Prior to his posting to Thailand, he was Assistant Secretary (Director General) at the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

Ambassador Rodriguez joined the Philippine foreign service in September 1979, after topping the Foreign Service Officers’ examinations. His initial stint was at the Office of Political Affairs, as Chief of the Division of Middle Eastern and African Affairs. He had also served at the Office of ASEAN Affairs, as Principal Assistant, and at the Office of Protocol and State Visits, as Executive Director.

In the foreign service, he was posted to London, United Kingdom, from 1983-1986; Washington, D.C., U.S.A., from 1986-1991; and Bonn, Germany, from 1993-1999. He has the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I, the highest in the Philippine diplomatic service.

Ambassador Rodriguez has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Degree from the University of the Philippines (U.P.) in Diliman, where he was a consistent university scholar and elected member of the Phi Kappa International Honor Society. He studied Law at the U.P. – Diliman and Ateneo de Davao University, where he received his Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1974.

He went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Political Science Degree at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, where he was an East-West Center scholar from 1974-1975. He also earned M.A. units from Harvard University in 1975.

While already a foreign service officer, he received his Post-graduate Diploma in International Relations and Development (with distinction) at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands, where he was a Dutch Government fellow from 1981-1982.

His last academic foray was at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he obtained his Post-graduate Diploma in Security Studies in 2001, as an APCSS Fellow.

A teacher by avocation, he has taught at various academic institutions, including Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s University, Lyceum of the Philippines, Maryknoll College (and, later, Miriam College), and De La Salle University.

He had also served as lecturer at the Foreign Service Institute, Civil Service Academy, and National Defense College.

Ambassador Rodriguez is married to Mary Ana Janette Felciano Ampil. They have two daughters, Shasta and Arianna, and a son, Kyle.

H.E. Ambassador Rodriguez presenting his Letters of Credence to H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin, on 20 August 2003

The Philippines
Office of the President
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Trade & Industry
Department of Tourism
Philippine Media
° The Manila Bulletin Online
°The Philippine Daily Inquirer
° The Philippine Star

Thailand
Office of the Premier
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thai Media
° Bangkok Post
° The Nation