Trade Department. It was while posted as market analyst at the Philippine Trade Office in Chicago that he took his chance at the foreign service examination. “I took the exam just for the heck of it," Paynor said almost jokingly, adding, however, that he probably felt confident he would pass because of his international exposure with the Trade Department. With Foreign Affairs, Paynor and his family have circled the globe. He has taken up posts in Washington, DC, Gabon, Budapest, Rome, Israel, Cyprus, and Los Angeles where he was consul general. Fortunately for the diplomat and his wife Teresita, their three children – daughters all – had grown used to the globetrotting nature of their father’s job. “What my wife and I always did was to psyche up our daughters many months, sometimes even a year, before we leave for another country," Paynor said in explaining how they helped their kids then manage the reality of constant uprooting and moving. The only thing that was rather unsettling was that the girls grew up practically without a home country. “Home was where we were at any given time," Paynor sighed, “except between 1992 and 1997." During that period, the family was based in Manila while Paynor served former President Fidel Ramos as chief of presidential protocol. Auspiciously enough, the daughters were able to complete their high school education at the Brent International School in Pasig as full scholars. All three are now accomplished professionals and mothers to the Paynors’ two grandchildren (a third is on the way). The eldest, an Economics graduate of New York’s College of Mt. St. Vincent and a product of the Asian Institute of Management, lives and works in Manila. The second daughter took up Marketing, also at Mt. St. Vincent; she is PR manager of a luxury hotel in Seattle where she has settled with her family. The youngest, a Business graduate of CalState in Hayward, stays with the couple here in the Bay Area, where she works with the global business services organization, Ernst & Young. “We value the education of our children… we have given it topmost priority," Paynor declared. One of the other things he has also treasured was the close relations he had with former President Diosdado Macapagal and Mrs. Eva Macapagal. Certainly, this came long before anyone thought that destiny would join him and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang. “In all state functions during FVR’s presidency, the former president and Dona Eva were there," Paynor recalled. “And without fail, my direct instruction from FVR was for me to take care of them personally." Today, Paynor concurrently serves as GMA’s presidential assistant for state and foreign visits. This means he leaves PCGSF under the charge of Deputy Consul General Antonio Morales, ably aided by key consular staff, everytime the president goes on a foreign or state visit. He is the least concerned about the capability of the PCGSF staff to run the consulate. Vowing to continue the staff development program started by his predecessors, Paynor would even ensure that PCGSF representation in community events and implementation of the Consulate on Wheels/Wings is a shared responsibility among all consuls. Paynor has also improved upon previous efforts to project a more positive and congenial image for PCGSF. Alongside the continuous streamlining of consular services to the public in order to further cut processing times, Paynor seems bent on enforcing a home-grown cardinal rule in customer service: Bawal Sumimangot (Frowning Not Permitted). “It’s what this is all about," Paynor chuckled, as he pointed to his ‘Smiley’ button symmetrically pinned on his lapel. “We all wear this button now, especially those in the customer service frontline." That, indeed, is another welcome addition to PCGSF protocol. - Philippine News